Question of Religion

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 17 December 1913, Page 3

Question of Religion

ON BAPTISM.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —The diversity of views held by Christians on the subject of Baptism, and the probable cause of such diverse opinions, was mentioned in my last letter, and we who thought we were being guided by the Bible, were much to blame, that such wragling and jangling ever existed. We rested too much upon a " They say so " instead of a " Thus saith the Lord."

The clear ring of the following Scriptures, showing the -significance and proper mode of administration should forever silence the indistinct babel of tongues now being used by Satan to prevent the real truth from reaching the ears of the people. The steps leading up to the ordinance of Baptism maybe enumerated as follows :— The Holy Spirit shows us we are sinners. John 16,8, Acts 2.37, and worthy of death, Rom 5.12, .6.23. The goodness of God then leads us to repentance, Rom 2.4, but alas we have no power to do right, Rom 7.22.23 ; and we tremble as we read that "without the sheding of blood there is no remission of sins," verse 4 and Heb 9.22.

It is at this point of our penitent, helpless experience, that the Holy, Spirit reveals Christ to us as our Saviour. As we read in John 3.16, " God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth •in Him should not perish but have everlasting life;" also in Isaiah 53.6, " All we like sheep have gone astray ; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." In verse 5 we read. "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquites, .. . .

And by His stripes we are healed." Therefore Christ is said to have washed us from our sins by His own blood, Rev 1.5.

Baptism signifies the washing away of our sins, Act 22.16. It It signifies the burial of our old sinful nature, Ep 4.22-24 ; Rom 6. 6. Rising from our watery grave, signifies our willingness to live a better life, Rom 6.4. It is the answer of a good conscience toward ;God, 1 Pet 3.21 ; by this act we proclaim our belief in Christ's death and resurrection for us, Mar 16.16. The following statement of Alexander Cruden is to the point : —" Baptism, signifies the outward ordinance, or sacrament, wherein the washing with water represents the clensing of the soul from sin by blood of Christ, Luke 7.29. 1 Pet 3-21. " The sinner has broken God's law ; he is led to repentance by the Holy Spirit ; the blood of Jesus Christ saves him from sin. In his baptisn he shows faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as a substitute for the sinner." —Bible Readings.

Sir, if any of your readers are practicing or teaching infant baptism, or holding views other than the above, I wish they would furnish us with tho^e scriptures which they honestly believe justifies them in their belief. I am, etc,

Geo. Johnson, Parkhurst,