Chapter 21: Some Special Promises to Parents for Their Children

The promise for the future spiritual blessings of our children does not depend on whether or not they have been baptized or dedicated as babies. God has made a special covenant with the par-ents who earnestly seek the Lord and turn from all transgression.

Isaiah 59: 20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” says the LORD.

21 “As for Me,” says the LORD, “this is my covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descend­ants, nor from the mouth of your descendant’s descendants,“ says the LORD, “from this time and forevermore.”

No matter what may be happening now in the lives of your descendants, seek the Lord and turn from every transgression and God will work mightily in their lives. In time to come, sooner or later, they will speak His words and sing His praise in the Spirit. Even to your descendant’s descendants! Do not be discouraged

Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring; they will spring up among the grass like willows by the watercourses.

Isaiah 54:13 All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. (John 6:45)

Psalms 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to ever­lasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children,

18 to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them.

Acts 2:39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.

Psalms 37:26; Isaiah 66:22;65:23; Psalms 112:2; Proverbs 20:7; Joel 1:3; Malachi.4:6

And I include all who belong to me by marriage or adoption!

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The Spiritual Meaning of Water Baptism

This part of the our study concerns the spiritual meaning of water baptism by immersion for the new believer.  It is far more than just a formal religious ceremony.  The baptism that Jesus commanded is a physical portrayal of what it means spiritually for a believer to be united with Him in the likeness of His death, burial and resurrection.  By that act the new believer is openly declaring his faith in Jesus as his Savior and Lord and a commitment to follow him.

The decision to repent and turn from sin and disobedience to doing God’s will means death to the old way of life.  Going down into the water signifies a burial of that old life and all its ways.  Coming up out of the water signifies being raised to walk by faith in a new way of life that is pleasing to God.  As the scripture says:

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

4Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

God has designed water baptism to be a great blessing to the new believer.  It is important for new believers because it is an open confession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sings.  It also signifies a total commitment to do his will.  Without true repentance and such a commitment, water baptism is only an empty religious form without any spiritual value.   “…having a form of godliness but denying its power.” II Timothy 3:5

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