Baptismal meditation

1 John 3:1: See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are.

Throughout this passage, John speaks about two different genealogies, two different families, two different kinds of people. On the one hand are those who are children of the devil, who hate others like Cain the murderer. On the other hand are those who are children of God, born of Him, who love one another and practice righteousness.

The difference between them is God's work, not ours. The one who practices righteousness is able to do so because He is "begotten of God." God has made us His children. We are freed from sin not by our own power but because Christ appeared to take away sin. When we were in bondage to Satan, the Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil. If we cannot sin, it's because we are born of God. None of this is a result of our own efforts. We can't make ourselves be born; we can't plant the seed of God in ourselves. This is God’s work.

That is what baptism means. I'm going to pour the water, and I'm going to say the words. But baptism is not my work. It's God's work. Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, has commanded His church to make disciples this way, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit. Baptism is not my work; it's God's work.

But John doesn't just emphasize that our new life in Christ is from God. He also emphasizes that God does this out of His love for us. Baptism signifies this too. God loves you. He is already at work in you. But in baptism He shows that love publicly before witnesses. He publicly claims you as His son. Before the world, He shows the great love that He bestowed on you that you should be a son of God.

When you are in love, you want everyone to know it. Weddings are public partly because they publicly express your choice. God the Lover does the same. He has every reason to keep His distance from us. We have rebelled against Him; we sin frequently.

Yet, He doesn't keep us at arm's length. He doesn't treat us with contempt. He loves us as His bride, and He loves us as His children, and He doesn't care who knows. He wants everyone to know, so He makes that love public in baptism. He shows the world that He is not ashamed to call us His children; and such we are.

posted by Peter J. Leithart on Sunday, November 12, 2006 at 08:05 AM

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