Romans 6
It was October, 1972. I was one month
old, and I became a Christian. It was not because I had some epiphany that led
me to believe that Jesus was the Christ, indeed, I do not remember the
experience at all. Nor do I have an amazing story of years of drug and alcohol
addiction, wild living, and corruption that all disappeared after I came to
faith. In fact, I’ve done almost all of my sinning as person who is also a
child of God. I barely participated in the event! My parents and godparents
took turns holding me. They handed me to our pastor, Raymond Pollatz, Sr. He
took water and spoke God’s Word and baptized me. And I became a Christian.
It isn’t that what happened to me in
1972 wasn’t dramatic – at least not on a spiritual level. I was plunged into –
not water, which was lightly poured on me, but – Christ’s death. You see, this
alone is what can atone for sin. Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is
death, and that is exactly what I got when I was baptized: Christ’s death! Not
only that, but being united with Jesus in His death, I became united with Him in
His resurrection. I was, truly, born again.
Notice that I say this, “happened to me,”
and that I was, “born again.” I had as little choice in this birth as I had in
my biological birth. Baptism is not something we choose to do, it is done to us.
Jesus said to make disciples by baptizing and teaching. This is how it is done.
God works through the water connected to and combined with His Word to create
saving faith in the one who is baptized. He uses these things to wash away sin.
He grants eternal life through that washing.
It would be somewhat comforting to think
that I did something to add to my salvation. My pride would like that. But, the
fact is that I did not. No one does. Even those who say, “I chose to be a
follower of Jesus,” are speaking from their natural limitations and speaking in
human terms. (v. 19) No, my faith and salvation are no credit to me. They are
entirely gifts from the Holy Spirit who calls, gathers, and enlightens every
believer.
This is actually more comforting,
though, than thinking I somehow did something to get this hope that I have in
Jesus. It takes it out of my hands and puts it in Jesus’. And that is a much
more certain hope.
Lord, I set my hope on You because You
Yourself made me Yours. Amen.
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