Monday, October 9, 2017
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
BAPTIZING THEM ...
Over the past few Monday devotions we've been reminded and encouraged from our Savior's great commission that all of this is really the Lord's work. Nothing better demonstrates this courage-giving truth than the sacrament of baptism. And this is exactly how Jesus says we are to make disciples: by baptizing them. And Scripture so clearly reveals that Baptism is something that God does for us, not something that we do for God. When the water and Word of holy baptism is applied as God commands, Scripture reveals that wonderful things happen. It was the Apostle Paul who describes it as "the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit" in his letter to Titus. Through Peter God reveals that "baptism...now saves us." And it was also Peter whose bold words on the first Pentecost make it so abundantly clear that Baptism offers so much to sinners like us when he proclaimed "Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
These same truths that offer so much comfort to the repentant sinner also offer much encouragement as we consider the work of evangelism. Conversion from a condemned sinner to a redeemed, restored, and forgiven child of God is not our work. It is the work that God accomplishes through the water and word of Baptism. We are simply God's instruments in carrying out that work. That truth encourages the child of God to view the work the evangelism not as a difficult task we must complete, but rather as the privilege it truly is!
