The church is tasked with ensuring that Word & Sacrament don’t drift apart. If you have Word without Sacrament you end up with individualism. If you have Sacrament without Word you end up with ceremonialism.
The 1st Pentecost demonstrates the potent union of Word with Sacrament. Peter’s great sermon cut the gathered Jews to the heart. In response to this Word, they ask, “What shall we do?” Peter answered: “Repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” Notice the pairing. The Word cut like a sword, and the salve was the Sacrament.
The Word promises, this Sacrament seals the promise. The Word brings Good Tidings, this Sacrament assures you that those Good Tidings are for you. Regardless of age, or capacity, whether baptized in infancy or adulthood, covenantally or by profession of faith, the Word strikes us down so that the Sacrament can bear us up.
So welcome covenant brothers to Jesus Christ…
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