David Bahn – Reflections

Hebrews 10:15-23 (ESV)

And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

¹⁶ “This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws on their hearts,
and write them on their minds,”

¹⁷ then he adds,

“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

¹⁸ Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

It’s a big deal here at St. John – this confirmation thing. Our women’s group – Sisters in Service – goes all out with a brunch, gifts, and decorations in honor of the students who will be confirmed today. We have a two-tiered event where the young people read their faith statements for parents, grands, and all manner of other loved-ones, then they go to the brunch, with photos of student, student with pastors, student with family, etc. intermingled through the morning. Then the group photo. Then the practice – stand here; speak boldly; kneel here; you’ll be in this group…Then there are the banners: each confirmand receives a banner with his/her name, and the reference of the special Bible verse each student has chosen or been assigned.

It would be good – and I believe the purpose of all this truly is – if all this is done for the honor of Christ. Somehow it’s easy to let that slip from center focus: all this is to the glory of Christ who has saved us, who has redeemed us, who lives in those who believe in him, who gives us the gift of these students and their families. My message this morning would point us beyond a “rubber-stamp” mentality about confirmation. I hope this day is truly inspired by the Holy Spirit, a source of great confidence in Christ, and a means by which we all together have our hopes refined and focused on God’s grace and goodness.

God has forgiven our sins. God has given us his Holy Spirit. God holds out a great and true hope. I pray that these 24 will be confirmed in that hope, confident of their place in God’s family, and filled with the Holy Spirit!