{"id":1925,"date":"2021-03-11T15:37:34","date_gmt":"2021-03-11T15:37:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/?p=1925"},"modified":"2023-07-15T15:09:59","modified_gmt":"2023-07-15T15:09:59","slug":"baptism-the-great-exorcism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/2021\/03\/11\/baptism-the-great-exorcism\/","title":{"rendered":"Baptism, The Great Exorcism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Oculi Sunday (Lent 3)| <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Luke+11%3A14-28&amp;version=ESV\">Luke 11:14-28<\/a>| Pastor James Preus|&nbsp;Trinity Lutheran Church| March 7, 2021&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/2021-TRINITY-LUTHERAN-CHRIST-FOR-US-03142021-15081.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There has been a debate within the Lutheran Church&nbsp;concerning&nbsp;whether the Baptismal rite should include a rite of exorcism or not. An&nbsp;exorcism is when the minister casts a demon or Satan out of a possessed person, as Jesus did in our Gospel lesson, when he cast the mute demon out of the possessed man.&nbsp;Historically, the Roman Catholics&nbsp;had rites of exorcism in their Baptismal rites, so the Lutherans inherited this custom. It used to be that when a baby was baptized in the Lutheran Church, a rite of exorcism would be performed.&nbsp;We do not have a rite of exorcism&nbsp;in our&nbsp;current hymnal, but we do have an alternate rite of Baptism&nbsp;not in our hymnal, based on the one written by Martin Luther, in which the pastor says, \u201cTherefore, depart, you unclean spirit, and make room for the Holy Spirit in the name of the Father and of the&nbsp;Son and of the Holy Spirit.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The reason&nbsp;many Lutherans objected to the rite of exorcism was because it is not certain whether the unbaptized is actually possessed by an evil spirit, and since the exorcism doesn\u2019t make Baptism a Baptism, but rather the words of Jesus which command us to baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit&nbsp;do, the exorcism is really unnecessary. Besides, unclean spirits are cast out by the word of God and prayer, so if a person were possessed by an evil spirit, then the actual Baptism would certainly cast it out.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet, the removal of the rite of exorcism from the Baptismal rite should not confuse you into thinking&nbsp;the unbaptized is in no danger from the devil! One possessed by a demon has an unclean spirit in control of his physical and even mental faculties. But everyone born of the flesh&nbsp;is born under the dominion of Satan. Now&nbsp;which&nbsp;is worse? A demon blocking your tongue from speaking or your eyes from seeing, or Satan himself grasping your very soul and keeping you from believing in&nbsp;Christ and his forgiveness for you! Scripture says that we are all born and conceived in sin (Psalm 51:5) and that by nature we are children of wrath following the&nbsp;course&nbsp;of Satan (Ephesians 2:1-3). No, the unbaptized have&nbsp;a much greater concern than being possessed by some unclean spirit, who will block the senses. All mankind is born in sin, under the tyranny of Satan&nbsp;himself.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Satan is the strong&nbsp;man, who guards his spoil.&nbsp;We are the spoil.&nbsp;Jesus is the stronger man, who comes to&nbsp;plunder the devil\u2019s house.&nbsp;Yet, Jesus does not do this the way some ancient pagan myth would describe a battle of the gods. Rather, God\u2019s own Son&nbsp;came disguised as a weak man to lure Satan to his doom.&nbsp;Have you heard of the alligator snapping turtle? It has a neat way of catching its prey. It has an appendage on its tongue that looks like a worm. The turtle opens its mouth wide and flicks its tongue to attract fish, who think it\u2019s a worm to eat. But when the fish goes for the bite,&nbsp;snap! the turtle eats the fish! And so, Jesus, who in Psalm 22 is described as a worm and not a man, takes the form of one of Satan\u2019s victims. He&nbsp;assumes our human flesh, so that he is truly and ever will be a man like us.&nbsp;Although Satan failed to get Jesus to sin in the wilderness,&nbsp;Jesus&nbsp;bears&nbsp;all our sins&nbsp;willingly, so that he looks like the most despised and miserable&nbsp;sinner&nbsp;to ever exist. On the cross,&nbsp;death goes to devour Jesus and Satan reaches to claim his prisoner, but it is death who is devoured and Satan whose head is smashed in and is locked up in prison.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Satan\u2019s kingdom is divided, because our Lord Jesus conquered Satan and scattered his spoil. He did this by dying for our sins on the cross and rising from the dead for our justification. Yet, we remain under Satan\u2019s power until we are freed by the&nbsp;Holy Spirit&nbsp;who gives us faith to receive this forgiveness and salvation. Jesus told the people that he casts out demons by the finger of God. The finger of God is a figure of speech meaning God\u2019s almighty power. It by the power of God that Jesus casts out demons. In Baptism, it is the finger of God at work. Baptism is a greater sign from heaven than any we could dream up, because it works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe. In Baptism, God puts his name on you and clothes you in Christ, the same Christ who conquered Satan. That means that in Baptism, you become Satan\u2019s conqueror. Scripture promises that Baptism washes away your sins, because it joins you to Jesus\u2019 death and resurrection (Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21). Scripture promises that in Baptism we are reborn by the&nbsp;Holy Spirit&nbsp;(Acts 2:38; Titus 3). This means that Baptism is the greatest exorcism, because it not only casts out Satan, but delivers the baptized out of Satan\u2019s kingdom and into the kingdom of Christ.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet, our Lord Jesus solemnly warns the baptized in our Gospel lesson, saying, \u201cWhen the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, \u2018I will return to my house from which I came.\u2019 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits&nbsp;more evil&nbsp;than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.\u201d&nbsp;This is a warning that baptized Christians can fall away. Baptism does not save apart from faith in Christ.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You are not baptized in order to become a prince or princess. You are not baptized in order to become an American, or a Jones or Smith. You are not baptized to become rich or powerful on earth or to acquire some earthly status or human abilities. You are baptized in order to be delivered from Satan\u2019s kingdom and to become Christ\u2019s own possession, to live in his kingdom, to be his little lamb, who listens to his voice and follows him. In short, you are baptized in order to be a Christian in Christ\u2019s Church!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jesus says, you are either with him or against him; you either gather with him or you scatter. You are either delivered from Satan\u2019s kingdom into Christ\u2019s kingdom or you are bound in Satan\u2019s kingdom outside of Christ\u2019s kingdom. There is no&nbsp;neutral ground.&nbsp;The purpose of Baptism is to be delivered from Satan\u2019s kingdom, so that you can live in Christ\u2019s kingdom. But if you do not live in Christ\u2019s kingdom, you will return to Satan\u2019s kingdom.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Too often people think this way: \u201cThe Gospel is not complicated. Jesus died for my sins. I believe it. So, why do I need to keep hearing about? What am I going to gain from church?\u201d But this way of thinking does not come from the Spirit of Christ, but from Satan. We cannot believe in Jesus Christ and remain in his kingdom by our own strength, merit or works, but only through the power of the Holy Spirit, who works through God\u2019s Word. We know that Baptism without God\u2019s Word is plain water and no baptism. So likewise, we cannot remove the baptized&nbsp;from God\u2019s Word. It is through his Word that God rules and guides us in his kingdom, as Jesus says, \u201cMy sheep hear voice, I know them, and they follow me.\u201d (John 11:27) and \u201cIf you abide in my word, you are my disciple indeed, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.\u201d (John 8:31-32)&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is why Jesus responded&nbsp;the way he did to that woman in the crowd. She cried out, \u201cBlessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts at which you nursed.\u201d She was calling Mary blessed! She was being a good catholic. Amen. Mary is blessed. But Jesus says, \u201cBlessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!\u201d&nbsp;We must never underestimate the power and craftiness of Satan. He is much more powerful than we think. He convinces us to commit sins we know are wrong and harmful to others and to ourselves. And he is very good at convincing us to sweep our house clean&nbsp;of God\u2019s word&nbsp;and put it in order, so that it is ready for seven more demons to move in. Yet much more, must we never underestimate the power of God\u2019s Word to forgive, to strengthen our faith, and to save. The one who holds fast to God\u2019s Word holds fast to Christ Jesus, to the Holy Spirit, yes indeed, to the Holy Trinity Himself. And where God dwells, there is no room for Satan.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This warning does not&nbsp;meant&nbsp;that Baptism is a once and done event that won\u2019t do you any good anymore. No, your Baptism continues to work with you and for you your entire life, but never apart from God\u2019s Word and promise. Through Baptism, God leads you to repent of your sins, to crucify your sinful lusts&nbsp;and drown your old Adam every day, and to rise to live before Christ in faith and love. To walk by the Spirit, so that you do not gratify the desires of your flesh is to walk according to your Baptism, because it is in your Baptism that you received the Holy Spirit and were clothed with Christ. You can rejoice every day in your Baptism, because saying, \u201cI am baptized.\u201d, is to say to Satan, \u201cI am free from you and you cannot harm me.\u201d; it is to say to&nbsp;death, \u201cYou\u2019ve lost your sting.\u201d; it is to say to God, \u201cI am your dear child and heir. I&nbsp;wear as a permanent garment Christ himself. I love you, because you love me.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through Baptism we are placed into the kingdom of Christ. And we live in this kingdom through faith in God\u2019s promises. Faith comes from hearing God\u2019s promises. God promises to forgive us. He promises to strengthen us. He promises to rescue us from every evil and give us eternal life for the sake of Christ who bought us with his blood.&nbsp;Through God\u2019s word we keep hold of the promises of our Baptism and we remain citizens of Christ\u2019s kingdom until&nbsp;he will come to establish us in it permanently. Amen.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Oculi Sunday (Lent 3)| Luke 11:14-28| Pastor James Preus|&nbsp;Trinity Lutheran Church| March 7, 2021&nbsp; There has been a debate within the Lutheran Church&nbsp;concerning&nbsp;whether the Baptismal rite should include a rite of exorcism or not. An&nbsp;exorcism is when the minister casts a demon or Satan out of a possessed person, as Jesus did in our&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/2021\/03\/11\/baptism-the-great-exorcism\/\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,38,17,7],"tags":[250,186,288],"class_list":["post-1925","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-latest-sermons","category-lent-3","category-sermons-by-historical-lectionary","category-sermonsbyrevjamespreus","tag-james-preus","tag-lent-3","tag-luke-11"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1925","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1925"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1925\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5478,"href":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1925\/revisions\/5478"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1925"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1925"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1925"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}