Week of December 28th, 2025
Encouragement from God's Word
Below is a portion of a sermon preached by C.F.W. Walther on New Year’s Day. Walther was a key person in the founding of Lutheranism in America. As we mark the passing of time, these words remind us of the continuous hope that lives in the heart of a believer because we know the promises of God – as mentioned here, the promises related to baptism.
Should the Christian stand all day long at the grave of all joys which he enjoyed in past years? Through Holy Baptism a great stream of joy has been conducted in his heart, which does not drain away, but streams forward with his life until its waves carry him into the sea of blessed eternity. Should the Christian be reminded all day long that the flowers of his youth fall more and more? He stands planted by God in the water of his Baptism as a palm tree which becomes greener and greener and whose leaves never wither. Yes, his Baptism makes death for him like a short winter’s nap, out of which an eternal spring—an eternal youth—follows.
For Baptism is a bath that washed me not only when I received it—it washed me pure with Christ’s blood—but it continuously washes me clean even daily for as long as I hold it in faith. For just as the same water of the flood drowned the sinners, but Noah and his relatives were brought to salvation and carried to Mount Ararat, so also did the water of my Baptism drown my sins, but my soul was brought to the eternal mountain of divine grace. . . .
Now then, all of you who believe in God’s Word, let your watchword for entering the new year be this: “I am baptized!” Although the world may laugh at this comfort . . . nevertheless, abandon any other dearly held pledges and speak only throughout the entire year to come, in all terrors of conscience and necessity through sin and death: “I am baptized! I am baptized! Hallelujah!” And you shall prevail! In every time of need, you will find comfort in your Baptism; on account of it Satan will flee from your faith and confession; and in death you will see heaven opened and will finally come into the joy of your Lord to celebrate a great year of jubilee, a year of praise, with all the angels forever and ever. Amen! (Sermon for New Year’s Day, 1845)
