20. Dedication

During this service we have been seeing that the glory of God is manifested in the conversion of the nations. There is coming a time when entire nations will stand in awe of God and bow before His throne. Can you imagine how amazing that would be to have 300,000,000 people bowing before God and singing His praises? Well, we are not there yet.

But in the meantime, God gains great glory from the salvation of entire families. Acts 3 says that the promise to Abraham in Genesis continues to hold true, “And in your seed [that is Christ,] all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (v. 25). It truly is an awesome thing when entire families worship together. Jesus said of little children who were singing His praises, and even babies who must have been moved by the Spirit during that particular time of worship - ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’? God is glorified when entire families worship together.

And the moment one person in a family comes to faith, God’s Spirit invades that family and begins to sanctify it. That’s why Jesus said to Zaccheus (even before Zaccheus went home), “Today salvation has come to this household, because he also is a son of Abraham” (Luke 19:9). God’s saving grace began to invade that family, one member at a time. That’s why Paul told the Philippian jailor, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Now, it is not automatic. But in that passage, the entire family was baptized as an expression of faith in God’s promise.

And the great passage on baptism in Galatians 3-4 shows not only how baptism replaces circumcision, and it shows now only how babies are heirs of the covenant now just like they were under Abraham, but it also shows those babies are placed under stewards and guardians (Gal. 4:1). [Parents] are the stewards and guardians of [child], which means that [child] is claimed by God. She doesn’t belong to the parents; they are stewards of God’s property and guardians of that stewardship trust. And that same passage says that they are responsible to God to lead their children to have a faith that will glorify Him. God has a purpose in glorifying His name through families.

And the sign of that covenant purpose of God is baptism. In the Great Commissions it says there will be entire nations baptized – everyone within that nation. But it starts with families. There is a reason why entire families were baptized when the adults came to faith. You have the baptism of the households of Lydia, the Philippian jailer, Gaius, Crispus, Stephanus. In fact, the only time when the households were not baptized was when there were no households present – as was the case with the Ethiopian Eunuch (obviously), with Paul, and with the single men in Acts 19.

But here is an important point - baptism is not only an expression of trust in God’s promises, but it is a commitment on the part of the parents to dedicate their children to God and to lead their children to a faith that glorifies God. 1 Corinthians 7:14 says that when the parents are believers, they have the privilege of having their children outwardly set apart (that’s what sanctified means) and they have the privilege of having their children outwardly cleansed (that’s a reference to baptism).

No wonder Christ blessed the little children and babies in Luke 18 and said, “for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” No wonder He promised, “I will pour water on him who is thirsty… I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on Your offspring.” No wonder God claims our little children in Isaiah 40, saying, “He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.”

In one sense [child] is a miracle baby because God has been gently leading [mother] while she was pregnant and in danger of losing that baby. But let us receive this little child into the church as [parents] dedicate her to God. And let’s rejoice in Christ’s promise, “whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” May God be glorified in this baptism. Amen.