For the Baptized, this is How it Goes

We are rebel children and children of God the Father. For the Baptized, this is how it goes. We're baptized into Christ. We're forgiven, but we're still sinners. We are sinners in the flesh, but at peace with God through faith in Christ. That's how it goes for us.

God campaigns against, defeats, and humbles rebellious sinners. But, because in Baptism we're made His children, He also strengthens us to hold the line. So, we can comfort ourselves that we are Baptized. We can take comfort in the knowledge that He kills the sinner so we can get a new shot at life and life eternal.

We can take comfort in the knowledge that He kills the sinner so we can get a new shot at life and life eternal.

Don't run away. Don't retreat. Don't surrender. That's not what God intends for us when He wages war against sin. Instead, trust and hope that God doesn't want to torture His children. He doesn't want the Baptized to suffer and die because of sin. His war isn't against us so much as it's against the sin that rules over us. Unfortunately, that means that so long as we are "in the flesh," as Paul says, God's judgment and attacks on sin are a campaign against us, the sinner.

For the Baptized, this is how it goes. We're trampled by judgment and grace. We're engaged by sin and forgiveness. We're a rebellious sinner and a faithful child of God. We're paraded before the world as a captive and set free to live in Christ.

We will be poor. We will cry. We will pray. We will suffer. We will die because God's campaign against sin is relentless, and He can't be defeated. At the same time, He'll strengthen, help, support, and reinforce us Baptized to hold the line so that we can enjoy comfort even as God tramples our sin underfoot with His grace.

For us Baptized, this is how it goes. We're Baptized into Christ. That means, we're children of death doomed to die, and children of life destined for life eternal. That's how it goes for us. Sinful, but forgiven. Dead, but alive. Damned, but promised life eternal. But, always because we're Baptized into Christ, a rebel child, and child of God the Father. A Baptized sinner destined for life eternal.