The Teaching Of Baptism

by Martin, J. | Category: General | Jun 1954

The appearance of John the Baptist, fixed chronologically in relation to earthly rulers by Luke 3. 1-3, was an important epoch in relation to the divine calendar. Immediately following the words of assurance given to John's disciples, we are told that" all the prophets and the law prophesied unto John" (Matthew 11.13, and Luke 16.16). Here, indeed then, was one of God's great divides in the annals of His dealings with men. John came on the scene at the close of the dispensation of law. But that is not all. If we turn to Acts 1. 22, we find Peter marking the baptism of John as the beginning of a new era. With this Mark definitely agrees (chapter 1.1-4); and Paul, after reading the law and the prophets to the men of Israel at Antioch of Pisidia, points out the significance of John's preaching the baptism of repentance (Acts 13. 24-26). We desire to emphasize this point. The coming of John marked the end of one age governed by the first covenant, now becoming old and waxing aged, and approaching the time when it was "nigh unto vanishing away"; and it was the herald of a new regime, under a new covenant, for "from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached" (Luke 16.16).

The testimony of the many concerning John the Baptist was, "John indeed did no sign, but all things whatsoever John spake of this Man were true" (John 10.41). The power of John's message was in its veracity, and the message was not supplemented by miraculous signs. This ministry was accompanied by one rite, that of Baptism. Whatever earthly historians may record as to the origin

of this rte, there is no prior record of baptism in the Scriptures, conducted in the name of, and with reference to a particular person, before the ministry of John. According to the authority, Dr. Trench, there is no reference to the rite in the Septuagint.

We are not left in doubt as to the origin of John's baptism. The Lord Jesus, Himself, asked, "Was it from heaven, or from men? answer Me" (Mark 11.30-33). The answer is evident. Again we have John's own record, "He . . . sent me to baptize with (R.V.M. in) water "(John 1.33), with which we would join, "There came a man sent from God, whose name was John" (John 1.6). Thus we find that God, in wisdom, in the significant act of baptism, has definitely marked the end of one age, and the beginning of another.

We would seek, briefly, to supplement this teaching from other portions of Scripture. It has already been said that in the Old Testament there is no reference to baptism. That does not mean that the teaching of it is not contained therein, hidden perhaps, but later revealed in the New Testament.

Peter refers to the water of the flood in the "days of Noah ...

which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism (1 Peter 3.21). Surely the flood in Noah's day (Genesis 6 and 7) was the mark of the end of an age. Men even term the days prior thereto as the "Ante-diluvian Age." It marked the end of an old and evil age, and the inauguration of a new.

Again we refer readers to 1 Corinthians 10.1, 2, "For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, how that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea." Undoubtedly the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14) marked the termination of an age of slavery and servitude to Pharaoh, and the beginning of a day of liberty and service to Jehovah-a day to be much remembered in the annals of Israel's history.

Please again compare Hebrews 9.26.... "at the end of the ages," with "I have a baptism to be baptized with .... " (Luke 12.50). What a baptism, when the floods of God's wrath overflowed Him, and the waters came into the soul of the God-man! Was that the end of the ages? Yea, verily! For He later said to John, in Patmos, "I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades" (Revelation 1.18).

And what can we say of that scene on Jordan's banks, when He who "knew no sin," and "needed no repentance" could say to the Baptist, "Suffer it now (in the dispensation of His humiliation) for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness"(Matthew 3.15)? He, free from all guilt, must have felt some pang, as in association with sinners He stepped down into the waters of the Jordan, prefiguring the more awful baptism that yet lay ahead (as referred to above). By this baptism He associated Himself with John's message to Israel. But this act, at a significant stage in His life on earth, was speedily rewarded when "a voice came out of the heavens," saying, "Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well pleased" (Mark 1.11). His public ministry had commenced. From the quietude of the carpenter's bench He had stepped out to do the work for which His Father had anointed Him. Soon He knew sore trial in the temptations of the wilderness.

We would apply the above teaching to ourselves. We trust all our readers have known the experience of being baptized in one Spirit, into one Body (1 Corinthians 12.13); that is, the Church which is His Body. "You did He quicken, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2.1) is the experience here referred to. Once dead-now alive unto God! Surely a great milestone in our existence!

Finally we would refer to believer's baptism (Romans 6.1-11). Scripture is replete with instruction that all saved ones should be baptized, that is, immersed, in water. But, what has this act meant to you.... to me? Has our former vain manner of life, in the lusts of our flesh, ceased? Have we begun and continued to walk in newness of life? Is the divide between the two as great as the rite of baptism (as in the above examples) would teach and demand? "Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus," (Romans 6.11).

Martin, J. | Jun 1954
General