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Baptism Into Christ's Death
“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.” Romans 6:3-5. In these three verses Apostle Paul deals most thoroughly with the subject of baptism as it applies to us. Let it be noticed, however, that the apostle makes it clear we are baptized into Jesus’ death with not one word of reference to water baptism. Water baptism is merely a symbol, or picture, of the real baptism. How Is A Christian Baptized Into The Lord’s Death? This baptism into death with the Lord took place at the moment we made the full surrender of our wills to him, consecrating our all to follow and obey him, even unto death. The will represents our entire person and all that we possess. This includes the control of our body, our bank account, our time, our talent, our influence. There is not a thing of value that we possess which does not properly come under the control of the will. When we surrender our wills to the Lord, or, as the Scriptures sometimes represent it, our “hearts,“ we give him our all; and this burial of our human wills into the will of Christ is the death of our will. “Ye are dead; and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3) This death, this burial, is our baptism into his death. Henceforth, from the divine standpoint, we are not to count ourselves as having earthly aims and hopes, but as new creatures in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Why Was Our Lord Immersed In Water? Our Lord, thus consecrating himself to the Father’s will, realized that his outward baptism symbolized the surrender of his earthly life and nature, already immersed, or buried, into the Father’s will, even unto death. His water immersion was merely a symbolical representation of the baptism, or burial of his will, which had preceded it. From this standpoint, his baptism was full of meaning to him, though not to John the Baptist, who greatly marveled that he who knew no sin should be baptized. Jesus was instituting a new symbol. John’s baptism was unto repentance, that Jews could come back into harmony with the Mosaic Law. Jesus, who knew no sin, was not baptized to repentance, but to indicate his consecration to do the Father’s will and renounce his human will. He there set an example for his followers that they too should deny themselves and follow his example by being baptized into his death by becoming dead to self-will and alive to God’s will. And this should then be followed by the outward symbol of water immersion as a demonstration, or witness, of what had already taken place in one’s heart. When Jesus’ Baptism Was Finished Our Lord did not receive the water immersion at the hands of John as the real immersion, or baptism into death, but merely as its figure, or illustration. In proof of this, note his words about the time of the Last Supper: “I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!” (Luke 12:50) Here our Lord shows that His baptism was not the water baptism, but the death baptism, as man’s redemption price and the forerunner of his followers. Jesus immediately, at the age of 30, the lawful age according to the Mosaic law, presented himself for death baptism. He then faithfully carried out his ministry of 3 ½ years, sacrificially dying daily and using his life and strength in his father’s service. His death baptism was finally complete when on the cross he cried, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) Conclusion Since the true baptism is a death baptism, we will suggest that no infant could possibly be competent to make a consecration or baptism of its will into the will of Christ. We will suggest, further, that the symbolical baptism could not be performed prior to the real baptism with any validity, because symbolical baptism is intended to be merely the outward expression or confession of what has already transpired between our hearts, our wills, and the Lord in secret. It is also important to note our baptism is into Christ, not into a particular sect or denomination. It is a personal commitment to do the Father’s will at the cost of our human nature. “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.” (2 Timothy 2:12) Would you like to know more about true Christian baptism? Send for the following from our Orders page: Why Am I A Christian? (28-page. booklet) The New Creation (738-page
hardbound book)
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