Anyone who has died has been freed from sin. (Rom 6:7 NIV)

Whoever has died with Christ and stands in the communion and fellowship with his death thereby receives satisfaction and justification of all his sins. He is declared free from all guilt and punishment. Even more than that – in his heart the necessity to sin is no more. With God’s justification and liberation the deep motivation and earnest admonition are given to the reborn Christian to live and persevere in this newly gained freedom and not fall victim to the devilish slave driver of sin and evil yet again, because of whom Christ had to endure torture, pain and death on the cross.  The killing off of our sinful being and our liberation from the yoke of sin’s slavery in evil wickedness and godlessness is a fruit of that unspeakable goodness granted to us by our heavenly Father in our justification by grace alone. Now descend to that baptismal font full of forgiveness, life and salvation again. Behold what the triune God did there for you. Here in this holy fountain he drowned your old being. That’s where you were buried with your Lord Jesus Christ into his death. However that’s also where you were reborn – a new creation – justified from sin, freed from death and the power of the devil. That’s where your new life started – a new life in righteousness and holiness before God that is to last forever. There and at that time the true spiritual life with God started off. He who believes and is baptized will live forever. So blessed are you if you are baptized and blessed are we all if we continue to live in the baptismal grace every day anew. May the Lord of this new testament continue to be gracious to us and help us out to his eternal salvation. May he fan into flame the power of holy Baptism in a strong faith and certain union with Christ, who instituted this precious sacrament for us and our salvation.

Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness My beauty are, my glorious dress; Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed, With joy shall I lift up my head.

Bold shall I stand in that great Day, For who aught to my charge shall lay? Fully through these absolved I am From sin and fear, from guilt and shame.

The holy, meek, unspotted Lamb, Who from the Father’s bosom came, Who died for me, e’en me t’atone, Now for my Lord and God I own.

Lord, I believe Thy precious blood, Which at the mercy-seat of God Forever doth for sinners plead, For me–e’en for my soul–was shed.

Lord, I believe were sinners more Than sands upon the ocean shore, Thou hast for all a ransom paid, For all a full atonement made.

When from the dust of death I rise To claim my mansion in the skies, E’en then, this shall be all my plea: Jesus hath lived and died for me.

Jesus, be endless praise to Thee, Whose boundless mercy hath for me, For me, and all Thy hands have made, An everlasting ransom paid. (Ludwig von Zinzendorf, 1739-1760. Translated by: John Wesley, 1740-1791)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Thursday after the sixth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 261 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.