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SUBJECT: God's Power

There once was a loving father with three, very different children. The oldest was named "Defiant"; the middle boy was called "Curious"; and the baby went by "Obedience".

One night, about nine o'clock, the father looked at his watch, and knowing the boys had to rise early for school, said, "Bed time, boys! Put on your pajamas and go to sleep".

Upon hearing this, Defiant turned on his heels, and with a face twisted in rage, cried, "I won't do it! You can't make me! What are you going to do if I don't? Kick me out of the family?" All night he stayed up pouting. He broke his father's heart and wasn't ready for school the next day.

The second boy, though, was of a milder temperament. "Of course I'll go to bed, Father, as soon as you tell me why". The kind father tried to answer the question, but each answer only led to more questions. And so, Curiosity, too, stayed up all night talking about how and why he ought to go to bed. He tried his father's patience, and wasn't ready for school, either.

In the meantime, the little boy, Obedience, put on his pajamas, went to bed, and slept soundly all night long. He made his father happy, and went to school well rested and ready to work.

Which of the three sons pleased his father? Which did himself good? I think you'd agree that it was Obedience.

But why? Because he promptly obeyed his wise and loving father.

This brings me to the subject of baptism.

God commands His people to be baptized. This is found as early as the Great Commission. There, Jesus said to His church, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I command you..." Now surely, if the Church is to "baptize the disciples", the disciples must submit to baptism.

But there are plainer verses, too. On the Day of Pentecost, when the killers of Christ were convicted of their sins, they cried out, "Men and brethren, what must we do?" They received the answer "Repent and be baptized".

In the house of Cornelius, Peter preached the Gospel and saw the Holy Spirit fall on the whole assembly. Being astonished by this sight, he retained the presence of mind to ask, "Can any forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" And then, "He commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord".

The same is true in the conversion of Paul. After fasting three days in blindness, Paul was met by Ananias, a devout believer in Damascus, who counseled him, "Arise and be baptized, washing away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord".

I'd be the first one to admit that the example of the early church needn't be followed in every detail. Some things in the Book of Acts are descriptive, rather than prescriptive. It merely tells us what they did--not that we must do the same. But the verses that I cited are more than examples. They are commands inspired by the Holy Spirit, and nowhere revoked in later Scripture. And so, we must conclude that God commands His children to be baptized.

But how do they respond to His command? Sadly, much like the boys at the beginning of this sermon.

Some are defiant. They read the commands of the New Testament, but won't follow them. Why? They argue that it is a non-essential. And therefore, can be disregard at will. But this reasoning is no different than that of the oldest son. He asked, "What are you going to do if I don't? Kick me out of the family?" Of course, God won't do that to any of His children. He won't send the believer to hell because he wasn't baptized. Yet, this child of God still defied His Father will, grieved Him, and did himself no good.

Others are curious. They read the New Testament, see what baptism is and who it's for, yet remain unbaptized. For, you see, the pastor hasn't answered their every question. He hasn't fully explored the implications of baptism; he hasn't answered every objection to it. And until he does, the curious child of God will not obey His Father's directive. And so, he, too, misses a blessing.

Some are obedient. They aren't able to compare and contrast the Catholic, Anglican, Reformed, and Baptist views of baptism. They can't speak of everything it signifies; aren't sure about its right subjects; yet they read the Bible and find it saying "Be baptized". And they obey. This is the child of God who pleases his Father and does himself good.

And so, of which member of the family are you most like? Defiant? Curious? Or Obedient?

If you're not sure, take this Scripture to heart: "To obey is better than sacrifice; and to hearken, the fat of rams".

May God "make us willing in the day of His power" for Christ's sake. Amen.