“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
—Hebrews 10:23
Baptism is not merely a rite of initiation; it is a declaration of allegiance and a summons to a new way of life. In baptism, we and our children are marked as belonging to Christ, claimed by His name, washed in His blood, and brought into His covenant community. But with this blessing comes great responsibility. As those baptized into Christ, we are not only members of His body but also priests in His Kingdom. And as Hebrews 10:23 exhorts us, we are to hold fast the confession of our hope—not in theory or belief only, but in practice, in every sphere of life.
Covenant Identity and Baptismal Responsibility
When we witness a baptism—whether it be of a newborn child or a new believer—we are reminded of God’s promises. He is the God who brings His people through the waters, from judgment into life, from slavery into freedom, from death into resurrection. He has promised to be our God and the God of our children (Gen. 17:7; Acts 2:39). He clothes us with Christ (Gal. 3:27), seals us by His Spirit (Eph. 1:13), and commissions us to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4).
But baptism is not a passive sign. It obligates us to live faithfully. As the Westminster Larger Catechism puts it, baptism binds us “unto God, to walk in newness of life.” To be baptized is to be claimed for service—to be set apart for priestly labor, worship, witness, and sacrifice.
A Kingdom of Priests in All of Life
The New Covenant people of God are called a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). This is not metaphor. It is our daily reality.
In the Old Covenant, priests offered sacrifices, taught the Word, guarded the sanctuary, and mediated the presence of God to the people. No doubt, we still have and need pastors to do some of this, but now, in Christ, the final and perfect High Priest, we have been made priests—not to offer animal sacrifices, but to offer ourselves as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1). And this priestly calling shapes every aspect of our lives.
- In the Church, we are called to worship faithfully, to encourage one another, to pray, to sing, to serve, and to grow together into maturity (Heb. 10:24–25; Eph. 4:12–16). Our baptism unites us into one body and demands our active participation in that body.
- In the Home, parents are to disciple their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4), and children are to honor their parents in the Lord. The family is a priestly training ground, where the covenant is cultivated generation to generation. Our homes are to be mini-sanctuaries where the Word is read, prayers are offered, and Christ is honored in all things.
- In our Occupations, we labor not as men-pleasers but as those serving the Lord Christ (Col. 3:23–24). Work is not secular or second-class—it is sacred. Whether we build, teach, farm, design, manage, or parent, we do it as priestly stewards, bringing order, beauty, and provision to the world God made.
- In Society, we live as salt and light (Matt. 5:13–16), not retreating into private piety but engaging with public faithfulness. We vote, speak, serve, build, and lead in ways that reflect the justice, mercy, and truth of God’s Kingdom. As baptized priests, we represent the reign of Christ in the public square—not triumphalistically, but humbly, boldly, and hopefully.
- In our Rest and Play, we image the God who rested and rejoiced over His good creation. We feast, we sing, we hike, we laugh, we swim, we rejoice in the gifts of God as acts of gratitude. Even our play can be priestly when it is done in thankfulness and joy under the Lordship of Christ.
Do Not Grow Weary: A Word of Encouragement
This is not easy. Covenant life is joyful, but it is also a call to perseverance. And that’s why a verse like Galatians 6:9 is so helpful: “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Faithfulness is often unglamorous. It’s the daily prayers, the hard conversations, the repeated repentance, the steady example. But God sees. He remembers. And He is faithful. Your baptism is His pledge. He who promised is faithful.
So hold fast. Live boldly. Parent patiently. Work diligently. Speak truthfully. Rest joyfully. Worship reverently. Do not grow weary—because Christ, the Faithful One, holds you fast even as you hold fast to Him.
Closing Exhortation
Beloved, remember your baptism. Remember the baptism of your children. Not only what God has promised to you—but what He has called you to. You are a royal priesthood. You are a people set apart. You are the light of the world. Live your whole life in faithful response to the grace of God that washed you, marked you, and commissioned you. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering—for He who promised is faithful.
In Christ’s service and yours,
Nick Esch