Romans 6:1-11
First Sunday after the Epiphany - the Baptism of our Lord
Lessons for the Day: Isaiah 43:1-7; Romans 6:1-11; Luke 3:15-22
Don’t Cut the Cord!
January 13, 2013
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still
live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were
buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the
Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be
united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin
might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from
sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the
dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but
the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
Dear Friends in Christ, and fellow redeemed:
What is the one thing that is different between Adam and Eve and all of the rest of mankind? Or, to put it another way, what
is it that everyone in this world has, but Adam and Eve do not have? I believe Adam and Eve do not have navels, or bellybuttons. Being created by God, rather than being born, they would have no need for the umbilical cord that every other child
has needed. Since the actual spot of the navel is really a form of scar tissue, they wouldn’t have navels, because they had no
scars. Their whole physical being was perfect at creation.
While Adam and Eve did not have navels, we know that the navel is an important part of the development of every other person
since the fall into sin. Our belly-button reminds us of the umbilical cord, which linked us to our mother in the womb. It was
through the umbilical cord that we received oxygen-rich blood and nutrients. It also took away oxygen-depleted, nutrient
depleted blood. The umbilical cord was essential to our survival in the womb.
When we are born, the cord is clamped and then cut. Some doctors believe it should be done right away; others think a small
delay (and we’re talking only a few minutes here) may actually help the infant in some way. There are some societies where
the cord is left attached, letting it dry up and fall off on its own. I don’t think most people even think about things like that. The
bigger issue for most of us is whether we have an ‘innie’ or an ‘outie’ belly button. Beyond that, the cord is cut, and we simply
get on with life.
In our text today, St. Paul talks about our Baptism as uniting us with Christ–both in His death and in His resurrection. In
Baptism, we are born again of water and the Spirit. We are given new life as the children of God. But in this birth, one thing
is different. While the umbilical cord is cut at natural birth, we must keep intact the cord that unites us with Christ. We need
to be tied to Him, who is our life and our salvation. We need to be fed, nourished and blessed through Him who united Himself
with us in His own baptism. Instead of having just a reminder of our new birth, like our bellybutton, we want to live in constant
union with Jesus Christ. If we are separated from Him, we are no different than a baby in the womb would be without the
umbilical cord; we are no different than the diver or astronaut, whose oxygen supply is cut off. Without Christ, we are dying,
both in this life, and in the world to come. But, united with Christ through our baptism, we are dead to sin and alive to God
in Christ Jesus.
If you have a baby book, it is quite likely that you will have some souvenirs of your birth or early years: something like a lock
of hair; maybe a footprint or hand print made within a short time of your birth. But I don’t know of anyone who has a bit of
dried, shrivelled umbilical cord. Really–when was the last time you even thought about that cord, or when did you last give
any serious thought to your bellybutton? I know I really hadn’t thought about my umbilical cord until the idea came for this
sermon. After all, it has no benefit for me today. We do know that there are efforts to gather stem cells from umbilical cord
blood, and there is great hope that these cells can be used to treat a variety of different diseases. But all of that is long gone.
We didn’t even think of stem cells when I was born. No, we move on. When we use the term, “navel gazing”, it is a negative
thing, noting that we are focussed on ourselves or on a single idea in an unhealthy way.
So, would it be fair to ask when you last thought about your baptism? Luther taught that people should make the sign of the
cross each morning and each evening, in remembrance of their Baptism. When we make the sign of the cross in our worship,
we are remembering the very thing God would have us remember: that we are baptized into His name, and given forgiveness,
life and salvation in this precious gift. Luther says in his Large Catechism: 41 In Baptism, therefore, every Christian has enough
to study and to practice all his life. He always has enough to do to believe firmly what Baptism promises and brings — victory
over death and the devil, forgiveness of sin, God’s grace, the entire Christ, and the Holy Spirit with his gifts. 42 In short, the
blessings of Baptism are so boundless that if timid nature considers them, it may well doubt whether they could all be true. 43
Suppose there were a physician who had such skill that people would not die, or even though they died would afterward live
forever. Just think how the world would snow and rain money upon him! Because of the pressing crowd of rich men no one else
could get near him. Now, here in Baptism there is brought free to every man’s door just such a priceless medicine which
swallows up death and saves the lives of all men. 44 To appreciate and use Baptism aright, we must draw strength and comfort
from it when our sins or conscience oppress us, and we must retort, “But I am baptized! And if I am baptized, I have the promise
that I shall be saved and have eternal life, both in soul and body....No greater jewel, therefore, can adorn our body and soul
than Baptism, for through it we obtain perfect holiness and salvation, which no other kind of life and no work on earth can
acquire.” (LC, Baptism, 41-44, 46)
Sadly, I don’t think we draw strength from our Baptism as we should. Paul says in our text: We know that our old self was
crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
For one who has died has been set free from sin. United with Christ, we die to sin so that we don’t live in it any longer. But,
as one of my dear seminary professors reminded us, in his wonderful Australian accent: “Gentlemen, as the Catechism teaches
us, we are to drown the old man in us through daily contrition and repentance so that we are not living in our old, sinful desires.
But gentlemen, it is hard to drown the old man, because the dirty blighter can swim.” We struggle with the fact that, even as
the baptized children of God, we are still led into those things that are wrong in God’s sight. Every time we pass on that little
bit of gossip about someone else, we see the old man swimming, not drowning. Every little lie, even those we call “white lies”
shows that the old man in us can swim. When you were thinking that nasty thought about the driver next to you, because they
seemed to be encroaching on your lane, your old self was doing a marvellous breast-stroke. When you joined in that off-colour
story at the office, or when you looked with lustful thoughts at the cute guy or girl who passed you at the mall, your old self
was setting records in the butterfly stroke. In so many of our words, our actions, and yes, even our thoughts, we show that our
old, sinful nature not only can swim, but wants to set Olympic records in each and every pool-related event.
The sinful heart wants to cut the cord and go off on its own. We don’t want to drown the old man, because the devil, the world
and our own sinful flesh keep tempting us and leading us further and further from God and His grace. We just don’t see that
apart from Christ, and the life we have in Him, we are dead in our sins–and that death will lead to eternal death, too.
That is why we rejoice today, as Jesus comes to the Jordan and is baptized with all the people. Matthew tells us; “John would
have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so
now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.” (Matthew 3:14–15, ESV) The eternal Son of God
came to unite Himself with us. He came to stand beside us, so that He could take our place upon the cross. He, who is without
sin or guilt, comes to bear all sin for us, so that we can receive from Him the life that would elude us. He comes to mend what
was broken, and to restore the umbilical cord between God and man that was cut through sin. Jesus is our umbilical cord; He
is our life! Just as a mother provides oxygen and nutrients to an unborn child through the umbilical cord, which then takes the
waste away, so Jesus, in our Baptism, continues to provide us with the blessings of life, even as He takes away the waste of
sin. And this wonderful Saviour declares to us: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20, ESV)
During the absolution, if you watch, you will see that I rest my hand on the baptismal font. This isn’t because I’m falling over,
and I need the font to hold me up. It isn’t because I’ve stumbled when I am turning back from confessing my sins. No, I rest
my hand on the font, as I declare God’s promise of forgiveness to you. because Baptism declares our forgiveness. It is our
connection and union in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is Paul’s whole point in our text today. We are baptized
into Christ, so that we may be united with Him in His death, where He paid the price for all our sins; and so we can be united
with Him in His resurrection, and in the life that we will have forever with Him in heaven’s eternal glory. Don’t cut this cord;
rather we cling in faith to the Saviour, who blesses us now, and who will bless us with the life we have in Him. He is our life,
and our salvation! Amen.