Renounce: Living Out Our Baptism

This was my message for Miller’s Station UMC – January 11, 2026

Anchor Verses:

Isaiah 42:1-9

Mathew 3: 13-17

This week we consider the baptism of Jesus as we journey through the life of Jesus. As we have done the past few weeks, we are also leaning on the Old Testament as a compass that points us towards these moments with Jesus. It should mean a lot to be a Christian. Historically, all Christians take a vow either by their community and later as individuals to a commitment to the faith or in some communities, the individual waits until they are an adult to make this commitment. We know this commitment as the rite or order of Baptism. In this this week’s post, I want to reflect on my tradition’s baptismal covenant and emphasize how this covenant is valid today as we have continually observed in the story of Jesus up to this point, points us how to live.

The Old Testament Lesson

Friends, as we gather this week around the words of Isaiah, our hearts are drawn to the image of the servant—a figure who stands quietly, faithfully, in the midst of a noisy world. Many have pointed to this passage and proclaimed, “Here is Jesus foretold! Here is the Messiah we yearn for!” And, indeed, there is inspiration in seeing Christ reflected in these ancient words. But, church, what the Spirit impressed on me in my own prayer and study this week was not just who the servant is but how the servant serves. There, in Isaiah 42:2-4, we are given a portrait of true, holy humility. We read that the servant does not shout, does not draw attention, does not break the bruised reed or snuff out the smoldering wick. Instead, the servant gently, persistently brings forth justice—never growing weary, never giving up hope, until God’s justice is planted in every corner of the earth. Oh, what a vision! What a challenge for us as disciples of Christ!

Humility, beloved, is woven through these words. It is a humility that does not mean thinking less of ourselves but means thinking of ourselves less. And as we gaze upon this servant, we see Jesus—yes!—but we also see a pattern for our own lives. It’s as if Isaiah is holding up a mirror, inviting us to see the kind of servant God calls each one of us to be. Maybe, just maybe, this is not only a prophecy of Christ, but also a call to all who would follow—the invitation to walk in the way of quiet faithfulness, of gentle strength, bringing light and hope wherever we go.

And, church, if we read just a little further, we hear Isaiah speaking not only to individuals but to the whole community of faith. When he speaks of a calling, of being a light to the nations, he is sounding a trumpet for the people of God. The servant, in this vision, is not just one—it is all of us together. The echoes ring out in Jesus’ own words: “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden.” We, the church, are called to be that servant people—a community who lives out God’s justice, who shines the light of Christ into every dark place, and who invites all the world to come and know the One who calls us by name.

We Renounce Humbly

Let’s dig deeper into what humility really means, using lessons from Isaiah, Matthew, and the teachings of John Wesley. Humility isn’t about putting yourself down or thinking you’re unimportant. Instead, it’s about focusing less on yourself and more on God and others.

John Wesley, a key figure in our tradition, explained that pride happens when you think you’re better than you are, or when you try to take credit for things instead of giving credit to God. Pride can lead us away from God and toward other problems like selfishness or dishonesty. But God doesn’t want us to hate ourselves—God wants us to build a close relationship with Him and with the people around us. That connection only grows when we invite God into our daily lives, through prayer and by letting God guide our actions. With God’s help, we learn to truly love ourselves, God, and our neighbors.

Wesley talked about “Christian perfection,” which isn’t about being flawless or never making mistakes. Instead, it means growing closer to God and loving others more deeply. Pride gets in the way of this perfect love, because it keeps us focused on ourselves. Wesley knew that no one is perfect in the everyday sense—we all make mistakes, and we all have weaknesses. Even those who are growing in faith will face temptations, just like Jesus did.

Christian perfection, as Wesley described it, is about loving God with everything you have and letting that love shape how you treat others. It means making choices out of love, not selfishness, and always aiming to live in a way that honors God. It’s not a final destination, but a lifelong journey of growing in love and holiness. Even when we mess up, as long as our intentions are good and rooted in love, we’re still following the path God wants for us. In short, humility is about putting love—God’s love and love for others—at the center of our lives, letting it guide our words, actions, and attitudes every day.

Lessons from the Covenant

Jesus approached John with humility, and John responded in kind—two servants recognizing the presence of Christ in one another. Whether it was family history, a whisper from the Spirit, or simply the way Jesus carried himself, something moved John to hesitate and wish to be blessed rather than to bless.

Yet Jesus insisted, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Even if we don’t fully understand what Jesus meant, his message is clear: he chose to be with us, to join us where we are, and to make his ministry about belonging to the body—the kingdom of God—so that all who long for relationship and meaning might know they are included.

Traditionally in many churches I have served and attended, it was custom in these churches to renew our baptismal covenant as a sign to the community our commitment to live out the vows of our baptism. Let us open our hearts humbly to the following words and challenges that are issued from these lines.

“Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin?”

While we can always see two sides of a coin, I feel that we are observing a lot of wickedness and evil powers these days. As for repenting of our sin, when I think of sin, I think of the Jewish idea of this – how we are alienating ourselves from our community, not being the presence of God for others. Renouncing isn’t passive; it’s a declaration of allegiance. What are we turning away from? We are turning away from the systems that alienate, shame and keep others from enjoying the kindom of god. We are turning towards the love of Christ and how it can be displayed courageously and radically in our communities, both locally and globally.

We must recognize the evil systems that we participate in and we must also understand that repentance isn’t shame; it’s reorientation. What practices help us continually turn toward God? As we consider this point in the covenant, let us consider seriously how we as a community and individually, we renew our commitment to posture ourselves towards God and towards the Son.

“Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?”

Baptism empowers us—it’s not merely a symbol, but a living reality that equips us for the work of God in our daily lives. When we talk about God-given power, we are not speaking of dominance or control, but of the spiritual strength to resist injustice wherever we encounter it. The Church is called to discern faithfully: to listen for God’s voice and to respond, whether by speaking, acting, or intervening as the Spirit leads. Evil does not remain static; it adapts and takes on new forms in our world. That’s why we must remain alert, continually seeking God’s wisdom to recognize and confront the fresh faces of injustice. Such resistance is never easy when faced alone. It takes courage and the support of a loving community—our Church—to persevere. Together, we encourage, uphold, and strengthen one another in this holy calling, embodying Christ’s love as we stand firm against oppression and walk in the power of our baptismal vows.

“Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord in union with the Church which Christ has opened to all people?”

This classic line is key to all acceptances of Jesus in the lives of every believer as our Lord and Savior. It is our declaration with the saints of old that Jesus of Nazareth stood apart from the human world in such a way that we could not delineate human from divine. It means that we practice trusting grace rather than performance or perfectionism. It means aligning our lives with his teachings and serving Christ as Lord. It demonstrates that our faith is communal and we are to engage in radical hospitality.

“Will you nurture this person in Christ’s holy Church, that by your teaching and example, they may be guided to accept God’s grace for themselves to profess their faith openly, and to lead a Christian life?”

Baptism calls us to take spiritual formation seriously, shaping our lives through both teaching and example. Our responsibility is to nurture authentic faith, allowing children and new believers to learn from what we model, not just what we say. Rather than controlling, we guide others, fostering a community where faith can grow in an environment that encourages lifelong discipleship across all ages.

“Do you, as Christ’s body, the Church, reaffirm both your rejection of sin and your commitment to Christ?”

While we consider our baptismal vows personally, especially when we are going through the process of confirmation, our baptismal vows are also very communal. They mark the identity of the entire Church, calling us as a community to continually renew our commitment to Christ and one another. When we regularly revisit these promises, it challenges us personally and corporately to keep our faith vibrant and reminds us that rejecting sin is a shared responsibility, holding each other accountable through love and support. A Christ-centered community lives out this mission by embodying grace, practicing radical hospitality, and courageously standing against injustice together, serving as a living testament to God’s love in action.

“With God’s help, we will proclaim the good news and live according to the example of Christ…”

Here, we are challenged to do the missional thing – to be the presence of Christ outside the walls of our churches. We are reflecting back on our topic of humility, recognizing that we cannot do it alone, we need God’s help. Our shared life here must be a testimony to the entire world. How do we embody Christ’s character: mercy, courage, truth, sacrifice, love? If we are not living out this covenant daily, if we are not seriously reflecting on our vow to devote our lives to Christ, we are not embodying the Christ presence within ourselves and only acting as a clanging symbol.

Fine

Just as Jesus emerged from the Jordan waters to begin his ministry of bringing good news to the poor, liberty to the captives, and light to those in darkness, so we emerge from the baptismal waters to participate in that same mission. We are beloved. We are claimed. May we answer that call with humble, faithful hearts. Amen

Closing Benediction:

The heavens have opened

and we have heard God’s voice.

Let us go to speak up for all

whom the world ignores.

We have stood in the waters of baptism

gathered into the welcoming arms of Jesus.

Let us go to embrace everyone who finds

the doors of hope, justice, life

slammed in their faces.

We have felt the touch of the Spirit

resting upon us like a gentle dove.