Dear Friends in Christ, especially you, Ashley,
In a real sense, we can call Jesus’ words here a “confirmation.” Our Teacher and Savior confirmswhat it means to be his disciple and where that status takes me. Our Lutheran custom of Confirmation is the time wepublicly confess our faith, and our sincereintention to remain in that faith. However, that confession rests on God’s confirmation in Jesus Christ ofthe full forgiveness of our sins by grace alone.
In a couple of minutes, Ashley will confirm not only her saving faith in Christ, but also her lifelong commitment to the orthodox Lutheran faith. Ashley, after Confirmation you will go out again among family and friends. You will show them that you are a disciple of Christ not because of any special church custom, but as you manifest the characteristic of Confirmation and enjoy its outcome.
Jesus confirms what those are so we look at The Characteristic and Outcome of Confirmation. The characteristic is holding on to Jesus’ teaching. The outcome is freedom.
The audience for Jesus’ discourse originally consisted of Jews who had believed in him until the Lord explained what genuine discipleship means. It does not mean having the right ancestry, Abraham. Many in the crowd clung to that. They bragged, “Abraham is our father,” as if that made them the children of God and free.
Ancestry and history do not define discipleship. I had a man tell me once that since his grandfather had built the church of which I was them pastor, that he was all right with God. Having belonged to the right church, or having the right bloodlines has nothing to do with forgiveness and salvation. Confirmation is not the time we say, “Luther is our father.”
The characteristic of confirmation is not belonging to a particular visible denomination, no matter if that church teaches only God’s Word. Jesus confirms the characteristic of Confirmation this way, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth.” Hold to means “to remain or continue in.” Jesus alone teaches the truth. Confirmation is the time someone instructed in God’s Word says publicly that I hold to and will remain in only what Jesus teaches because it is the truth.
Ashley, the Holy Spirit has revealed God’s Word to you in the doctrine you have learned since your parents brought you to the baptismal font. He has led you to know and confess these teachings as the truth. Continue to remain in Jesus’ teaching against all apathy and affronts and from outside influences, and from the sinful prodding of your Old Adam. This will characterize your Confirmation as an on-going commitment to Christ rather than a one-and-done promise even though given sincerely.
Holding on to Jesus’ teaching because it is the truth is the characteristic of Confirmation. The outcome of Confirmation is freedom.
The Jews in the crowd claimed freedom already. “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone.” They are guilty of selective memory that conveniently erased 450 years in Egypt, 70 years in Babylon, and the Roman government occupying their homeland.
Our Savior was speaking of course about spiritual freedom from the curse of sin, from slavery to Satan, and from the judgment of hell. Denial of slavery robs one of the liberating power of freedom. No one who thinks they are under no judgment can appreciate Paul’s words to the Romans, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” [8:1]
The outcome of Confirmation is freedom as we understand God’s confirmation of our freedom in Christ. You will receive a Confirmation certificate testifying to your promises today. Jesus Christ is God’s confirmation certificate of all the promises he makes to us in the good news of our Savior.
Confirmation is freedom as we continue in the Word of God that is the truth. Truth is liberating. What joy and relief must fill the hearts of men wrongly imprisoned when the truth of their innocence finally sets them free. What joy and relief fills us whom God rightly condemned to death and hell because of our sins. God cancelled our debt and punishment by having his one and only Son pay the debt and endure the punishment.
Ashley, you realize your sins against God are real and deserve real anger and punishment from God. You confess with repentant King David, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.” Bethlehem soon will invite you to join us in the reception of the Lord’s Supper in which God gives us Jesus’ true body and blood with the bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins to we eat and drink.
God’s liberation of our bodies and souls from slavery is the compelling motivation from regular reception of that pledge of God’s forgiveness. Freedom sets our feet in motion to rush to that foretaste of the marriage supper of the lamb we will enjoy in heaven.
Ashley, when I asked you if you wanted to be confirmed and not just do it for others, or because it is time on the grade scale, you right away said yes. You expressed your readiness well in your essays. I trust that you have every intention on keeping your promises that only God who begins a good work in you can bring to completion. Continue to hold to Christ’s teaching and you will know the truth. That truth will set you free for the days you live for Christ on earth and for the days you will live with Christ in eternal life in heaven. God bless you. Amen. <SDG>