History is full of odd, nearly unbelievable Stories. I once heard one of these stories when looking into the life of the infamous emperor Charlemagne. Charlemagne was a renowned king and who desired his entire empire to be Christian. In this desire, he continued his military conquests seeking to win “Christians” by force.

It is reported that Charlemagne would instruct his forces to go into the nearest river to be baptized with a mass baptism. The story goes that he would have his soldiers fully submerge under the water but a hand holding a sword had to remain out of the water because their bodies were God’s but he would let them know that their fighting hand was his.

Whether this is true or not, no one really knows where the record began. But I do know that it is very believable seeing the condition of the Church. We live freely in liberty that Christ has given us with justification as our living room, but sanctification as an ideal that isn’t worth pursuing. 

Like the soldiers who submerged themselves, but held their hand high knowing just what they will do with it on their crusades and that God, just wouldn’t approve. We may Sunday could be an ideal time to “be good,” but Tuesday just wouldn’t be convenient this week. 

But no, Scripture is claims, “for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Scripture beseeches, “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). God’s word states we can, “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). 

There is nothing partial about God nor does any thing God do partial. The Lord God is one and being baptized into His body, be completely submerged (1 Corinthians 12:13)! Drop the sword!

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