And baptism is God's sign of this also. That is the meaning of
the words in the Baptism Service which tell you that you were
baptised into Jesus Christ, that you might put off the old man--the
sinful, slavish, selfish, unmanly pattern of life, which we all lead
by nature; and put on the new man--the holy and noble, righteous and
loving pattern of life, which is the likeness of the Lord Jesus.
That is the message of your baptism to you; that you are God's
children, and that God's will and wish is that you should grow up to
become His SONS, to serve Him lovingly, trustingly, manfully; and
that He can and will give you power to do so--ay, that He has given
you that power already, if you will but claim it and use it. But you
must claim it and use it, because you are meant not merely to be
God's wilful, ignorant, selfish children, obeying Him from mere fear
of the rod; but to be His willing, loving, loyal sons. And that is
the message which Confirmation brings you. Baptism says: You are
God's child, whether you know it or not. Confirmation says: Yes;
but now you are to know it, and to claim your rights as His sons, of
full age, reasonable and self-governing.
Baptism says: You are regenerated and born from above, by water and
the Holy Spirit.
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