Baptism as Costly Grace (a Baptismal exhortation)
Baptism is never divorced from a life of repentance. Baptism is not cheap grace given as a guarantee of heaven but a promise of a heavenly life by faith. It is not sacerdotal, expecting the consecrated hands of priests to function ex opere operato. It is not ex nihilo (out of nothing) appearing as a magical manifestation. Instead, baptism is a costly grace. It is a gift of community that comes from the power of the Spirit through the baptized Messiah from whose sides flowed living waters. It is incorporation into the holy ones.
Baptism is not a rationale for sin to abound but for the forgiveness of sins to abound and grace to abound in a life of repentance.
Baptism is an act of God in the life of children. As a divine act, God directs them to their final eschaton. They are baptized into the very death of Christ and raised into the very resurrection of Jesus, their King.
These recipients of baptism come because their believing parents affirm God's covenant promises. They affirm that God's nurture begins in this baptismal rite.
