Another one of Luther’s famous quotes is: Gold remains gold, even if a harlot wears it is sin and shame.  The context of his statement is Baptism.  Luther was once asked about the efficacy of (infant) baptism, given the reality that many of the baptized go on to live lives like the devil.  Luther’s response: Gold remains gold, even if a harlot wears it in sin and shame, speaks to the efficacy of Baptism, for it is not man’s work but God’s work, and its effect remains pure as gold regardless of how we wear it.

We come into this fallen world in bondage to sin with no way to free ourselves.  In Baptism God sets us free.  He forgives our sin, indwells us with His Holy Spirit (to create in us faith so as to believe and be saved), gives new birth, and begins the work of sanctification in us: saving our souls and transforming our lives into the image and likeness of Christ.

We come into this world citizens of the Left Hand Kingdom.  In Baptism God makes us citizens of His Right Hand Kingdom.  In a manner of speaking, we have dual citizenship, though to be sure “our commonwealth is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20).

Through the indwelling presence of the Spirit, God is at work in us to will and to work for His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13).  And His good pleasure is that we not only seek first His kingdom (Matt. 6:33), but also the good of the State.  Inspired by the Spirit, the prophet Jeremiah said to the captives in Babylon, “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jer. 29:7).

There are many professing believers who say that Christians should have nothing at all to do with matters of the State.  “It’s not our concern,” they say.  “We should only be concerned about the kingdom of God.”

Nothing could further from the truth.  Though the kingdom of this world will pass away, God commands us to be good citizens of it while we’re passing through.  We are not only to pray for its welfare, but seek its well being.  My dad use to tell me, “Greg, always leave a place in better shape than what you found it in.”  Though my dad was not a believer, his words were filled with divine truth regarding biblical stewardship – stewardship of our dual citizenship.

Though “gold remains gold, even if a harlot wears it in sin and shame,” let’s not be that harlot.  Let’s wear the gift of gold given us in baptism in all its splendor and beauty, yes, by seeking first the kingdom of God, but also seeking the welfare of the city we find ourselves living in.  In so doing, we will not only leave this place in better shape than what we found it in, our winsome citizenry will also compel others to seek that which makes us so different from the world, wanting themselves to be like us – we who want to be like Christ…and some day will be!