The Bible records two distinct occasions when Jesus marvelled (θαυμάζω, thaumazō, meaning to wonder, to be amazed, to be astonished). These two instances stand in stark contrast, revealing what truly caught the attention of the Son of God.
To understand our own positions, it may be a good idea to take note of this.
Within the vast tapestry of Christian faith, few practices evoke as much discussion and varied interpretation as baptism. From the earliest days of the so-called church to our modern era, believers have grappled with its meaning, its mode, and its proper recipients. At its heart, however, all forms of Christian baptism should point to a foundational truth: the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. This post aims to explore the origins and practices of both infant and adult baptism, comparing them through the lens of biblical covenants and, most importantly, the finished work of Christ, while investigating the diverse theological understandings that underpinned religious doctrine and tradition.
Before we go into all of this, I thought it well to provide some wider perspective from an anthropological point of view.
I love how Jesus just cuts to the point.
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them (Matthew 18:1-2).
Just that?
This riddle, given by Samson, isn't just a clever puzzle; like many ancient parables and prophetic utterances (e.g., in Proverbs 1:6 or Psalm 78:2), it carries a deeper, veiled truth. From a New Covenant, grace perspective, it becomes a powerful metaphor for the triumph of Christ and the lavish blessings that flow from His completed victory.
Sometimes it is difficult to see the forest for the trees … or the trees for the forest being bogged down in minutiae and losing sight of what's truly important or how everything fits together. On the other hand our over-generalization may cause us to lose touch with the practical realities because we get too absorbed in our doctrines, our theology and church traditions (Mark 7:13).
Kingdom dominion!
What?!
Do we even have dominion?
Yesterday, I was reading Matthew 28 (the very last verses of the last chapter of Matthew) where Jesus commissions us to go out and do the unthinkable. I re-read a note there that I scribbled way back: "Jesus has all the power (authority) and He gave us delegated authority and jurisdiction to overcome our obstacles in this world."
But that is not true!
Recently, I tuned into an online podcast teaching about "How to know the will of God." A great question indeed! But to my surprise, the podcast teacher, despite being part of a grace-focused ministry (which I highly recommend, and whose founder I consider a mentor), seemed to miss the truly Greater Answer. It was a whisper to my spirit, a revelation that brought exceeding peace and comfort, even as the teacher continued his lengthy explanation.
Should I explain? Let's dive in.