Living after the coming of Christ, we live in the time where baptism has replaced circumcision as the sign of belonging to God’s people.¹ Those who come to faith in Jesus must be baptized together with their children, but it is not necessary for salvation. The thief on the cross was saved without baptism (Luke 23:32–42). Certainly, it is a fruit of true faith and those who belong to Jesus will want to submit to his commandments,² but it remains a fruit and not the root of God’s favour. It is necessary for the Christian, but not necessary for salvation.

What is true for baptism is true also for all moral laws and Christian duties. It is not secret that we have various obligations as Christians. The call to faith corresponds with a call to service:³ the duty to bear witness to Christ as prophets, priestly service in our day-to-day endeavours, the kingly fight against sin, and taking steps to forgive and be reconciled with our brother. When we come to faith in Christ we are called to works of service, important tasks, necessary tasks, but always tasks that flow from our comfort in Christ. They are responses to God’s favour enabled by the Spirit, not and never the cause of our salvation. Therefore, as we make sacrifices in the Christian life, as we give generously to support the ministry of the Word, as we are diligent in attending the means of grace and pursuing the good works that Christ has prepared for us as we must be, let us be careful that we do not come to a place where we think that our sacrifices place us on a higher plane of Christian status. It is easy to do when we are surrounded by believers that are immature and still learning what it means to walk with Christ, or when we do not see others making the life changes that we have made. Let us remember that our salvation is by grace from start to finish. We all have much to learn; we must all continue to grow.