"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matt. 28:19)
"And He said unto them, 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)
In these two texts we have the importance of baptism set forth. Let us learn from the Scriptures what it signifies, and in so doing we shall show its nature and the necessity for it.
Joined to Christ and the Church
That baptism does not consist merely in outward form is indicated in 1 Cor. 12:13: "For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." It is true here as elsewhere that "the body is of Christ;" and that this is the body into which we are baptized, is positively stated in Gal. 3:27, where we read, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Thus we are taught that baptism is that by which we become Christ's and heirs according to the promise. It is that by which we get into Christ, who is the Door of salvation. Being baptized into His body is being joined to His church, for the church is the body of Christ (See Eph. 1:22, 23; Col. 1:18). And since it is by His Spirit that this union is effected, it is evidence that baptism is something more than a mere form, and that only those who are members of the true church of Christ who have the Spirit of Christ (See Rom. 8:9). This must not by any means be understood as depreciating literal baptism, or union with the visible church. We only wish to emphasize the fact that the simple form is not all.
When Should it be Done?
Since it is by baptism that we become united to Christ,- "put on Christ,"-a very important question is, At what point do we come into contact with Christ? That is, At what stage in the ministry of Christ do we become united to Him? The answer to this gives the key to the entire subject of baptism. This question is answered in Rom. 6:3, 4, 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 His 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."
The death of Christ, then is that by which we become united to Him. It is, so to speak the marriage ceremony, by which we declare our union with Christ. Paul says, "I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." (2 Cor. 11:2) Just as in ordinary marriage two persons are united, so that they are no longer two, but "one flesh," so in putting on Christ we become one with Him. Paul, after declaring that a man shall leave father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh, adds, "This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the church." (Eph. 5:32) But in this union with Christ it is His personality that dominates; we yield ourself to Him-become swallowed up in Him-so that the one person is not us but Christ.
Sharing His Death and Resurrection
Baptism signifies the death and resurrection of Christ; but it signifies our acceptance of that sacrifice, and that we actually share His death and resurrection. If we ever are glorified with Christ, we must suffer with Him (Rom. 8:17). We must share the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death, and must also know the power of His resurrection (Phil. 3:10).
The Steps in Conversion
Let us trace the course of this great transaction.
"All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23) Because all have sinned, judgment has come upon all men to condemnation. This condemnation is to death, for the wages of sin is death (See Rom. 5:12, 18; 6:23). Every man that does not believe in Christ is condemned already (John 3:18). The sentence of death is already gone forth upon us, and our life is forfeited. In yielding to Satan, we have sold ourselves to him, and have received nothing in exchange. The Scripture says, "Ye have sold yourselves for naught." (Isa. 52:3) Therefore we really have no life. This life that men live does not belong to them; they have given it, with themselves, into the power of Satan. And because sinners are condemned to death,- have forfeited their life,-the Scripture says that "He that believeth not the Son shall not see life." John 3:36. He never has any life of his own.
But the same Scripture that says, "Ye have sold yourselves for naught," says also, "ye shall be redeemed without money." Christ is the redeemer. And because "the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage (Heb. 2:24,15). Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost. He came to give life to those who had forfeited their life to Satan. He, the stronger than the strong, came and entered into the prisonhouse of Satan, that he might redeem his captives.
"Ye shall be redeemed without money." "Knowing that ye were redeemed not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers; but with precious blood as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, even the blood of Christ." (1 Peter 1:18, 19, Revised Version) Money could not purchase a single life. Life must be given for life; and the only life that could redeem a forfeited life is the life of Christ. He could buy us back only by giving His life for ours. That means that He gave his life to us, if we accept Him. He has life in Himself. He could lay down His life and take it again. When he lay in the grave, "it was not possible that He should be holden of it." (Acts 2:24) Herein He differed from man. If man should give up his life in payment of the forfeit, he would have nothing left. But Christ, whose life is of greater worth than that of all created beings, can give up His life and still have as much life left. Having paid the forfeit, He can give life to us in place of ours. If we accept His life, we are sure of life, no matter what becomes of this life.
Trading the Old Life for the New
But in order to get His life, which is proof against the power of Satan, we must acknowledge that our life is lost, and that there is no righteousness in us with which to give anything toward its redemption. Knowing that this life is not ours anyway, we must be willing to surrender it into the hands of Christ, in order that we may receive his life in exchange. This is most reasonable. It is a question of whether we will give our life to Satan, and get nothing in exchange, or to Christ, and get His life instead. It would seem as though everybody ought to decide without a moment's hesitation; yet is a struggle for everyone to give up this forfeited life for Christ's. It is not pleasant to die, and people would fain put it off as long as possible, or persuade themselves that they will not have to give up life at all. The reason for this is that giving up this life means giving up all that pertains to it. All that is of self must go with the life. Says the apostle Paul: "They that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof." (Gal. 5:24, Revised Version)
This giving up our life in order to get Christ's life instead, is variously spoken of as yielding ourselves to become his servants, submitting ourselves to God, etc.
How to Submit
The question arises, How do we submit ourselves to God? It is simple. Look at your life; see what things pertain solely to the present, natural life, those things that you do by nature. Take a survey of the things that you are addicted to, which you know are not Christ-like, but which cause you condemnation, even by your own heart. Now you have doubtless done this; you have also repeatedly tried to overcome them and put them away, but have not been able to do so. But you sincerely desire to be rid of them. You would rather have Christ than your own ways. Therefore you say, "Here, Lord, take me as I am; I give myself into Thy hands, for Thee to do with me as thou wilt; take all these evils from me by the power that rests in Thee alone.
Just as I am, without one plea,So at last the surrender is made. We give ourselves to the Lord, and take Him instead. How do we get Him? We cannot tell anything about the process; we only know that it is by faith. "Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (Gal. 3:26) Christ dwells in the heart by faith (See Eph. 3:17). All that there is to do on our part is to give up, to yield ourselves fully to the Lord, sincerely and without reserve, desiring that his ways shall take the place of our ways, and believing that he gives Himself to us, according to His promise. Then we are buried with Him by baptism into His death, thus signifying the putting off of the old life, the crucifying of the old man, and the taking of Christ's life, in whom we rise to walk in newness of life.
But that thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bids me to come
To Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.