Baptize Me

Most of us spend our entire lives trying to wash ourselves clean from sin. This is impossible. In fact, God says that our good works are like filthy, dirty rags (Isaiah 64:6).

This doesn’t mean that we should downplay our good works. In fact, we should shout out about our good works because they demonstrate how wonderful God has made us to be able to do these good works (Matthew 5:16). This is the opposite of pride.

However, when we try to use our good works to keep God and others off our back for the bad things we’ve done, then this is like trying to clean ourselves with rags that are filthy, dirty, and putrid. We wash our filthy skin with the dirty rags of arrogance.

The only way we can get clean is through someone else with clean water who can do the job. Essentially, it is God’s pleasure to wash us clean from our sin through taking it on Himself at the cross. It is like He has washed us with the most fresh and clean water we could ever think of. We become cleaner than clean. Maybe even cleaner than that.

Water baptism is a simple yet profound metaphor showing us what is taking place. When we are baptized, we announce to God and those around us that it is God who is washing us clean. It is His action, not our own.

Let’s remember that He must baptize us and that we cannot baptize ourselves.