August 25

Sixth Sunday after Trinity

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Romans 6:3.

So many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, have the full efficacy of Christ's death sealed up unto us, and by virtue thereof die unto our sins. We do not really die, we were not really buried, we were not really crucified and raised again; but our imitation was but in a figure, while our salvation is in reality. Christ was actually crucified, and actually buried, and truly rose again; and all these things have been vouchsafed to us, that we, by imitation communicating in His sufferings, might gain salvation in reality. O surpassing loving-kindness! Christ received the nails in His undefiled Hands and Feet, and endured anguish; while to me, without suffering or toil, by the fellowship of His pain, He vouchsafes salvation. Let none suppose that Baptism is merely the grace of remission of sins, or that of adoption; we know full well that as it purges our sins, and conveys to us the gift of the Holy Ghost, so also it is the counterpart of Christ's sufferings. For this cause S. Paul uses the words of our text, speaking to them who had settled with themselves that Baptism ministers to us the remission of sins and adoption; but not that, further, it has communion also in representation with Christ's true sufferings. In order that we may learn that whatsoever things Christ endured He suffered them for us and for our salvation, and that in reality, not in appearance, we also are made partakers of His sufferings.

God did win Freedom for His people From the guilt of sin.