By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

Cleansing and Destroying

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“But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Luke 3:16b New International Version

Fire cleanses and fire destroys.  And so John the Baptist speaks of Jesus the Messiah who is to come after him.  John is a powerful messenger of God, but he says that the One who comes after him is far more powerful than he and John is not even worthy to unstrap His sandals.

This One who comes will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  As fire cleanses away impurities, so His baptism will cleanse away our sins.  And as fire destroys, so His fire of judgment will destroy those who refuse to recognize Him as Lord.

Fire is nothing with which to play around.  Fire can destroy whole buildings and fire can cleanse away the most filthy impurities.  And the Lord Jesus is no One to trivialize or underestimate.  Although Jesus’ love is deep and His longsuffering is unfathomable, His judgments against the wicked are powerful and severe.

Do you pooh pooh the idea of being a sinner and rebelling against God, of breaking His law and commandments?  Beware of taking God’s Word lightly.  Repent and confess your sins.

And in just the same severity, trust in the fiery mercy of Jesus.  The mercy that flows from His blood on the cross, the mercy that forgives your deepest offenses, the severe mercy that makes us clean and whole and acceptable before the King of Kings.

Lord, thank you that your judgment is true and hot, and so is your great mercy.  Thank you for your grace in that you do not seek to destroy sinners, but save them.  Thank you for your cleansing and forgiveness.  Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado