The Signification of Baptism.
Baptism is, first of all, a testimony and memorial of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, just as the Sabbath is a testimony and memorial of the work of creation, and of God’s rest on the seventh day. Baptism is therefore an outward, emblematic representation of the gospel. This will be easily seen when we compare the two. The great sum of that gospel which Paul, as well as others, preached, is this:— “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Cor. 15: 3, 4. The testimony of the great apostle to the Gentiles concerning baptism reads as follows:— “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. According to this testimony, baptism is the likeness of the death and resurrection of Christ, and believers are baptized for a testimony and a memorial of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. At the same time the candidate confesses by his baptism that he has received this testimony, or, in other words, that he believes the gospel, and that he now from henceforth will die to sin and walk in newness of life as a disciple of Jesus. This cannot be misunderstood. This agrees exactly with the last commission from our Saviour to his disciples: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16: 15, 16. Then follows the promise of our Lord that the Holy Spirit will confer precious gifts on those who, according to this commission, are organized into a Christian church, or a denomination of baptized believers. Verses 17, 18. Those who believe and obey the gospel, or the good message of salvation through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, must be baptized in the name of the Lord. They must be immersed into the death of Christ, and be buried with him by baptism, in order to rise from their immersion in the water like as Christ was raised up from the dead. Our Saviour has placed faith and baptism as conditions of salvation. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” This cannot be denied without contradicting the words of our Saviour. Are these two, then, the only conditions upon which salvation is suspended? Far from it! All the promises and ordinances of the Lord are given unto salvation. The Holy Scriptures are divine. By the word of God we must be saved or condemned. 2 Tim. 3: 16, 17. We are not born again (or saved) “of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” “And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” 1 Pet. 1: 23, 25. Many things are presented in the Scriptures as necessary to salvation. “If any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Rom. 8: 9. Without peace and holiness no man shall see the Lord. Heb. 12: 14. “Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt. 5: 5. “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matt. 24: 13. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life.” Rev. 22: 14. “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” John 13: 17. Baptism pertains to salvation, because it is a part of the word of God, and because it is a holy ordinance which the Lord himself has instituted. With this agree the words of Ananias: “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Acts 22: 16. And the words of Peter: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2: 38. “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 1 Pet. 3: 21. It becomes us ill to contradict the word of God, and say that baptism does not save us, when the Lord says it does also now save us. How, then, does baptism save us? This is easily understood when we remember, that baptism is an outward representation of the gospel,—of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and a glorious testimony of these grand facts unto the end of the world. Baptism is a means of salvation; for it is one of the holy ordinances of God, and belongs to the “all things that pertain unto life and godliness,” which God has given us by his divine power, that we may be partakers of his divine nature. 2 Pet. 1: 3, 4. But baptism is not our saviour, neither is faith our saviour, nor the gospel, but baptism is a testimony of our Saviour. This we will illustrate: A vessel is wrecked. The crew are lost except two, who still cling to some floating timber. The storm rages, and the foaming billows threaten with destruction. A noble man starts from the shore to save them. He risks his life for their sake. After much hard rowing he reaches them. They catch hold of a rope, and he pulls them into the boat. At last all reach land in safety. Now the boat and the rope, with several other things, were means to save these men, but the man himself was their saviour. And it would never enter into their minds to thank the boat, but they would be grateful to the man for their lives. Thus faith, baptism, and all of God’s holy ordinances, are means of salvation, but the Lord himself is our Saviour. Baptism has not been crucified nor raised from the dead for us, but it is a memorial of the death, burial, and resurrection of our Saviour. Many look upon baptism as their saviour, and turn it into an idol. But they do not hearken unto the voice of the Good Shepherd nor follow his footsteps as presented in the Holy Scriptures. Jesus is our living High Priest. He now ministers in the heavenly sanctuary, and intercedes for us. Heb. 8: 2. He offered himself on the cross for us. He bore our sins in his own body on the tree. 1 Pet. 2: 24. He can hear us when we pray to him, and will help us in all our trials.