Confirmation Sunday – What Does This Mean?

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

I know that you know these Ten Commandments. You know now what is right and what is wrong. That God is your God and that you are His child every day of your life. That the Lord is the Lord and that you worship Him in this church every week. That your parents are still your parents and it is your duty to obey them. God placed them over you for your good, and they care about you. That every life is worth living, and that as men you must protect those in danger of death and destruction. That women are precious in God’s sight and must also be respected and honored both now and in the years to come. That what you have is given by God and what your neighbor has is not yours. That above all, you speak the truth and keep your word, your assignments to your teachers, your chores for your parents, and your responsibilities at this church.

And I know that you know the Apostles’ Creed. You know now what you are to believe. That what was spoken at your baptism you have now made your own in your heart. That God the Father made you and all creatures in this world. That your Father has given to you all that you need to support this body and life. That you are male or female, that you are body and soul, made in the image of God.

You know that you are redeemed. Not with gold or silver, but with His holy precious blood and innocent suffering and death, you know now that Jesus loves you, that Jesus died for you, that He rose also on the third day for you and all those who sit behind you. That now you will live under Christ in His kingdom, that kingdom that shall have no end.

All of this because the Holy Spirit has worked faith in you. He has brought you into this church and is always ready to forgive you your sins. This Holy Spirit who has promised you the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. He called you by the gospel and enlightened you with His gifts. And you can be certain that it is this Holy Spirit who sanctifies and keeps you in this faith in which you stand.

You know now what is right and wrong. You know now what you are to believe. And of course you have known for many years how you are to pray. Pray to your Father as His Son has taught you. Pray in faith, hope, and love for all that you need when you need it most. Pray for all people according to their needs. Pray even on those Thursdays in your lives when there’s nothing going on and nobody to talk to. Talk with God; He is always listening.

For you are God’s child. Baptized so many years ago, God made you forever to be part of His family. He gave you His name, that you would live in it, that you would die for it. That because of that water and the word you are forever changed from the ways of the world and made a disciple in the way of God. That because of this Sacrament you have every confidence that you are forgiven of all of your sins before God anytime that you need it.

This is why the Lord sent me to be your pastor. That I would publicly, privately, and regularly pronounce God’s forgiveness to you. That’s why they pay me the big bucks. To remind you and comfort you in this promise of God, that you are forgiven. In the stead of your Lord and Savior and because of His command, I promise to speak God’s forgiveness to you every single time you repent of your sins. God’s grace is abundantly spoken to you and for you because of Christ.

These things you know, these you believe, teach, and confess. These are your sure and certain foundation, made even more sure for you on a weekly basis at this altar. That this, the bread and wine are truly the Body and the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, given and shed for you. Do this in remembrance of me. As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

Oh, and, by the way, welcome to Sunday Bible Study. Join us, your parents, your pastor, and these also who support you in your faith. Join the conversation. Grow your faith and be strengthened by those who believe like you and confess like you. Learn from them, and I assure you, they will learn also from you.

Know this, we are not confirming you today because we no longer care about you. We are not confirming you just because you are old enough. We are confirming you this day in front of all of us because we know the Christian life is difficult, and that faith in our Lord is the only way to get through any difficulty.

Obey and Pray, believe and receive. You know it. You have been taught it. You believe it. Now you may receive it. Stand firm, O soldier of the cross, fight the good fight…of faith…unto life everlasting.

In the holy name of Jesus. Amen.

Rev. James Peterson
St. John
Curtis, Nebraska