Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3
There is something miraculous about a new birth. We never tire of the excitement and hope this new life brings. It doesn't matter whether it's a human baby, or as Jean and Glenn announced in church two weeks ago, new lambs. Each birth is a testimony to God's awesomeness.
For humankind, we are born into sin. I wish it weren't true, but sadly that is the fact. Thank you, mom and dad (Adam and Eve). The same God who knew us before we were born provides a remedy. In his loving mercy and grace, we can be born again -- this time free from sin. We enter the symbolic grave in our baptism and become resurrected with Jesus Christ, cleansed by his blood.
I am reminded of the beautiful old gospel hymn by Lewis E. Jones (1899), “Power in the Blood.”
Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There's pow'r in the blood, pow'r in the blood;
Would you o'er evil a victory win?
There's wonderful pow'r in the blood.
Refrain:
There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder-working pow'r
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder-working pow'r
In the precious blood of the Lamb.
Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There's pow'r in the blood, pow'r in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary's tide–
There's wonderful pow'r in the blood. [Refrain]
Would you be whiter, yes brighter than snow?
There's pow'r in the blood, pow'r in the blood;
Sin-stains are lost in its life-giving flow–
There's wonderful pow'r in the blood. [Refrain]
Would you do service for Jesus, your King?
There's pow'r in the blood, pow'r in the blood;
Would you live daily His praises to sing?
There's wonderful pow'r in the blood. [Refrain]
Our baptism is a public act before others and signifies our commitment to become followers of our resurrected Jesus. Filled with the Holy Spirit, we are given the strength and will to conquer sin.
Father God, we give you thanks for your mercy and the living hope of resurrection found in Jesus. Please help us remember the excitement of our second birth and share this hope with others. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
If you are not familiar with the hymn “Power in the Blood,” here’s a good rendition by country recording artist Alan Jackson.
