Today is an exciting day in our church life. Why? Because we have six young people who desire to publically testify to their allegiance to Christ! They have all made the most important decision of their life! They have been made aware just who God is and who they are. They have come face to face with the reality that God is holy and righteous and they are exactly the opposite. They have accepted the fact that they are guilty of sin and should be judged accordingly by God. However, they have also acknowledged that the Son of God, Jesus, came to earth to be a ransom for their sin. They have accepted this truth and offer of mercy and they know that He took their sins (every one of them – past, present and future) to the cross. They have confessed their sin to God and have asked for forgiveness through Jesus. And they have asked Jesus to be their Lord and Saviour! Today they go through the waters of baptism as an act of obedience in response to Jesus call to ‘repent and be baptized’! This is the exact response that is called for in God’s word for the predicament of sin.
We have spent the last few weeks looking at the great essential truths of the Christian faith viz. God’s sovereignty in all matters, God’s election of His people and God’s amazing grace given to sinners like us. Today we conclude this small series with an examination of how two apparent contradictory truths apply and more importantly how we are to respond as people who are in such a perilous and hopeless situation. The Bible teaches that God’s sovereign choice applies to who He invites and calls into His family. The Bible also teaches that we all as humans have a responsibility to believe in Jesus and be saved. There is tension here! How do we view such apparent opposite teachings? O how wonderful to explore these great truths and extend our minds in them both! Yes it is good to wrestle with God on these matters.
I have been recently reminded of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian Christians. He prays “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you …” This is my prayer for you as you continue to grow in your knowledge of our great God and as you seek to bring Him glory in how you serve Him. It is only by the work of the Holy Spirit that we can grasp such amazing truths!