promised. In John 3, Jesus calls Baptism being "born
again" (v. 3)—in part because what means death for
everyone else ends up meaning life and salvation for
us. We should die, but by God's grace, we are saved
instead.
Many churches celebrate Baptism birthdays. Jesus
tells us that we are "born again" in Baptism. We are
made new through the water and the Spirit. It is truly a
time to celebrate. Baptism birthdays are a lot like your
regular birthdays. It's great that you remember them,
but it's more important that other people remember
them. It is because of your Baptism that God's promise
holds true for you as well. You should be dead, too,
but when God spoke His promise that He died in your
place, you listened and believed. Whenever God is
thinking about judging the world's sins, He looks
down at you and sees the sign of the promise He made
with you: your Baptism. He sees your Baptism and
remembers that you have already been judged and
found innocent for Jesus' sake. There is nothing left in
you to judge.
So mark your Baptism birthday on your calendars and
celebrate! Celebrate God's promise, but, even more,
celebrate because He remembers it too! w
Lutheran Life 7
