More Than a Fire-Insurance Policy

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All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). All of us are in desperate need of God’s mercy and salvation. Our sin results in death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 6:23). The path to salvation is through receiving the grace of God by faith (Eph 2:8). We demonstrate our faith through the submissive act of baptism in the name of Jesus so that our sins are forgiven and we receive the gift of the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). The Holy Spirit is the pledge of our inheritance -- being redeemed as God’s own people (Eph 1:14).

The above paragraph contains biblical truths about the path to becoming a Christian. If these are new to you, I invite you to converse with me them. Baptism is a powerful act. It has the ability to transform and shape a person’s life.


Some people, however, tend to see baptism only as a “fire-insurance” policy -- protecting one from the fires of hell. A person who thinks this way isn't completely wrong. Sin separates us from God, and we need forgiveness to be in relationship with Him. Since baptism is the entry point in the Kingdom, some see it only as a get-out-of-jail-free card that ensures they will make it to heaven. The weakness of this attitude is that baptism becomes like a giant bar-code sticker that goes on our souls, allowing the giant scanner in the sky to admit us to the eternal paradise prepared for the saved.


This view of baptism is an incomplete truth. The danger in this mentality is that we never grow in our faith. As a matter of fact, we have little motivation to do more than the minimum in our Christian life. For some people, the minimum involves some church attendance in the “right” kind of church, taking communion, and not doing anything too bad for too long. What a low standard for the followers of Jesus!


This reductionist view of baptism is far too prevalent in many churches. Some baptized believers have no motivation to do anything more than show up occasionally. As a result of this incomplete view of baptism, many Christians never grow beyond infancy in their faith. They continue to struggle with the same sins, are trapped by the same fears and constantly relive the same wounds for years and decades.


Baptism should launch us on a giant adventure of growing into the image of Jesus Christ. This journey will lead us through times of struggle, contentment, sorrow and intrigue as God’s Spirit and fellow adventurers mold us into people who resemble Jesus as He would be in the world. Seize the exciting adventure to which you have been called. Know that baptism is merely the beginning, not the end.


For those who are waiting to be baptized, understand that God invites you to join the most thrilling quest on earth. Baptism is the trail head, the launching pad for this adventure. Accept the teachings about baptism and understand that it is more than just a fire-insurance policy.

Comments

Matt Dildine said…
I agree. I also think a danger in vieiwing baptism as merely a get out of jail free card or simply an outward expression of our faith is that we fail to recognize or diminish the holy and spiritial component of the act. When we sing to the lord do we believe that there is anything differnt than when we sing to the radio in our car? When we pray to the lord do we believe that something else is going on different than when we talk to ourselves? When we give to the church, do we believe that it is being blessed differently than when we give to a secular cause? In all these things we understand that there is a holy element in what we are doing. We recognize that God is on the other end of the transaction engaging us sprirtual relationship. Yet many people view bapatism narrowly in the way Jason described or merely an outward expression of faith with God having no part other than a proud observer. I would suggest quite the contrary, that Baptism binds us with Christ's death and resurrection thus allowing us to enjoy and particpate in the work of the holy spirit.
July 8, 2009 at 9:51 AM
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