Jesus told His disciples, “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). We can say with confidence, then, that there was rejoicing among the angels last Sunday evening as one here obeyed the gospel command, being baptized into Christ for the remission of sins.

Those present could not help but smile when our new sister said to the assembly following her baptism, “Thank you all for waiting so long for me.” Most of us, of course, have known and loved her for the many years her husband has been a member of this congregation. It would be impossible to number the prayers the saints here have offered in hope that she would one day join him in God’s family. We share their joy that they are now united in Christ Jesus, and that we have a newborn sister in the eternal household of God.

That it usually takes time — and often a considerable amount of time — for those who hear and learn the gospel to obey it is a product of the intractability of human hearts, not any weakness in the gospel itself. Although we find examples in Scripture of people who obeyed the gospel upon a single hearing, most lost souls are not so swiftly won. Why is this so? We can distill the reasons into three basic categories.

“I’m good enough already.” Some people just can’t see themselves as in need of salvation, by any means. They look at others in the world around them and say, “I’m as good as most people, and better than many.”

The problem with this excuse is that God is not grading us on a curve. When we are judged, we will not be held in comparison to the rest of fallible and imperfect humanity, but to God’s infallible and perfect word, revealed in Christ: “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). In the last day, God will open “the books” — the ones He has inspired for our instruction (2 Timothy 3:16-17) — and we will all be judged according to what is written in them (Revelation 20:12)

“I don’t need to be baptized to be saved.” Argue though they might, religious philosophers have never been able to counter the fact that Jesus said the opposite — “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16) — as did His inspired apostles — “There is also an antitype which now saves us — baptism” (1 Peter 3:21). The New Testament is plain and specific in teaching baptism as the means of forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16) and of entrance into Christ (Galatians 3:27; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 6:3).

Those who attempt to enter Christ’s salvation through any means other than His are thieves and robbers (John 10:1). They are like Naaman the leper, who at first resisted the divine prescription for the healing of his disease (2 Kings 5:11-12). Ultimately, Naaman listened to the wise counsel of his servants, who advised him to obey God’s command to “wash and be clean” (2 Kings 5:13-15).

“I can’t abandon my heritage.” Some refuse to be baptized because doing so would amount to a rejection of the religious traditions of their parents and forebears. But Saul of Tarsus turned his back on a peerless pedigree — “circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee” (Philippians 3:5) — to be baptized and wash away his sins (Acts 22:16). Having thus gained Christ, Paul counted all those past glories as “loss” and “rubbish” (Philippians 3:7-8).

As He waited for our newfound sister, Jesus waits for you: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). He will not wait forever. The Father has “appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:31), a day of vengeance on those who do not obey the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8). Why not arise and obey today? Be baptized and wash away your sins, as God’s word commands you (Acts 2:38; 22:16).