This morning I would like to begin with a question. I will repeat that question twice, to let it sink in. The question is this: When is it that children truly appreciate their parents? When is it that children truly appreciate their parents?

I think the answer is when children have children of their own. I know for me, I didn't appreciate my parents as much as I do today. But, as my children are growing up, I can look back with appreciation for what my parents did for me. That especially includes the spiritual blessings that were passed down.

u the blessing of baptism

u the blessing of Sunday School and church

u the blessing of going to Lutheran Elementary School

u the blessing of Confirmation

u the spiritual blessings of Lutheran High School and a Lutheran College

Those spiritual blessing may not have been appreciated while I was going through them, but they are appreciated more and more today.

Let me give you a little snapshot of one of those blessings of going through confirmation. (I did not appreciate it at the time, but I do now.) At the church I grew up at, the eighth grade confirmation students were publicly examined, four times each year, in front of the adult spiritual growth. In order to prepare for that examination, around the dinner table my dad would take out the catechism, and would "drill us" (that is the way we looked at it), and instruct us in what God's Word said in those questions and answers, in the catechism. We needed to be able to say what the answers were, and repeat those key passages from scripture.

Now, it was not only for the person who was the eighth grade student, but it was also for the parents and the other children. I am one of five kids, so it was far easier for the fifth child going through, than the first, because they had been through that process now the fifth time. Those spiritual blessings weren't just for my parents. They wanted to pass those spiritual blessings down to their children, as well. Again, while I may not have appreciated it at the time, I do today.

As I said in my children's sermon this morning, for our young people who came forward to the front steps and for the young people who are sitting in the congregation today, what a privilege it is to know that your parents love you so much that they brought you to church and to Sunday School this morning. That promise of the forgiveness of sin is not just for them, but it is also for you, as well. Sometimes, Parents, it is hard to communicate the love that you have for your children. But, someday if your children are blessed with children themselves, those spiritual blessings will be more appreciated. Parents, the love that you have for your children did not begin with you. It is not something that you made up. You didn't create it in a vacuum. That love that you have for your children began with God's love for you. That is what John, in his first epistle, was trying to get across to us.

"We love

because

God first loved us.

This is love,

not that we love God,

but that He loved us

and sent His Son

as an atoning sacrifice

for our sins."

Those spiritual blessings are for you and your children. That is the message that the apostle Peter was trying to get across in our text for today. Our text took place on that very first Pentecost Day. It was just ten days after Jesus had ascended into Heaven. And, as all of the Jews were gathered in Jerusalem for a festival, Peter stood up and preached his sermon. He had some very pointed things that he told the hearers that day, some pointed things that were very hard for them to hear. Peter told them,

"You nailed Jesus to the cross."

Peter said,

"You crucified Him."

Those people weren't present, when Jesus was crucified on Good Friday, and yet they were responsible for Jesus' death, because of their sin. This morning as we sit in the pew, here at church, even though we were not there on the day that Jesus was crucified, we too are responsible for nailing Jesus to the cross, because of our sin. We crucified Him. It is because of our original sin and our actual sin that made it necessary for Jesus to be crucified. That includes:

✔ Children, actual sins of not appreciating our parents and honoring and obeying them.

✔ Parents, actual sins of not bringing our children up in the training and instruction of the Lord, and not sharing that the promise is for us and for our children.

We are reminded of that today, as certainly as Peter's hearers were reminded in his day. We should be cut to the heart. Peter's listeners were cut to the heart, as they knew they had crucified Jesus. They simply asked, "What shall we do?" That is when the words of our text brought great comfort to Peter's listeners. And that is when the words of our text should bring great comfort to us too, because Peter said,

"Repent and be baptized,

everyone of you,

in the name of Jesus Christ

for the forgiveness of your sins.

And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The promise is for you and your children,

and for all who are far off -

for all whom the Lord our God will call."

Repent and be baptized. The same as what the apostle Mark said in his gospel.

"Whoever believes

and is baptized

will be saved."

This promise isn't just something for parents, but it is for parents and children. Baptism is for adults and children. Now, there are some churches that don't believe that Baptism is for children, or for infants, and yet, as we look at this proof passage from scripture, we see that while it may be the case that children don't understand baptism, through baptism they can believe in Jesus, as their Savior. That promise is for parents and their children.

What is distributed through baptism, in God's Word? It is exactly what we need - the forgiveness of sins. This word forgiveness, simply means to remove or to send away. When God forgives us of our sins, our sins are removed. Our sins are sent away. And so, what is said in the Psalms holds true.

"As far as the east is from the west,

so far has He removed our transgressions from us."

This morning, as we brought that baggage of sin with us to church, once again this morning, how comforting it is to know that God has taken that baggage of sin and He has removed it from us. He has sent it away from us, so that it no longer is ours. He has taken it all away. Through Jesus' death on the cross, through faith in Jesus, as your Savior, our sins are removed.

In his People Bible Series, book of Acts, the author Richard Balge, had this to say about this very section of scripture. He says, "The promise of the Spirit who works repentance, and is active in baptism, and forgives sins, is for all who hears Peter's words. It is also for their children. It is also for those who were not there that day, including you and me. It is for Jews scattered throughout the world, as well as for Gentiles, for all whom God has called, or ever will call by the message which Peter proclaimed that day."

Today is a synod-wide kickoff. Today is the synod-wide kickoff for the Lutheran Schools of America. Here is an opportunity for us to help Lutheran Schools, besides Holy Cross, if you would like. (And, Mr. Mike Butterfield is here today to address us on that matter.)

While it is true that we may not truly appreciate our parents, until we have children of our own, while it may be the case that children don't truly appreciate their parents until they have children of their own, one thing that we can truly appreciate is this:

The forgiveness of sins is for parents and their children.

➢ Forgiveness of sins is for parents and their children, in baptism.

➢ Forgiveness of sins is for parents and children, through church and Sunday School.

➢ Forgiveness of sins is for parents and their children, through Lutheran elementary schools.

➢ Forgiveness of sins is for parents and their children in home devotions.

What a privilege it is every week, as we gather together for worship, for Pastor Bartels and myself to comfort you, as you come with your baggage of sin, to be able to announce to parents and to children that we declare unto you the gracious forgiveness of all of your sin, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Spirit. May you be strengthened in your Christian Faith, until life everlasting, because this promise is for you and your children!

Amen.