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 {527} 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 {528} 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]
[Footnote A: Apostle Orson Pratt, on "Water Baptism."]
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--
"While time, or thought, or being lasts,
Or immortality endures."
{529}
"GOOD TIDINGS."