Again and Again - 2 Peter 1:10-15 (Baptism and Membership)

    To see the full message, scroll to the bottom. 

When I look at old, black and white or sepia photos of my family—of my roots—I often see myself looking back. 

I see attitudes, smiles, senses of humour... a chin here. A forehead there. 

I know some of those people and I know some of their stories. And when I look at their pictures, I can recognize myself. They remind me of things that I know to be true about myself. There's an attitude there. There is a sense of humour in the way some of them are posed. There is, and I will be honest about this, a chin and there is a forehead. And I look at those pictures and I think, "Oh my goodness. That's me.” 

 

When I look at these pictures, I see my story. 

 

Our scripture focus this morning contains one of my favourite verses, especially as a Pastor: 

...therefore (because of all the things that we've been talking about) I will remind you of these things even, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 2 Peter 1:12

He says, 'You know this stuff, but I'm going to keep telling you anyway. Because 

there are things that we know, things that we possess, things that we have inherited (especially through our spiritual family) that we need to regularly be reminded of. Because it is so easy to forget important things.’ 

 

Our church celebrates Believers’ Baptism, and we celebrate Church Membership: things that fit into that category of ‘things that tell me what I already know.’ 

 

I know that I am a part of Calvary Baptist Church of Cobourg. I know that we are celebrating 140 years---generations of baptisms, of membership meetings, of projects and renovations, of doing life together and of looking to the future. 

  

I know as well that I'm part of the great Christian Church family which will soon be celebrating 2,000 years—2 millennia since Jesus died for us, was resurrected, came back to earthly life; since Christ established His Church on a bold statement of faith, and on a few surrendered lives. 2,000 years since Holy Spirit came and filled us with fire. 2,000 years of generations, each reminding the next of the things we already know and must never forget. 

• that Holy Spirit is here.  
• that we are not alone. 
• that we are better together.  
• that we cannot thrive in isolation.  

So again and again we celebrate things like Baptism and Church Membership. 

______ 

Baptism is a thing that Jesus told us to do—an act that affirms our commitment to Christ.

... go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...  Matthew 28:19 

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved... Mark 16:16

[The flood waters that carried Noah’s family and the animals free from the consequences of a world that had become corrupt] is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 3:21 

Baptism matters not because the water is magical, not because the water has power, but because of the resurrection of Christ. So again and again, generation after generation, we share these moments—concrete, tangible, and experiential moments—when we (because of our decision to follow Jesus) say that “yes” out loud—like the vows taken at a wedding, when we allow others to hear us say that “yes.” 

Baptism is when we affirm our commitment to Christ.  

______ 

When we talk about Church Membership, it’s a bit different. Membership is something that we, in our culture, have put in place to shape and to bind together this body of Believers, in this time, and in this place. In Membership we affirm our commitment to this community, to these people. 

 

It's a meeting of culture and theology.  

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6 

In our congregation, in our tradition, we surrender to and celebrate that one-ness. We are saying yes to working together, to supporting each other, empowering each other, and sometimes, when necessary, holding each other accountable. In taking Membership, we affirm our commitment to community. 

______ 

We celebrate together, again and again, Believers’ Baptism, with each believer, each generation, reminding others to take hold of our faith in Jesus, to step into the next chapter of our spiritual growth, to take hold of the Spirit's empowerment, to live life forever with Jesus and each other, starting now. 

 

We celebrate together, again and again, Church Membership: what in our tradition we call ‘the right hand of fellowship.’ Saying yes to participation in the life of these people, in this time, in this place, in this assembly. 

______ 

I am part of my church family. They are a family portrait that reminds me of who I am.  

 

I am reminded of who I am by the voices of Ancients like Peter, whose words are our focus today. A man who wrote and thought in a language that I may never learn, in a culture that I will never understand, in a part of the world I will probably never visit... but speaking truth. Telling me that Holy Spirit's voice resounded in him as it resounds in me today. That voice still speaks truth and still makes sense because that voice is still speaking about Jesus and what it is to be part of His family.  

 

I am reminded of who I am by the Elders in my church. People who I respect. Who have set an example of long faithfulness throughout life, of diligent and effective making-every-effort lives of Jesus-likeness. People who I know have seen and experienced enough good and bad in the world to be able to speak with the grace and the kindness that comes with wisdom. People who show me Jesus, and what it is to be part of His family. 

 

I am reminded of who I am by Believers like myself. My cohort. My class year. People who, like me, have been part of this family, been on this journey, for a good while now. We're not quite Elders yet, but we're getting there. And we have learned enough to know that we have stuff to learn. We have learned enough to know that we have stuff to unlearn. Learned enough to look back and laugh at how far we've come. To look ahead and wonder--at how far we have to go. Believers who are walking with me as we follow Jesus together as His family. 

 

I am reminded of who I am by New Believers, taking first steps to follow Jesus, receiving for the first time the name that He offers us and wearing it with joy. People who are filled with wonder and questions and uncertainty and hope. Discovering Jesus and what it is to be part of His family.  

 

And I'm reminded of who I am by Skeptics: people who are not yet ready to buy the whole Jesus thing. Who would say to me, "Yeah, that's nice. It works for you and seems to be making you a better person, but I don't need it." Skeptics will ask honest questions. Skeptics will push, and make me think. They will point out the thin spots and the blind spots. They have not yet met Jesus, are not yet part of His family, but still remind me of something I already know: that I am not alone, and I am not there yet. 

 ______

We, again and again, stand with our fellow believers as they step through thresholds of Baptism and of Membership. Reminding us that we cannot - “cannot” underline, exclamation mark “cannot” - follow Jesus alone. Reminding us of the power of surrendering to the weight of water, of rising again to take a new deep breath in a new life.

Reminding me that every journey has a “Day One.” 

 

Wherever you stand on the spectrum—whether in faith or in skepticism—this is my 

invitation to you today. 

 

If you are a believer, if you are a follower, if you are an apprentice of Jesus, allow those sacred moments to remind you that Holy Spirit is here. That you have come so far. That you have so far to go, but you do not—must not—travel alone. 

 

If you are not a believer, if none of this connects with you on a personal level, allow those moments to remind you that individual identity is not defined in a vacuum. You are shaped by something greater than yourself. And the choice that we all make is this; what are you going to choose to be shaped by? 

 

To hear the full message: