WASH AWAY THY SINS ACTS 22:16 There are other scriptures which bear this out. When Paul converted, he was instructed by Annanias in the following words: And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:16). Baptism in conjunction with repentance (calling on the name of the Lord) leads to washing away of sins. Paul never forgot or deviated, from the deposit of Truth he received that day in the house of Judas, on a street called Straight. BATH OF REGENERATION We hear him telling Titus: Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration (bath of regeneration -- Greek), and renewing of the Holy Ghost (Titus 3:5). He likened baptism to a bath or washing of regeneration which was made possible through Jesus Christ our Saviour (v. 6). How much more evidence is needed to establish the saving efficacy of baptism? PUT ON CHRIST IN BAPTISM Paul further teaches that we put on Christ by being baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27). Do you want to be in Christ? Be baptized into Him! Do you want to put on Christ? You put him on through water baptism. Therefore if you are not baptized into Christ you are still outside him. Are you in the Church Triumphant? Are you in the Saviours bride? Come and be baptized into the body And for evermore abide! BAPTIZED INTO NEWNESS OF LIFE Water baptism is a pre-requisite for newness of life and participation in the future resurrection from the dead at his coming: Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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. For if we have been planted (i.e., baptism) together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (Rom. 6:3-5). CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART Paul also compares baptism with the Old Testament rite of circumcision. In the Old Testament circumcision removed part of the literal flesh of the male and incorporated him into Israel. But in the church age, baptism (the circumcision of Christ) removes or puts off the body of sins, and simultaneously incorporates us into the church, the new Israel of God. This is brought out clearly in Colossians 2:11-12, In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. The writer of Hebrews says the same thing. Our hearts are sprinkled from an evil conscience through repentance. Then our bodies are washed with pure water . Without this we cannot draw near to God with a true heart, or have full assurance of faith. (Heb. 10:23-24). WHAT MORE IS NEEDED? If God wanted to say that baptism is absolutely essential for securing remission of sins and obtaining salvation, what more could he possibly have said? Every word conceivable, every metaphor imagined, every example observable is brought before us to drive home the point. Jesus said he that believes and is baptized shall be saved, unless a man is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter Gods Kingdom. Peter said to be baptized for the remission of sins, because baptism doth also now save us. Paul was told to be baptized to wash away his sins. He therefore called it a washing of regeneration which saves us. Baptism is the only means to put on Christ, to get in Christ, and to rise with Christ. It puts off the body of sins, and puts us in the body of Christ. Did the Bible leave anything out? I think not.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 21:27:33 +0000