Part 5 (1/2)

[Footnote 104: Acts 7.8]

[Footnote 105: Mat. 3.15]

[Footnote 106: Acts 1.5; Acts 11.16]

[Footnote 107: Jon. 19.30]

[Footnote 108: 1 Cor. 12.31; Col. 2.14, 17]

[Footnote 109: Heb. 10.1, 9; Heb. 9.13, 28; Heb. 9.12]

[Footnote 110: Acts 1.11]

[Footnote 111: Acts 1.12; Acts 1.4; Acts 24.49; Acts 2.1, 18; Jon.

16.16, 22]

[Footnote 112: Jon. 14.16, 21]

[Footnote 113: 1 Cor. 12.13; Gal. 3.28; Acts 2.16, 18]

[Footnote 114: Life of St. Paul P. 52]

WATER BAPTISM AND CHRISTIAN BAPTISM

Water is not to be understood whenever baptism is named; neither is baptism to be understood whenever water is named. There are many baptisms without water mentioned in Scripture and elsewhere.

The four evangelists and Peter each define two different and distinct baptisms following closely after each other. First John's baptism of water, then Christ's baptism of the Holy Spirit. Our Saviour also testified to these two independent baptisms but to no other baptism as the result or successor of these two. He speaks of one as past and of the other as yet to come.[115]

Many years later, Paul said there was only one baptism; one Lord, one faith, one baptism.[116]

One of these two baptisms which Christ and all the evangelists tell us about must have ended before Paul wrote. Which baptism had ended? Which remains? Can any Christian doubt which baptism remains to us? Christ's death, resurrection, ascension and return at Pentecost had all intervened between the time when John told the Jews of two baptisms and the time when Paul claimed there was but one. During this time Christ had blotted out ordinances and nailed them to his cross. He made no reservation 3 of water baptism. It went with the rest.[117]

Christian baptism came in fullness; water baptism ended.

Near the close of Peter's ministry he said: The baptism which now saves is not the putting away the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience toward G.o.d by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.[118]

Putting away the filth of the flesh evidently here refers to Jewish purification by water baptism. Peter says this is not the baptism which now saves. The baptism which now saves is the answer of a good conscience toward G.o.d by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.[119]

This answer of a good conscience toward G.o.d can refer to no other baptism than that of the Holy Spirit which Jesus said was the promise of the Father to follow or supercede John's water baptism.[120] It is also called the gift of the Holy Spirit, and being filled with the Holy Spirit. And again it is called the earnest of the Spirit. This is the baptism which Peter recognized as that which was foretold by the prophet Joel: In the last days saith G.o.d I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. On my servants and on my handmaidens will I pour out of my Spirit and they shall prophecy.[121]

These are the Gospel days in which we now live. This is the one baptism ordained to remain.

Churchmen say: Burial with Christ in baptism (Rom. 6-2) is figurative, a mortification of our l.u.s.ts; not a literal burial in water.[122]

We heartily accept this church teaching and suggest that baptism into Christ and crucifixion with Christ are no more literal.[123]

We see no more water about baptism into Christ than we see wood in the cross upon which all Christ's children must be crucified.[124]