The ache for belonging is painfully on display in our culture. Entire stores are devoted to clothing and decor and food for each unique sub-culture. I recently overheard a gal telling someone that her boyfriend was really into cyber-goth steampunk style. Whatever in tarnation that is.
We want to belong. So political parties, subcultures, social media channels, and country clubs all offer a means to scratch that itch to belong. But here, in these baptismal waters, we have a sign of true belonging. Here is archetypal belonging. God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit enjoy eternal belonging in the holy fellowship of the Godhead. By baptism, we are brought into Christ, and by Him, we are brought to the Father, and the Spirit seals and bears witness that all of this is good enough to be true.
When explaining to this child what his baptism means, with the sweetest of simplicity these parents can say, “You belong to Jesus.†And because you belong to Him, God welcomes you into His glorious fellowship, promising life everlasting to those who abide in Him by faith.
So welcome covenant child to Christ.