Dear Baptized Ones,

   This Sunday we are privileged to witness the baptisms of Judson and Wren Argo. Alicia and Tony deeply desire for both of them to one day put off their old selves through the death and cleansing blood of Christ and put on their new selves to be renewed in the knowledge of the image of their Creator in the resurrection of Christ. This powerful possibility will be signified in their baptisms which will serve as a means of grace as they are reminded of these sure promises in Christ as they grow older and are called to respond in faith. Our church, as the Argo family’s covenant community, will have the opportunity to participate in teaching and reminding Judson and Wren of the finished work of Christ alone to be applied to them by grace alone through faith alone and in encouraging Alicia and Tony as parents.

   As we prepare for this means of grace on Sunday, consider Paul’s words from Colossians 2:6-15:

[8] See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. [9] For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, [10] and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. [11] In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, [12] having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. [13] And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, [14] by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. [15] He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Paul is calling for the Colossians to consider afresh their baptism and what it signifies as a means of combating the philosophies, deceits, and emerging human traditions from the surrounding culture and supposed rulers and authorities. If the whole fullness of God and His associated truth and knowledge dwells in Christ and the fullness of the Trinity dwells in those in union with Christ, then what can any of those other things offer the redeemed outside of those realities? If the record of sinful debt has been canceled in the crucifixion of Christ and the old fleshly self has been buried with Him, then what has sin and death to offer the beloved? If those in Christ have been raised to newness of life with Him in eternal forgiveness through faith alone by grace alone, then what greater can be offered those who walk in the resurrection? The answer to all 3 of these questions in light of their baptisms and its associated reality in Christ is NOTHING!

   The same is true for those of us who have been baptized and have received the promised redemption of God in Christ by faith. Take time to consider what you have received in Christ as represented by your baptism. Seek to improve in your understanding of how what is signified in your baptism changes how you live in a fallen world. Give thanks for so great a gift of grace as depicted in your baptism!

In Christ,

Cameron