The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-05-21

with Him by hap
tism into death: that like as Christ
was raised from the dead by the glory
of the Father, even so we also should
walk in newness of life. Romans GA.
Water baptism, the Pastor declared,
is merely a picture of the real bap-
tism. The Apostle explains from va
riOus points Of view the real baptism,
without which the symbol is a mere
form. Whoever receives the real bap-
tism, thereby becomes a member of the
Body of Christ, the New Creation; but
whoever has it not is not New Crea-
ture. a member of the Body of Christ,
though he were baptized in water
thousand times.
The Pastor then showed that the
real baptism is into Christ's death,
not into water. This baptism takes
place at the moment of full consecra-
ton to God-complete surrender to do
the Divine will, even unto death This
burial of the will into Gods will is
reckoned to be the death of the human
being. Therefore the Apostle says to
the Church, I'VE are dead. and your
life is hid with Christ in God"
Thenceforth the cOnsecrated are no
longer counted as human beings, but
as New Creatures in Christ. This
burial of the will into the Divine will
is instantly followed by the begetting
to newness of lfe-to Il new nature.
Next the Pastor discussed water bap-
tism. Reviewing the various theories
of the different denominations, he eX-
planned wherein these are not in har-
mony with Scripture Neither sprin-
king nor pouring could in any way be
considered a picture of death and
burial. He called attention to the fact
that the Greek word bdpti:O signifies
immersing, covering, plunging; and
that wholly different words are used
in the Greek when sprinkling. pouring
or raining is meant.
The Pastor then discussed immersion
as set forth by the Baptists and the
Disciples. Both denominations have
the right form; but the Disciples
preach the baptism taught by John the
Baptist, not baptism into Christ; and
the Baptists emphasize the symbo;
rather than the reality-Consecrati
unto death. Apparently the speaker
sustained his point: for he certainly
harmonized all the Scriptures bearing
upon the subject.
The Real Baptism Into Christ.
Having established the facts that
water baptism is a symbolic picture Of
cOnsecration, and that immersion is the
Scriptural form of baptism, the Pastor
next considered the subject as present
ed i'll Romans G. There the Apostle
sets forth the deep significance of
burial with Jesus From the moment
of conservation the Christian should
walk in newness of life, and his daily
course should be altogether different
from that of the world.
The Pastor then explained this walk
ing in newness of life. To the Chris
tan, "Old things have passed away
old hopes, ambitions, motives, etc.
These have given place to new hopes,
higher ambitions, better motives. To
these the first general Law is given
the Golden Rule. To be the Lords
representative, every Christian must
love his neighbor as himself-must
deal with him as he would have that
neighbor deal with him.
How the Christian FuIfils the Law.
The Pastor showed that God has
made provision for the Church which
He did not make for the Jews. Israel
had typical mediator, who could not
offer real atonement for their weak
nesses and have them judged accord
ing to their mind-their intentions.
But, through Jesus Christ. the Father
has made this very arrangement for
the Church. When these keep the
Golden Rule to the best of their abil-
ity, the righteousness of the Law is
fulfilled in them
But in his conservation VOW. the
Christian agreed to do much more than
merely keep the Golden Rule. He
covenanted to give up all of his earth
ly interests to do the Divine will and
to drink the cup which the Father
pours for all of Jesus footstep follow
ers. He must accept whatever the Ia
Their permits to come TO him: he neither
pours his own cup nor buries himself.
This is beautifully pictured in water
baptism. There the candidate submits
to the will of the administrator. Fig
uratively the Lord lets the consecrated
one down into death, and will one day