River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-07-23

lRASIQR- RUSSELDl tism. His text
was, 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."-Romans Ga.
On opening his discourse, the Pastor
called attention to the fact that his
text did not read. buried by baptism
into water, or sprinkled with water,
but buried by baptism into DEATH" In
the context, the Apostle says not one
word about water baptism. Water
baptism, the Pastor declared, is mere
ly symbol, or picture. of the real bap-
tism; and the Apostle Paul explains
from various points of view the real
baptism. without which the symbol Is
mere form. Whoever receives the
real baptism thereby becomes a mem
Der Of the Body of Christ, a member Of
the New Creation. But whoever has
not the real baptism is not q New
Creature, not q member Of the Body
of Christ, though he were baptized in
water a thousand times
The Pastor next showed that the real
baptism is a baptism into Chrfst's
death. This baptism takes place at
the moment when one consecrates him
self fully to the Lord-making a COM
plete surrender of his will to Cod
thenceforth to follow His leadings and
to render obedience even unto death.
AS the Scriptures sometimes represent
it, we give our hearts to the Lord.
This burial of our wills into the will of
God is reckoned to be our death as hu-
man beings. Therefore, the Apostle
says, Eye are dead, and your life is hid
with Christ In God" From the mo-
ment of conservation we are no longer
counted as human beings, of the earth,
earthly, with earthly hopes, aims and
objects. but as New Creatures in
Christ This burial of our wills into
the Divine will is instantly followed
by our begetting to newness of life-to
a new nature.
Water Baptism as a Symbol.
The Pastor next discussed the sub
ject Of water baptism. Christian peo
pie, he declared, are unit in under
standing that the New Testament
teaches baptism, but there is great con-
fusion of thought respecting its mode
and significance. By the second cen
fury of our Era, he asserted, the great
falling away from the faith, predicted
by the apostles, had gained such head
way that very superstitious views were
held by the church nominal Water
baptism was supposed not only to can
eel sins that were past, but also to
bring its recipient certain favorS from
God which could not otherwise be Sc
cured. Not only did believers seek
baptism for themselves, but they
brought their children for baptism; and
since these were too young to enter
into covenant relationship with God
for themselves, an arrangement was
made whereby others than the parents
might become sponsors for such chill
dren.
Continuing his theme, the Pastor re-
viewed briefly the various theories on
the subject of baptism held by the diff
ferent denominations. He then eX-
planned wherein these are not in har-
mony with the Scriptures. Neither
sprinkling nor pouring could in any
sense of the word be considered a
picture of death and burial. He call
ed attention to the fact that the Greek
word signifying baptism-bGptizo-
the significance of immersing, cover
ing, plunging; and that wholly differ
ent words are used in the Greek when
sprinkling, pouring or raining is meant.
So fully did he cover every phase of
this subject that he left no doubt that
immersion is the Scriptural form of
baptism.
The Pastor then discussed the doc
trine of baptism as set forth in the
Baptist and Disciple denominations.
He showed that our Disciple friends
are preaching the baptism of John the
Baptist, not baptism into Christ; and
that our Baptist friends, while they
have the right form, as have also the
Disciples. have emphasized the SYM
Dol rather than the reality-consecra
ton unto death. This portion of the
discourse was especially interesting and
profitable Apparently the Pastor sus-
tanned his point fully; for he har-
monized all the Scriptures bearing