BAPTISM FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS

The remission of sins is what every sinner desires when he truly believes in God and has repented of every transgression. Faith and repentence do not bring remission, but they must be had before it can be obtained, for they prepare the sinner for this ordinance. But baptism brings remission, or, in other words, it is through baptism that sins are remitted. To prove this, we may turn to the word of God.

John the Baptist was a servant of God, acting under divine revelation, and we read(Mark i. 4, and Luke iii. 3) that he preached "the baptism of repentence for the remission of sins," in the wilderness and all the country about Jordan. While he was preaching this doctrine, Jesus considering it necessary to fulfil all righteousness, came to him and was baptized, thus acknowledging that John was preaching a correct doctrine and baptizing for the right purpose. Now this has been a matter of sacred history for some eighteen hundred years and who is so blind to truth and lost to reason as to assert that baptism is for anything else than for the remission of sins? The passages quoted are a standing rebuke to all such persons.

Jesus called and ordained men to preach His gospel, but just before He left them He commanded them to tarry at Jerusalem till they were endowed with power from on high. They did so, and when they received this power, they convinced a large multitude that Jesus was the Christ, and when their hearers inquired of them what they should do, Peter replied: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts ii. 38). According to this, the inspired apostles taught that baptism was for the remission of sins, after Christ's ascension into heaven.

Paul saw a vision in which he was told to go to a certain place where it should be told him what to do. He went, and there fasted and prayed three days. Then the Lord sent Ananias to him, who said, "Arise, and be baptized and wash away thy sins" (Acts xxii. 16).

Why did not the Lord remit Paul's sins through his fasting and prayer? Because He had established baptism for that purpose, and both small and great must comply if they desire the blessing.

"But," says one, "you astonish me; I was always taught that baptism was an outward sign of an inward grace." That may be, but a true servant of God never taught you so, neither did you learn it from the Bible. You must be baptized and have your sins washed away before you are even prepared for the reception of an "inward grace."

"But," continues the objector, "Peter tells us that baptism 'is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God.'"

Very good! Ananias did not tell Paul to be baptized and wash away the "filth of the flesh," but to "be baptized and wash away his sins." Peter and John, with the rest of God's servants, did not preach baptism for the "putting away of the filth of the flesh," but for the "remission of sins." When a man is baptized according to the Lord's will, he receives a remission of sins and his conscience is void of offense towards God.

Some object to baptism for the remission of sins because infants are "born in sin" and that would include infant baptism. True, the sin of Adam passed upon all mankind; but Christ took away the sin of the world by taking it upon Himself and atoning for the same upon the cross. Therefore, infants are without sin, and "of such are the kingdom of heaven" (Mark x. 14).

The sins which men should be baptized for are their own individual sins, and not the sin they were born in, for the Savior atoned for that.

Nor is it proper to say that baptism remits a man's sins, for that is the work of the Lord. The "laying on of hands" does not give the Holy Ghost, for it is the "gift of God." The blowing of rams' horns did not throw down the walls of Jericho, it was the power of Jehovah. "Simon saw that through the laying on of the Apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given" (Acts viii. 18). God works by means, through instruments, and it is through baptism that sins are remitted.

It is repeatedly stated in the scriptures that those only who do the will of God can obtain salvation. That it is the will of God for people to receive the remission of sin, none will deny. That remission of sins is obtained through baptism has been clearly proven. Therefore all who will be saved will have to be baptized for this purpose.

Again, the Bible says, "the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power" (II Thess. i. 7-9). From this we learn that the Lord will take vengeance on those who obey not the gospel, and punish them with everlasting destruction.

Baptism for the remission of sins is a principle of the gospel, and those who fail to obey it will surely be partakers of the vengeance and punishment mentioned in the foregoing quotation.

The Prophet Elisha pointed out the way for the Syrian leper to be cleansed, namely, to be washed or dipped seven times in Jordan. But he went away in a rage, thinking that the waters of Syria were just as good as those of Jordan; but afterwards, being persuaded by his servants, he obeyed the requirement, and was cleansed. Now, if he had been dipped in any other river, it would have done him no good; or if he had been dipped less than seven times, it would have availed nothing. God had prescribed the means, and they must be complied with to the very letter, or the blessing would not follow. So it is with regard to baptism.

"When Israel were bitten by poisonous serpents, God commanded a brazen serpent to be raised, that whosoever should look upon it should be healed. All the poisoned ones who would not look, considering it non-essential, died in their poison. So likewise, all sinners who will not be baptized, considering it non-essential, will die in their sins, and be damned."^[A]

Sufficient has been said to satisfy any reasonable mind on this subject. Every point of scripture touching the object of baptism has been examined, and found that each one proves it to be for the remission of sins. The arguments against this doctrine have also been examined and found utterly groundless.

Let every unbaptized person waste no time, but prepare himself for this ordinance, by repenting of every sin. Then he may seek a properly authorized person to baptize him for the remission of his sins, that they may be remitted, that he may be a fit subject for the Holy Spirit to rest upon, that he may be saved with the redeemed and sanctified of all generations in the Kingdom of God forever—