We all are most likely fairly familiar with the often sung hymn, “Trust and Obey”. Before we got the new song books it was number 702, if memory serves me correctly. We sometimes sing a song that we have sung for years and perhaps not pay as much attention to the meaning as we should. The basic premise in the song is that we should trust God, obey His word and everything will turn out all right.
An analogy I have been pondering of late which I hope might be helpful in talking with folks about baptism comes from the idea in that song. Jesus, the Christ, lived a life here on this earth in complete obedience to God, the Father. Jesus was even obedient unto death on the cross, through which we have access to eternal salvation. Through Jesus’ obedience to God by enduring the cross, taking our sins upon himself, suffering death, and being buried; he was completely obedient to God’s will. Through His obedience, God raised him from the dead and provided Jesus with victory over death and made him the first born to eternal life.
In like manner we are to live our lives in complete obedience to God in all things as much as lies within us to do. When we obey God by following His will of repentance of our sins, dying to the old self, being buried in baptism, God is faithful to grant His mercy to us and seals our assurance of eternal life. Just as Jesus was victorious by putting his trust in God and obeying His will, so too we also will be victorious over this world and the burden of sin when we trust God and obey His will.
For the elders, Gregg Woodall