Introduction
I want to share with you some words from John’s gospel, chapter three, verses 14 to 15. Jesus said, “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.”
Early this past week, while visiting another Anglican congregation, I joined them for their afternoon Eucharist. During the confession and absolution, the priest typically says, “Dear friends in Christ, God is steadfast in love and infinite in mercy. He welcomes sinners and invites them to his table.” However, on this occasion, the celebrant altered the words to: “He welcomes us and invites us to his table.” This change struck me as conspicuous, especially for those used to hearing the original wording. I don’t know why the celebrant made that change, but it got me thinking about our modern-day sensitivities toward language, especially when it comes to the word “sinners.”
The Significance of Words
Our sensitivities might deem words like “sinners” as harsh or outdated religious speak, potentially unhelpful for our self-esteem. We might worry about the psychological impact of repeatedly thinking of ourselves as sinners. However, it’s crucial to remind ourselves that sin is more than merely doing the wrong thing. It represents a fundamentally broken relationship between God and creation, a malady remedied solely by the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Losing the language of sinery and sinners could dilute the message and power of the gospel. If we fail to name that which is broken within us, we might soon find we have little need for the remedy. Acknowledging our sin is crucial because recognition of the problem is the first step towards seeking the cure provided by God through Jesus Christ.
Teaching the Next Generation
The application for baptism states that children must be taught their need for repentance and faith, which means they must be taught that they are sinners. Without this recognition, there can be no genuine repentance. This teaching is profoundly counter-cultural, going against contemporary beliefs that espouse inherent goodness and self-sufficiency. Yet, this acknowledgment of sin is essential for spiritual growth and is deeply embedded in our faith journey.
The world often wants us to think that we are good, mostly good. While there is a positive affirmation in recognizing our part in God’s good creation, we must also acknowledge the brokenness and distortion caused by human sin. Our thoughts, words, and actions impact others and the physical world around us. This mutual impact is evident in phenomena like climate change, reminding us that we are part of creation, not owners of it.
The Remedy for Sin
Acknowledging our sin allows us to see the depth of our brokenness and begin the journey to recovery. Much like the Israelites in the wilderness who were saved by looking at the bronze serpent, we are called to look upon Jesus Christ lifted high upon the cross. This unexpected remedy—Christ crucified—proclaims the wisdom and power of God to heal and save us from sin.
Paul’s letter to the Corinthians highlights how unexpected this remedy was to Jews and Gentiles of his day. Yet, Christ crucified remains the essential remedy for our sin. It’s not about our righteousness, but our faith in the remedy God provides.
Conclusion: A Call to Faith
In faith, when we are baptized into Christ, we are reborn into God’s new family, the universal church. This new life in Christ calls us to walk in daily communion with God, allowing the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control—to grow within us.
Friends, as we prepare to baptize our little ones, let us embrace this newness of life and commit them to God. Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus, acknowledging our brokenness and embracing the remedy that only He provides. In doing so, we find salvation and eternal life, freely given by God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.