p. 56 | BAPTISM IN WATER by John Nevins Andrews

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, January 22, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 4

BAPTISM IN WATER.

By John Nevins Andrews

BY ELD. J. N. ANDREWS.

CHRISTIAN baptism is baptism in water, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is distinct from the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Christ commissioned his disciples to baptize in water in his name, but no man can baptize with the Holy Spirit. Christ alone can do this. Baptism in water is one of the acts commanded for the remission of sins. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the special gift of God to all those who seek it with their whole heart.

That the baptism commanded by Christ was baptism in water is shown by many passages. When Philip preached Christ to the eunuch, it happened that they arrived at a pool or stream of water. Acts 8 : 34–36. The eunuch said to Philip, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” This shows that Philip, in preaching Christ to the eunuch, had preached to him that Christ commanded his disciples to be baptized in water. Luke tells us that both went down into the water, and that Philip then baptized the eunuch. Then they came up out of the water, and the Spirit of God caught away Philip. Acts 8 : 38, 39.

When Philip preached in Samaria, all that believed his word, both men and women, were baptized. But this was baptism in water, and not the baptism of the Holy Spirit; for these persons did not receive the Holy Spirit till afterward, when Peter and John came down from Jerusalem and prayed for them. Acts 8 : 5–16. Those who heard Peter preach on the day of Pentecost asked what they should do to be saved; Peter told them to repent and to be baptized, and they should receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This baptism, therefore, was something which preceded the gift of the Spirit of God. Acts 2 : 37–44. In like manner, it is said that Paul baptized certain disciples at Ephesus, and then laid his hands upon them and they received the Holy Spirit. This baptism which preceded the gift of the Spirit of God must have been baptism in water. Acts 19 : 1–6.

When Peter preached at the house of Cornelius, the Holy Spirit descended upon those who heard him, even as it descended upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost. Acts 10 : 44, 45; 11 : 15, 16. Peter asked if any would forbid that these persons should be baptized in water; and he then commanded that they should be baptized. Acts 10 : 47, 48. This shows the distinction between the baptism in water and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and that, even after the baptism of the Holy Spirit, baptism in water was necessary in order to obey the command of Christ.

Then it is seen that baptism in the Holy Spirit may precede baptism in water, as in the case of those at the house of Cornelius; or it may succeed baptism in water, as in the case of those baptized by Philip in Samaria, and of those baptized by Paul at Ephesus. But the baptism of the Holy Spirit did not render the baptism in water unnecessary. The apostles were baptized in the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit descended like a mighty rushing wind, and filled all the house where they were sitting. Acts 1 : 4, 5; 2 : 1, 2. Without doubt, the apostles had been baptized by John in Jordan, even as Christ had been baptized by him. John 1 : 28–37; Matt. 3 : 13–16.

Men can baptize in water, for John, and Philip, and Paul, and other of the disciples of Christ, did this. John 3 : 22, 23; 4 : 1, 2; Acts 8 : 5–16, 38; 19 : 5, 6. Christ alone can baptize in the Holy Spirit. Acts 2 : 1, 2, 33. It was not Peter, but Christ, who baptized in the Holy Spirit those at the house of Cornelius. Acts 10 : 44, 45; 11 : 15, 16. Christ is the one mightier than John, who can baptize in the Holy Spirit. Matt. 3 : 11; Acts 1 : 4, 5.

Several things are mentioned as necessary for the remission of sins: 1. Repentance. Acts 5 : 31; Luke 24 : 47. 2. Faith in Christ. Acts 10 : 43; 13 : 38, 39; 26 : 18. 3. The blood of Christ was shed for the remission of sins. Matt. 26 : 28; Eph. 1 : 7;

Col. 1 : 14. In addition to these things it is expressly declared that baptism is for the remission of sins. Peter bade the people be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, that they might receive the remission of their sins. Acts 2 : 38. John also preached baptism as one of the things necessary in order to obtain the remission of sins. Mark 1 : 4, 5; Luke 3 : 3. If baptism is one of the things necessary in order for us to receive the remission of sins, it is certainly a duty of great importance.

Bale, Dec. 1, 1879.