Second Sunday after Pentecost: Epistle, Galatians 3:23-4:7                       

Galatians 3:23-4:7

I was not always a member of the Church of the Augsburg Confession. WHAT?! I’ve never heard of that denomination before. Well, it’s the old nomenclature for the Lutheran Church. The Augsburg Confession is the framing document for Lutheran faith and gives to Lutheran Christians the finest exposition of the “basics” of Christian teaching.

Having become Lutheran in my 40’s I began to subscribe to the teachings of the Scripture as interpreted by Lutheran orthodoxy. All that to say that I began reading the Bible in a way that allows it to say what it actually says without human “buts” in the way.

Water Baptism, which biblically is the work of God, not man, is set forth in a way in the Bible that it is nearly always connected to salvation (faith). Today’s text highlights this truth. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:26-27). My point is not that I am proving a point by tagging a Bible verse onto my belief, but rather to say to us all, “Let’s be careful to read the text of the Bible carefully, and allow it to be heard as intended.” I’ve had lots of practice trying to skirt issues over the years, but I’m learning to let the Bible stare me down. 

The Bible is in your face. And it’s in mine, too. Our personal comfort may well be at stake. But then that’s never the Christian’s first worry. Or shouldn’t be. 

Lead, Kindly Light!