July 24, 2025

Today's Reading: Catechism: The Sacrament of Holy Baptism - Fourth

Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 8:1-22; Acts 21:15-36

“We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

It's like a murder mystery! What killed the old man? Faith did! Faith looks to Christ and what He has done in His death and resurrection. Faith has no use for what the old man thinks he can do. The problem is, some semblance of the old man still has control of your will, and still thinks he has something to do with pleasing God. This struggle between God given faith and the will of our old sinful self continues for as long as we live. Luther reminds us, “The Christian life is nothing else but a daily baptism, and continuing ever after. For we must keep at it without ceasing, always purging whatever pertains to the old Adam, so that whatever belongs to the new creature may come forth … our Baptism is the very root of the Gospel in our lives.” (LC, 4)

What killed the old man? The Word of God and the water did! The pouring of water over your brow, “In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” and the old man was dead as a doornail! Through Baptism, the old man was crucified with Christ – the whole body of sin with Adam, the head was drowned out. Only the lie of Satan makes the old sinful self appear alive to your heart and mind.

Who killed the old man? Jesus did! Each nail that pierced the flesh of Christ likewise pierced the old sinful self. The old man is dead and buried with Christ in Baptism.

Christ Himself was raised from the dead. For you, however, a grave with your name on it awaits. Will the risen Christ leave you there for dead? Certainly not! Baptism into Christ means Baptism into His death. Not any old ordinary death, but a death like His. Baptism into Christ means burial with Christ. Not any old ordinary burial, but a burial like His, from which the dead come back to life! Baptism into Christ means that you will be raised with Him! Not any old ordinary resurrection, but a glorious resurrection like His. United with Christ, you walk in newness of life.

Within that newness of life, the Holy Spirit works. He works through the Church of God, His Word, and sacraments, expelling the last recesses of that old sinful self. The attacks of Satan via that old man continue. But make no mistake; you are covered with Christ so that the attacks you experience from that dead old man (propped up by Satan) do you no real harm. They are nothing more than the feeble, futile assaults of a dead old man controlled by an angry, frustrated, defeated, dying devil. You are baptized, you are loved, you are Christ’s and His alone. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

There is nothing worth comparing to this lifelong comfort sure! Open-eyed my grave is staring: even there I’ll sleep secure. Though my flesh awaits its raising, still my soul continues praising: I am baptized into Christ; I’m a child of paradise! (LSB 594 v.5)

Rev. Jeffrey Ries is the pastor of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tacoma, WA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius’s life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.