Dear Baptized Ones,

This Sunday we will have the privilege of witnessing the baptism of Zoey Weathers.  As a means of grace, baptism helps us to see and have assurance that the blood of Christ really does cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Baptism itself will not save Zoey, but it will remind her all her days that it is only through the washing regeneration accomplished for us by Jesus that she can have peace with God.  It will serve as a means for the Spirit to spur her on to know, serve, and love God, who has received her with this sign of adoption. The baptism of Zoey helps us too, because we see that God’s love is for us and for the children He gives us.

We will also hear from 1 Peter 3:1-7, which calls us to put the glory of God above our own desires even in our closest relationships.  Reflecting on our baptism and the union with Christ it signifies will help us to see this command as for our greatest good. The very same Jesus who calls us to submit in this way is the One who washed us clean and gave us new life in Him.  For us, life now revolves around Him and our desire is to glorify Him in everything that we do.

John Stott tells of a Hindu convert to Christianity who was questioned by a close friend as to what he had found in Christianity that was better than Hinduism.  “The better thing I have found,” said the man in reply, “is Christ.” “But what particular doctrine have you found?” asked his friend. “The particular doctrine I have found,” said the man, “is Christ.”

In the same spirit, let us use this occasion to improve upon our own baptisms by looking to Christ.  Because we are washed by His blood and need not fear condemnation, let us work to see Christ at the center of every Biblical command however challenging that command may be to our desires or instincts.  Because we have put the old self to death with Christ in baptism, let us see that we have found a better thing in Christ than we ever had in our old manner of life. Because we have been raised to new life with Christ in baptism, let us endeavor to live in such a way that others may see that glory of Christ is the end of every doctrine we believe or act of ministry we that we do.

In Christ,

Robby