The Incalculable Blessing of Baptism

Baptism is a blessing. An eternal cascade of Gospel joy, peace, and life is poured out here. But a blessing spurned, a blessing refused, a blessing met with folded arms is inverted into a curse. We see this when Moses commands Israel, after entering the Promised Land, to convene on Mt. Gerizim & Mt. Ebal to hear both the blessings of the covenant along with the curses which would come upon covenant breakers (Deut. 11:29).

These baptismal waters offer, to use Paul’s wonderful phrase, an eternal weight of glory (2 Cor. 4:17). But that same glory, when met with unbelief, is like a millstone, which sinks to the ocean floor. The warnings shouldn’t excite dread, rather they draw our eyes to see how incalculable a blessing is placed upon all who are baptized. The covenant blessing is this: sins forgiven, life is given, and entirely by free grace alone.

So welcome covenant child to Jesus Christ…