The Trinity of Significance in the Ordinance of Baptism.
By Rev. Hyatt Smith
It is historical, declarative, prophetic. 1. Historical.—It publishes the burial and resurrection of Christ. 2. Declarative.—It declares the Christian’s burial from the world, and his resurrection into the kingdom of Christ. 3. Prophetic.—It prophesies the Christian’s burial in the grave, and his “part in the first resurrection over whom the second death hath no power.” “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” (Rom. 6: 3–5.) “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?” (1 Cor. 15: 29.) Paul is arguing for the resurrection of the saints. He here refers to their baptism, and his language clearly is, If there is no resurrection, why did we, in the act of being buried in the water, and being raised out of the water, declare our burial in the grave, and our resurrection from the grave? If there be no resurrection, the declaration of the act of baptism was false. “Why were we then baptized for the dead?” THE TESTIMONY OF A DYING SAINT.
A member of my church was dying of consumption. I one day asked her if she had no fear of death and the grave. I knew her faith in Christ as her Saviour was strong and immovable; but I thought that, possibly, she might have a natural dread of the article of death, and a shrinking in view of the burial in the earth. To my question she replied, her face radiant with hope, “Oh, no; I am not afraid! It will be with me as it was when I was baptized. I remember it was one bright Sabbath day in June. I was baptized in the Hudson river. The hillside was covered with people, and the church stood down on the shore, and they were singing a sweet hymn. Rev. Charles Van Loon baptized me. As he led me out in the river, I felt the water was a little cool, but I didn’t mind it—I was thinking of Jesus! When we reached the right depth, the pastor took my hands in one of his, and put his other hand at my back—you know he was a strong man, and I knew he wouldn’t lose me—and so he laid me in the water. For a moment I didn’t see the sun, nor hear the singing, but as he raised me out of the river, I saw again the sun shining bright on the water, and heard the church singing on the shore. “So it will be when I come to die. Jesus is now leading me out into the river of death. The water is a little cold, but I can bear it, for I am thinking of his love. He will take my hands in one of his almighty hands and with the other he will hold me. I know he won’t lose me. For a moment I shall not see the sun, nor hear the voices of those I love; but when he raises me up, I shall hear the church triumphant singing on the hills of Heaven. Oh, no; I am not afraid! Why should I be afraid?” How beautiful the dying woman foretold her burial and resurrection by the sublime teaching of her baptism. “And I will raise them up at the last day!”—Rev. Hyatt Smith.