WATER BAPTISM

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 160, 1 April 1939, Page 8 (Supplement)

WATER BAPTISM

Rejecting The Counsel Of God THE CHRISTIAN’S DUTY Speaking on "Water Baptism" in rhe Alexandra Hall last Sunday. Pastor H. V. Roberts, of the Wellington Pentecostal Assembly, said : — "It is really amazing how ignorant many Christians are of this simple, yet tremendously important ordinance which was instituted by our Lord Him seif. Some think it quite unnecessary : others believe it is but a privilege that they may or may not avail themselves of just as they please: while others, willing to obey, feel satisfied with infant sprinkling. To treat God’s command in these ways is hut to dishonour His Word. Tire ordinance was insti tilted at Hie time of Moses, when th" Children of Israel were delivered from Egypt ‘And were all baptised imo

Moses in the cloud and in the sea.' “That God intended to perpetuate this way of righteousness was proved whim John the Baptist came ami tip plied his two-edged sword Repentance’ and ‘Water Baptism.’ What he did and what he preached were ordained of God, ’And all the people that heard him. and the publicans, justified God, being baptised with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees (religious leaders) rejected the counsel of God. against themselves, being not baptised of Him’ (Luke 7. 20-30) Paul questions certain Ephesian disciples, and finds they had obeyed John. He reveals to them Hm Lord’s command. 'Go ye therefore and reach all nations, baptising them in the name of the I’atlter. and of the Sou. and of the Holy Ghost.' and to this also theywere obedient, and were baptised into rhe Name of tile Lord Jesus, a dcepel and far more signilicant work of grace. “The command is there: ami no matte:' what opinions men may have aboqi it. till' dut y of every I’ll l ist iati is to obey God Obedience takes us righ' into the granaries of heaven. Remem tier sprinkling’ is not baptism. The word used in the Greek means ‘immersioii' and leaves us without excuse. "Just how does this ordinance uelp tlie (hristian? first it teaches olicdietice to God's will. It signifies

identification with Jesus Christ in His dentil —and death means separation from the world and its pleasures. A marrow was found to be very bitter. On examination some tendrils were found to have entwined themselves round a chrysanthemum ami absorbed what was contrary to Nature. A world ly Christian is a poisoned marrow. The Scripture says, ‘Love not the world, nor the things of the world.' Egypt and .ill its flesh-pots are gone forever, and the lusts thereof. Il also symbolizes ■burial,' but we do not remain m that state. Like the butterfly which once crawled in the mud and slime, but now lives in a new sphere, so we. coining out of Hie water, 'rise in newness of life.' if ye then lie risen with Christ, seek those tilings which are above. . . ■’'el your affections on tilings above not on things on Hie earth. "Tn disobey God is to miss lhi< gracious stepping stone to a wide; life in God. and it means irremediable loss it means friendship with the world : it means instability, and backsliding. To obey God. and every Christian is r-om-manded to do so. means that 'our old man is crucified with Him. that the body of Siu might lie destroyed And yon can rest assured that what you have done symbolically will be completed experimentally by God’s Spirit: for John said. 'He shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost and with lire.’”