11/21/2023 – If God Commands it, Why not do it?
2 Kings 5: 13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. 15 Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”.
What makes this miracle of Naaman more amazing, beyond the power of God to heal leprosy, is the amazing grace of God that overcomes every obstacle to bring the sinner to salvation. He is mighty to save!
Everyone who has been baptized in the Spirit of God has been cleansed from the leprosy of sin. Baptism is a testimony of the amazing grace of God.
It is no wonder that it is the opening act in the ministry of our Lord Jesus in the New Testament. The testimony of baptism is so powerful that God has chosen baptism to reveal Himself to us in a way that is complete. In the baptism of our Lord Jesus, the trinity is revealed. John did not think the Lord needed to be baptized. He who is pure did not need cleansing. But He who is holy decided to represent us in baptism and show us the blessing that it represents.
When the Lord came out of the water, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit appeared together, revealing their existence as three distinct persons in the singularity of divinity, and revealing their individual roles in the amazing work of salvation.
Naaman was a commander in the Syrian army. They were enemies of the people of God and had raided Israel and taken an Israelite woman as a slave. What were the chances that Naaman would be saved? If it were up to Naaman, none. But God decided in His amazing grace to bring salvation to this man. It was not a coincidence that he captured a young woman who was a servant of God.
It was not a coincidence that Naaman had become sick with leprosy. It was part of God’s plan. The Holy Spirit used a young servant to bring hope into his heart…to testify to him. And the Holy Spirit began to work inside his heart to bring Naaman to salvation.
God has commanded you to believe in our Lord Jesus Christ and to be baptized. This is all you need to do to be saved. My prayer is that you have obeyed. If not, why not?