The Gifts Christ Freely Gives

The Gifts Christ Freely Gives

LSB #602

v. 2: The gifts flow from the font
Where He calls us His own;
New life He gives that
     makes us His and His alone.
Here He forgives our sins
With water and the Word;
The triune God Himself
     Gives power to call Him Lord.

This hymns extols all the gifts given to us by God and from whence they flow to us, and this verse that we are considering today, verse two, focuses on the gifts freely given us in Baptism. First, in Baptism God calls us His own. He names us as His children. And whatever God calls and names something, that’s what it is! So you really are a child of God if God calls you His own. Second, new life He gives. We no longer live a life that will end in death - we are now living a new life, which includes dying a death that will end in life! Because we now belong to the Lord of life. Third, He forgives our sins. Every. single. one. They were all put on Christ on the cross and so there is no sin now that can separate you from your heavenly Father. They’re gone! Atoned for. And the fourth and finally, in Baptism we can now call upon the name of the Lord. With the gift of faith in Christ we can now pray as dear children ask their dear father. We can call on God in every and any need, and He has promised to hear. What a great and wonderful thing Baptism is! Remember that, and all the gifts it brings, this Lenten season.