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Twenty-Four Short Sermons On The Doctrine Of Universal Salvation by John Bovee Dods
page 67 of 189 (35%)
again signifies our _resurrection_. A person, who is baptized, ought
therefore, to endeavor, as much as in him lies, to live as though he
were already in his resurrection state. Enjoying in faith the baptism
of the "Holy Spirit and of fire," he ought to consider himself as dead
to the world and alive to God walking in newness of life.

Let us introduce Rom. vi:3, 4. "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." Here we perceive they were baptized
into his death, and were rejoicing in hope of the _resurrection_,
having their hearts purified faith in the reality, Acts xxii. 16 And
now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins,
&c. Now, it is not only a scripture doctrine, but all denominations
acknowledge, that baptism in water is an _emblem_ of the washing away
of our sins. We then ask--are our sins to be wished in a stream of
water? No. Where then? The objector says, our sins are taken away _in
this life_ by the baptism of the "Holy Spirit and with fire." This
cannot be; because Paul told the believers that if there were no
resurrection, their faith was vain, and they were _yet in their sins_.
[See I. Cor. xv. 17.] This proves that believers receive the
forgiveness of their sins in this life _by faith only_, not in
_reality_.

The question returns, are our sins washed away in a stream of water?
No. Where then? Ans. Through death and the resurrection, for that is
the real baptism. And it is certain that the _reality_ must embrace
all that the _figure_ in water teaches. We then solemnly ask the
reader,--if baptism in water is a _figure_ of our death and
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