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Galatians 1:11-24

¹¹ For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. ¹² For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹³ For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. ¹⁴ And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁵ But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, ¹⁶ was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; ¹⁷ nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

¹⁸ Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) ²¹ Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ²² And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. ²³ They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” ²⁴ And they glorified God because of me.

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Dear Amelia,

Today, you are baptized. Today, Jesus has washed you in His righteousness. Though you are cute little infant, you were dead in your sins. But Jesus has come, and, just as He interrupted the funeral procession in our Gospel text (Lk. 7:11-17), He has stepped in between you and death. Amelia, Jesus has said to you, “Dear daughter, arise.” And as He gave that young man back to his mother, Jesus has given you to your parents.

Amelia, Jesus can do all of this because the death He died, He died once for you and once for all, and the life that Jesus now lives, He lives to God (Rom. 6:10) – for you and for us all. Jesus lives to make you alive with His Gospel. Christ’s death and resurrection is for you and for everyone here. Don’t ever turn away from this Gospel because it is not made up by man. This Gospel is given by revelation of Jesus Christ. If it is taken away, nothing is left. No hope. No grace. No forgiveness. No mercy. Only a holy God who demands that you be holy as well. And, dear Amelia, you will never measure up to those demands.

But Amelia, the good news is that God set you apart before you were born, and today, in your baptism, He has called you by His grace and has revealed His Son to you (v. 15-16a). Amelia, again, this is not man’s Gospel, but the Gospel that Jesus reveals. Because the Gospel comes from Jesus, it cannot be deprived of its power to set you free. You can bank your life, your eternity, on it.

And Amelia, this Gospel will change you. Paul here talks about his former life in Judaism, before he believed in Christ, back when he even had a different name – Saul. Saul was zealous for a bunch of human traditions that he thought would make him right with God. So when Saul heard that the apostles were preaching that faith in Christ alone was what made you right with God, he was enraged. By persecuting these first believers – by his cooperation in the stoning of Stephen and by his rounding up Christians to put them in prison (Acts 8:1-3) – Saul thought he was rendering service to God. He persecuted the very church that God had established, that Christ had shed His blood and died to create. But Christ’s blood had also been shed for Saul. God had set Saul apart before he was born. Christ called Saul by His grace. This Saul became Paul and preached the Gospel. Paul’s testimony is incredible and beautiful, but notice it is beautiful because it reveals the power of Christ’s forgiveness.

Amelia, beware because there are still people who are like Saul in his former way of life. They will attack your faith in Christ and think they are doing God’s work. This persecution comes in the form of false teachings – teachings that say there are certain works or qualities you have to do or have in order to be in God’s favor. Amelia, these false teachings will come from others, and they will even come from within yourself. They are all attempts to, little by little, rob you of your faith in Christ. These false teachings will sound different at times, but they will all boil down to this: “If my sin is causing me problems, either with God or with others, then my good works will fix all of that.” Don’t listen to those voices. Don’t ever trust in your good works. And pray for those who persecute your faith. Pray for them because Jesus died for their sins too.

Amelia, always remember that God is only pleased with you as you are in Christ. And as you are in Christ, good works will follow. But, Amelia and all of you, don’t go looking for those good works. The good works that Paul did were a comfort to the other believers – not to Paul. Those other believers heard how Paul was now preaching the faith he had tried to destroy, and they glorified God because of this. It’s just as Jesus said, “You are the light of the world…. Let your light shine before others so they may see your good works and give glory (not to you but) to your Father in heaven” (Mt. 5:14, 16).

So today, Amelia, we glorify God because of you. We see your good works. We see you honoring your father and mother, trusting in them to protect and provide for you. We see you keeping the Sabbath, coming and hearing God’s Word which creates and sustains your faith. And we look forward to seeing how God will continue to produce the fruits of good works in you.

Amelia, we glorify God because you have been set free. There is nothing more you can do to earn or merit your salvation. You are free – free to be you. Free to be the child of God that He has declared you are. You are free to serve your neighbor. Free to honor your father and mother. You are free to walk in the good works that God has called you to do (Eph. 2:10).

And, yes, you will fail. You will fall short. But even then you are free to approach God for forgiveness. You have come to Jesus, and He has given you the living water that only He can give. That water has become in you a spring of forgiveness will never run dry but will well up to eternal life (Jn. 4:14). Amelia, and all of you here, Jesus and Jesus alone has set you free. And as He says, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (Jn. 8:36). Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.