(Quasimodogeniti = "As new born babies")
Matthew 18:2--4
And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said,
"Truly I say to you unless you are converted and become like children,
you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself
as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
NASB
In the name of the One Who exalts the humble, amen.
What can we say in response to the passage quoted above? What glory is
left for us? Can we humble ourselves and take pride in being humble?
That does not track, after all, a child is not even aware that it is
humble. A child simply is totally focused and reliant on its parents.
That is how it should be with us.
When we are humble as a child we see baptism for what it is: God's pledge
to us that we have a clear conscience before Him, rather than seeing it
as a pledge we make to God (1 Peter 3:21). Baptism has no power to save
us, if it is our pledge to God. Also, if Baptism is our pledge to God,
then Ephesians 2:8&9 cannot be true. It is the humble person who looks
to God for his salvation rather than to a decision, pledge, or public
confession of faith which are all Human works.
For this reason the Lord urges us to be like new born babies desiring the
pure milk of the Word. It is the Word that humbles us by the knowledge
it gives that salvation is completely outside of ourselves. This truth
is emphasized throughout Holy Scripture, but is perhaps most apparent in
the prophecy of Isaiah. In the prophecy of Isaiah God repeatedly states,
"I will do this," and "By my mighty upraised arm I will accomplish
it."
Your salvation is accomplished and requires nothing from you. Your faith
which holds onto the promise is itself a gift of God created by the
promise. In this knowledge is humility. In humility is salvation and
exaltation to the heavenly realm. May the Lord bless you as a little
child. May He make your faith strong through His holy word. Amen.
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, we are prideful creatures who often want to take
our Savior's glory for ourselves. Forgive us because of His sacrifice,
and make us humble through your Word so that we do not lose our salvation
because of our own foolish pride, amen.