[pre Sermon note about the Month of January dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. How we can reverence the Holy Name by reciting the Litany of the Holy Name and especially the Divine Praises. Also, we should be very cautious of any movies or TV or music which contains blasphemy. Further, we ourselves should work hard to avoid taking the Lord's Name in vain - to say "Jeez" is a direct blasphemy against the Holy Name of JESus. In fact, this is what the Greek IHS stands for JESus.]
On the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we remember that our Lord did not need to be baptized but we needed him to be baptized so as to sanctify the waters of baptism for our own salvation.
Many Protestants have lost the importance of baptism, and some do not even practice baptism any longer. However, unless someone has been baptized, they really are not a Christian (even if they read the Bible and claim to "believe" in Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior). Further, if someone has been baptized, then they are a Christian -- although, one will not be saved unless he lives out his baptismal graces and dies in the state of grace which was given through baptism.
The original Protestant heresy was a rejection of the power of the sacraments to give grace -- even rejecting the belief that the work of baptizing sanctifies the soul of the child/adult who is baptized. But the true and authentic Biblical teaching is the baptism does give salvation -- this is why our Lord told the Apostles to baptize, and also why Peter answered those who asked him "What must we do to be saved?" saying, "Repent, and BE BAPTIZED!"
Listen online [here]!
