Twenty-Four Short Sermons On The Doctrine Of Universal Salvation by John Bovee Dods
page 67 of 189 (35%)
page 67 of 189 (35%)
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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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