The Rev. Paul J Cain
John 15:1-8
Confirmation of
Baptism
Easter 5B, 06 May 2012
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, WY
In the Name of Jesus.
Amen.
The first eight verses of John 15 make a perfect sermon text
for a Confirmation Sunday.
Why?
Well, to be brutally honest, Jesus helps me end the idea
that Confirmation is a Graduation from Church. Nothing could be farther from
the truth. Confirmation is the recognition that the young adults before us have
an informed faith in Christ and that they now confess with heart, mind, and
mouth that Christ is their Savior.
No, Confirmation is not mentioned in the Bible, but what
Confirmation confirms is mentioned in the Bible: Holy Baptism. Confirmation
means “Confirmation of Baptism,” and that Jesus’ commission for the Church to
make disciples of all nations by means of baptizing and by means of teaching
His Word is fulfilled yet again.
If we were to think that Confirmation is the end of our
instruction and growth in the Lord and in His Word, we would be teaching and
practicing contrary to John 15.
Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the
vinedresser. 2 Every
branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does
bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I
have spoken to you. 4 Abide
in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it
abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you
are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much
fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away
like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire,
and burned. 7 If you
abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be
done for you. 8 By
this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my
disciples.
Humor sometimes helps me to teach difficult truths. There’s
an old Church joke about Confirmation. It seems a congregation had a problem
with squirrels in the attic of their church building. The Trustees got together
with the pastor and the leaders of the congregation to try to come up with a
plan to get rid of the squirrels. They didn’t want to poison them. Trapping
them hadn’t worked. They did find the hole where the squirrels had used to get
into the attic and sealed it up. One of the men turned to the pastor and
jokingly said, “Well, we could always confirm those squirrels, pastor. Some we
confirmed years ago haven’t come back since they were confirmed.”
For some reason, that joke has never seemed funny to me. It
tells a true story better than statistics could. Not every child born in
America is born to Christian parents. Not all children born to Christian
parents are baptized anymore—not even as teenagers. Only about half of the
children baptized in LCMS congregations are confirmed. And of those young
adults confirmed on special days like this one, half are practicing Christians
as adults. The Christians that came before us knew that some fall away from
faith in Christ. I think that is why the formal examination, public confession,
and today’s questions with the answer, “Yes, with the help of God,” were added.
Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the
vinedresser. 2 Every
branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does
bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I
have spoken to you. 4 Abide
in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it
abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you
are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much
fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away
like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire,
and burned. 7 If you
abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be
done for you. 8 By
this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my
disciples.
Why do Christians go to Church? A branch cannot bear fruit
by itself. Each branch needs the Vine, Jesus Himself. He says, “Apart from Me
you can do nothing.” Nothing drives home the law of this text more than the
words, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” Jesus gets right to the point of our
sinful human nature. He even mentions the fire of judgment.
This text is not only law, however. It is rich in Gospel.
The Lord Himself will prune you so that you may be even more fruitful. Your
faith will be tested so that it may be strengthened. Jesus promises to abide in
You. He will nourish you in Word and Sacrament as a Vine nourishes the
branches. And He promises to answer your prayers. We, as Christians, prove to
be Jesus’ disciples as we bear the fruit of faith, the fruit of the work of
God’s Word and the Holy Spirit in us. All this brings glory to the Father.
Confirmation is not an end, a Graduation, nor is it an end
in itself. Confirmation is the fulfillment of Holy Baptism. Adults who are
baptized as adults have no need for Confirmation, for they are confirming their
faith with their own heart, mind, and mouth as they are washed in the name of
the Triune God. Most often, they are taught the faith before being baptized.
Our three confirmands today were raised in the faith after baptism. We as a
congregation rejoice in the gifts the Lord has given you. We look forward to
hearing God’s Word with you and receiving the Sacrament of the Altar in
fellowship with you and seeing you continue to grow in faith in Christ and in
knowledge of His Word with us, abiding in Christ together and bearing the fruit
of faith in His name.
Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the
vinedresser. 2 Every
branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does
bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I
have spoken to you. 4 Abide
in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it
abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you
are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much
fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away
like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire,
and burned. 7 If you
abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be
done for you. 8 By
this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my
disciples.
Amen.
In the Name of Jesus .
Amen.
