Graham guardian., 1916-03-17

.
From the context the Pastor showed
that ST. Peter had IN mind the Deluge
of Noah's day. He reminded his audi
ence that all mankind perished In the
Flood except eight souls, who were
preserved from watery grave by
means of the Ark which God had pro
vided them. He called attention to the
fact that those saved In the Ark were
saved from death. not from eternal
torment: and that like figure OF
salvation would not mean that the
Church Is to be saved from eternal tor
menI by their baptism into Christ. AS
Noah and his family were saved from
death. 50 Chiists Church are saved
from death through their baptism.
As the whole world perished In the
Deluge, so the entire world now is
perisbing. As Noah and his family
were saved from death by entering the
Ark In obedience to God so the Church
are saved from Adamlc death by ODE.
dience to God. by accepting His Offer
of salvation They are no longer OF
the world, as Jesus said. The Ark
represented Christ. Whoever comes
into Christ comes into safety and sal,
vation. out of danger and destruction,
and is said to have passed from death
unto life."-John 17:16; 1919; 5:24.
Only very limited number come
into Christ While 1t is commendable
TO turn from sin and to seek to live a
righteous life. yet this does not consti.
tute coming into Christ: for as the
Apostle says. IF any man be In
Christ. he is New Creature G Cor.
inthians 5:17) Just how much is COM
pretended In these words even true
Christians come to see only gradually.
A New Creature IS one who has died
TO his human nature. and who has
Gods promises and the prospect of a
spiritual existence in the future In
stead of human existence He diff.
fers from others In that he has been
begotten of the Holy Spirit At first
he is babe: but through the nourisb-
ment provided In Gods Word the New
Creature must grow up into Christ
The Two Like Figures Of Salvation.
Salvation through the Ark was one
figure Of the salvation Of the Church
through baptism into Christ. Baptism
into water is another figure OF the
same thing But In neither case did
the water save So 1t is not the out
ward baptism that saves, but the real
mot 'the putting away Of the flth of
the desh. but the answer lresponsel
of good conscience toward Cod"
The text Is pointing out to us pecu.
liar baptism" answer Of good
conscience toward Cod" The Heav-
enly Father has called us to wonder
ful Heavenly Inheritance; and we re-
spond by accepting His proposition
AS God told Noah and bis family that
they would be saved by gathering into
the Ark, so He says to those invited
during the Gospel Age, Gather My
saints together unto Me"--not to any
human leader, not to any man-made
denomination. but to Jehovah Himself
This gathering is accomplished
through Covenant by Sacrifice. made
individually with God. Very few have
made this Covenant; for the great ma.
jority are prevented by Satan from
hearing the Gospel Message t2 Corin-
thians 4:4.j He has multitudinous
means for distracting men Fair earth,
ly prospects, ambitions to be great, self
ish schemes for advantage over fellow.
men. etc, are held up TO blind to the
things of real and lasting value.
When one receives Gods invitation
to become living sacrifice through
Christ. the only answer of good con.
science" could be, Here. Lord. give
Thee my little ALI" This is the true
meaning of baptism; and surely 1t Is a
reasonable servicel" (isomans 1871,
q, Our Lord made this Covenant Of
Sacrifice with the Father. and carried
Il out. Hebrews l0;5-9a so II Ia
With His followers. They receive tho
same tests that He did; and their hearts
must fully respond to His will
The remainder of the address showed
that by the resurrection Of Jesus Christ
this special baptism Of the Church was
made possible; that IN Christ. our Ark
of Safety. the Church escapes the con.
demnation that Is upon the world; and
that as Noah and his family repeopled
the world, so Christ and the Church
will give life anew to the Adamic race.