Baptism Keeps Good Company - Part 1
What we know of baptism should be based upon what we read in the New Testament. The subjects with which it keeps company, or with which it is associated, should help us understand it more, and greater appreciate its meaning for us. I would suppose that the old adage where people and things are judged by the company which they keep, would also be applicable to our subject concerning baptism. When religious people ridicule and reject baptism, they need to consider that they are also doing this to the company which baptism keeps. But what company does baptism keep? It Is Found In Company With: Faith and repentance. Jesus told his apostles, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16:15-16). Believeth and baptism are connected by the word “and” which is a coordinating conjunction. Webster says of such a conjunction: “1—used as a function word to indicate connection or addition esp. of items within the same class or type; used to join sentence elements of the same grammatical rank or function.” Jesus connected believing and baptism! He joined them together with the coordinating conjunction, “and”. Baptism keeps good company with believing or faith! We should remember the words of our Lord when He said, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Matthew19:6). This was stated in reference to the marriage bond, but where does man have a right to put asunder anything, which God has joined together in His will toward man? We need to appreciate the little word “and”, and what it connects. Baptism also keeps company with repentance. When men asked what they should do on Pentecost in Acts 2, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38). Repentance and baptism are commanded with the same importance. They are connected with the word “and” which constitutes them equally to be obeyed. There are those who will not deny the importance of faith and repentance, but they reject the necessity of baptism in order to be saved. They deny the company which baptism keeps! Just as surely as one is to believe, he is to believe and be baptized to be saved. (Mark 16:16). In like manner, repentance is associated with baptism, and no one has a right to destroy the company they keep. (Acts 2:38). Name of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Matthew 28:18-19). There are many commands given in the New Testament books, but where is there any command stated to be performed in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, other than in baptism? It may be said that all commands are understood to be performed by the authority of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9). This may be so, but still inspiration thought it worthy to definitely state that those taught were to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This certainly is one of the uniqueness of baptism that we must not overlook. Where could baptism find any better company? The forgiveness of sins. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38). The purpose of their repenting and being baptized was that their sins might be forgiven. As we have already noticed, their purpose of repenting was the same purpose for which they were to be baptized. They were to repent and be baptized that their sins might be forgiven. It has been contended by some, who have attempted to evade the essentiality of baptism, that the Greek word “eis” in this passage, which has been translated “for” or “unto”, has been mistranslated, and that is should be translated “because of.” This would make it teach repentance and baptism because of the remission of sins rather than for or unto the remission of sins. The very same Greek phrase is found in Matthew 26:28 when Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper. “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Did He die for many because their sins were already forgiven? Such would be ridiculous, and it is also ridiculous to think of “for the remission of sins” in Acts 2:38 being because their sins were already forgiven. Do people repent because their sins have already been forgiven? Certainly not! Ananias told Saul, “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16). Saul had sins that needed washing away and it would require baptism in order for this to be done. Let baptism keep its proper company!
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