But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Therefore let us be 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. Titus 3, Romans 6

As we stand before the baptismal, each salvation story is both unfathomably complex and simple. The immeasurable complexity of redemption distilled into a beautifully simple act. The hesed of God revealed and His child answering in obedience. (Note 1)

Note 1: Hesed (Hebrew) the extravagant, unconditional love of a sovereign God loving without limit those who have no merit. Hesed is a defining attribute of God, who binds Himself to His people and remains faithful even when they are unfaithful. It is seen in His willingness to forgive sin and to take upon himself the rebellion and sin of His people.