For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 1:4–10 (ESV)
The LORD had graciously given the Thessalonians godly examples in the lives of Paul, Silas, and Timothy – just as He has placed godly examples before us as well. It is very hard to live out the Christian life if you have never seen other people doing it too. This is one of the reasons why the LORD joins us together into a Christian family. It is why, when we baptize covenant children, or when we receive new members into the church, the Minister charges us by saying:
Therefore, you ought to commit yourself before God to assist [this person] in his Christian nurture by godly example, prayer, and encouragement in our most precious faith and in the fellowship of believers.
Nevertheless, please notice that it is the Word of God and the Sovereign working of the Holy Spirit which are driving the train. Your godly example has no power in itself. Yet, the word of God that can shatter the tallest cedars into splinters on the ground, is powerfully used by the LORD to covert and to sanctify His people.
MEMORY WORK – Shorter Catechism Q/A 95
Q. 95. To whom is baptism to be administered?
A. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized.