Matthew 12:45: the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.

Jesus spends most of the debate in our sermon text talking about the generation of Israel that saw His coming, witnessed the powerful signs He performed, heard the good news, and yet failed to repent. When he talks about the last state of the man being worse than the first, He is talking in the first instance about “this generation,” as He goes on to say in this same verse.

Yet, Jesus’ sobering warning was not meant merely for the Jews of His time. Peter repeats the same warning later in the New Testament, and if anything, Peter makes the warning even stronger:

“if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.” Then he adds: “For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.”

Peter’s warnings are very relevant to baptism. He speaks first about escaping the defilements of the world, and that is part of the meaning and effect of baptism. Baptism marks off our children, and ourselves, from the world. Baptism is the fulfillment of the Old Testament cleansing rites, cleansing us once-for-all, rather than cleansing by repeated washings. Through baptism, we are washed from the world’s impurities, escape from the world, and are brought into the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.

But that cleansing from defilement can be reversed. That’s Peter’s warning. If we escape from the defilements of the world, but then return to them and are overcome by them, then the last state is worse than the first. It’s worse, he says, for us to be cleansed from defilement and then return, like a sow to her wallow, like a dog to its vomit. The pagan who never imagined that Jesus ever existed is better off than someone who has been given the knowledge of Jesus, who has escaped the defilements of the world, and then returned.

This is a sobering reminder at a joyous moment, but it is a necessary part of the meaning of baptism, and a necessary part of what you must do as you train your child. Of course, remind her often of the mercy she’s received; remind her often that she has escaped the defilements of the world; remind her that she is marked with the name of Jesus. But also teach her that the last state can be worse than the first, that it is better not to know the way of righteousness than having known it to turn away from the Lord’s commandment.

How can you and she avoid this terrible outcome? The answer is simple: Trust God, trust Jesus, follow Him wherever He leads, believe His promises and take warning from His threats. How can you avoid returning to the vomit? Trust Jesus to keep you. Trust in God’s promise, and teach your daughter to trust, and all will be well.