I. That there are certain high and rich gifts connected with baptism in
sacred Scripture must be acknowledged by all who study it in a childlike
spirit. Men may entertain different opinions as to the connexion, and
even as to the nature of the gifts, but that there are such gifts it is
surely impossible to deny. Few words may suffice to shew that the sum
and substance of these gifts is a saving union with our Lord Jesus
Christ. In 1 Cor. xii. 13, it is written, “For by one Spirit are we all
baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be
bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” That
these words apply to the inward and spiritual grace of which baptism is a
sign and means, lies on their very surface. They are plainly speaking of
an inward and spiritual work, for they ascribe it to the agency of the
Holy Ghost himself—“By one Spirit are ye all baptized;” while the use of
the word “baptized” is proof of a connexion between this inward change
and the outward sacrament. The inward grace is the subject of the
passage, and this grace is connected by the language with the outward
sign. We are, therefore, fully warranted in employing this text as a
description of that blessing with which baptism is connected. It does
not teach us the nature of the connection, but it does teach us the
nature of the gift. And what is this blessing? The formation of a union
with Christ Jesus; an engrafting into the living vine; an incorporation
amongst the members of His body. The agent who forms this union is the
Holy Ghost. “By one Spirit.” And the body with which the union is
established is the mystical body of the Lord Jesus Christ; the body of
which the Apostle speaks when he says, “And gave Him to be the Head over
all things to the Church, which is His body.” (Eph. i. 22, 23.)
It is of the utmost importance that all should bear in mind that this is
the great, grand gift to be sought in baptism. The Bible says not a word
of the implanting of a principle which may or may not grow in after life;
it speaks of nothing short of a union with our Lord in its highest,
holiest, and most efficacious sense. If the grace be really given, in
the fullest sense in which the words can be used we are made members of
the body of our Lord. The same appears from many other passages. In
Gal. iii. 26, 27, we read, “For ye are all the children of God by faith
in Jesus Christ. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ
have put on Christ.” And again, 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.” These words are
sometimes thought to apply simply to the profession made. As we are not
now inquiring into the nature of the connexion, we need not pause to
discuss that question: our only object at present is to shew that a union
with Christ is the inward blessing with which baptism is connected in
Scripture. And this appears plainly in both passages, for the words are,
“Ye have put on Christ.” “Ye are baptized into Jesus Christ.”
If this be plain, the remainder of our present inquiry will be easy: for
there are two changes immediately produced when this union with Christ is
formed, viz., a change of condition and a change of heart.