BAPTISM by Pauline Schilberg

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Dec 27, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 52.

BAPTISM.

By Pauline Schilberg

BY PAULINE SCHILBERG.

‘God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform.’

WONDERFUL is the record of God’s dealings with the children of Israel. Our hearts are stirred as we read of His long-suffering toward them. Times without number did they turn away from the Lord, and grieve Him. Again and again He forgave them, and stood by them, delivering them from their enemies. Step by step they went downward, till, by rejecting God’s proffered mercies, their hearts had become so hardened that they could even reject and crucify their King, the Redeemer of the world.

‘Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah,’ etc. Jer. 31:31. Before Christ came God commanded Israel to observe ordinances and sacred rites, as an acknowledgment of their faith in the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world; but when type met Antitype, these passed away.

Since the new covenant was ratified by His death, Christ has given us two emblems of the great work He has wrought for our salvation. These are the ordinances of the Lord’s Supper, in commemoration of His death, and baptism, in commemoration of His burial and resurrection. In His wonderful self-sacrifice Christ has left us an example that we should follow His steps. 1 Peter 2:21. He also says, ‘He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.’ We see clearly that faith precedes baptism. Peter, on the day of Pentecost said, ‘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.’

Now it is true that we do not observe this rite in order to be saved. We do not do anything as a means of saving ourselves. We are saved by grace, through faith. Our actions, our lives, will show whether we have faith or not. God takes our faith, and measures it by our works. If we believe, and God gives us light concerning these things, it is our duty to manifest our faith by taking part in this form. We have put off the old man, we are dead to sin and to the world; we must now be buried with Christ in baptism. We are baptized into His death, that even as He was raised from the dead, so we should walk in newness of life, if so be that we have put on Christ.’ Rom. 6:4.

Only those who are dead should be buried. If our affections are set on things above, and we are dead to the world, we have a right to be buried with Christ in baptism. Col. 2:12; 3:1-3. If the old man is truly dead and buried, the things of this world will not charm the soul. The principles of righteousness have been implanted in the heart; the individual has been born from above, and raised to a new life.

The Word of God is a sure foundation, and those who will but look and live, can not fail to see what God has in it for them. The above-mentioned scriptures with such as Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:10; Acts 8:38, 39, establish beyond a doubt the true mode of baptism. But Satan is ever ready to give error for truth. Therefore the Lord exhorts us all to be on our guard. ‘And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.’

South Lancaster, Mass.