p. 6 (566) | BAPTIZED INTO HIS LIFE

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, Cal. · Sep 8, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 36.

BAPTIZED INTO HIS LIFE.

It would be the same were we to say, “Baptized into His Spirit.” We have used life, because of the ideas associated with it,—power, action, growth, fruitage; but we would not by any means disassociate the life of God from the Spirit of God. “The Spirit is life because of righteousness.”

How may we obtain that Spirit, that mighty power of God? What are the requisite steps in the experience of the child of God? These questions may be answered in various ways and from different view-points; we will at this time consider the subject from the words of Jesus in Matt. 28:19: “Baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” R.V.

This is not a mere formula. The performance of a ceremony which includes these words may be the veriest mockery, tho performed by a minister or a priest who may be able to trace his priestly succession or ceremonial lineage to the apostle Peter or Paul. There is a vital truth involved in the words, which both the administrator and candidate should in a measure, at least, realize.

“Baptized” means immersed, whelmed, plunged. It involves a complete enfolding in the element. It involves in its spiritual significance a burial of the old life of sin and arising to walk in a new life, abiding therein continually. Rom. 6:3–6.

“Baptized into” a name means a swallowing up by that name, bearing that name, living in that name.

“Name” in Scripture signifies character, especially the names of Deity and the names given by Deity. Jacob meant “supplanter,” and that was the character of the unregenerate son of Isaac. But after his struggle with the angel at the Ford Jabbok, the “Supplanter” became the “Prevailer,” and Jacob became Israel.

The name of the Father means the character of the Father. When Moses besought God to show him His glory, the Lord replied in such a way as to show that His glory was His goodness, and that this wonderful fact was revealed in His name. Said Moses, “I beseech Thee, show me Thy glory.” The Lord replies, “I will make all My goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee.” Ex. 33:18, 19. And in fulfilling this promise, “the Lord descended in a cloud, and stood with him [Moses] there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord.” And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “Jehovah, Jehovah, a God full of compassion and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy and truth; keeping mercy for thousands [of generations, Deut. 7:9], forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin; and that will by no means clear the guilty.” Ex. 34:5–7, R.V.

Here is the character of God, so infinitely holy that He can not overlook unconfessed and cherished sin, yet infinitely merciful and compassionate. “The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.” Ps. 145:17.

To be baptized into the Father’s name is, therefore, to be baptized into His character, to possess His righteousness or holiness. But man has not this righteousness of himself. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory [goodness] of God.” Rom. 3:23. “There is none righteous, no, not one.” “From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores.” “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.”

“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.”

These are divine photographic views and descriptions of the human heart in its sinful condition, by nature. Every man and woman who have looked within, in the light of eternity, and who will be honest between their own soul and God, will admit the truthfulness of the picture. And every one who thus sees himself and the sure and fatal end of such a course, will cry out in his agony and desire of deliverance, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

Praise God, the physician who has made the diagnosis with the divine X-rays of the piercing Word, is also a healer. He who so perfectly declares the disease furnishes also the remedy, for He is the mighty Life-giver.

All that He requires on our part is absolute submission to Him. Of course this means the giving up of our own way absolutely, unconditionally, and forever. “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he can not be My disciple.” But why retain our all or any? It has brought us only bondage and misery. And why not give all to Him which He has purchased—our sin and selfishness with the rest—and take what He has to give?

But what has He to give?—“All things which pertain unto life and godliness.” Listen to some of His precious promises—all negotiable at the Bank of Heaven on demand—to sinners:—

“Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isa. 55:6, 7.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; tho your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; tho they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” Isa. 1:18, 19.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9.

“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference; for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” Rom. 3:22–25. This is the character God gives in exchange for our sins. It matters not how He can do it, or by what divine alchemy He makes the change; suffice to say, He makes it. He has made it for myriads in the past. He is making it for many to-day. He will make it for you. If you hate sin, if you will give it all up to Him for Christ’s sake, He will take it all away, and count you as righteous as tho you had never sinned.

This is being baptized into the Father’s name. There are no back debts lingering over you in this transaction to burden and harass. Jesus Christ has canceled them. Will you not accept this gift?

What a blessed exchange! What a glorious name to bear! Swallowed up in God’s name, in His character! This is the first step to the fulness of His life, His Spirit. Have you taken it? If not, why not?