Page 270 - Bible Writers Theology Original

254 ♦ Bible Waters' Theology Chapter Eight
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6:2; Galatiems 2:20; Galatians 6:14).
The next piece of furniture in the courtyard was a laver or a basin of brass, which contained water (Exodus 30:17-21; 40:7-16) for the purifi cation of the priesthood. This was a place of self-examination, wash
ing, putting off the old garment, and the putting on the holy garments ofanointing. ThispointedtoabetterNewTestamentwayofputting off the old man with all his sin, and receiving sanctification by the p u t ting on of Christ, the righteousness of God, by baptism (Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:11-14).
The water of separation for purification of sin kept outside the camp for the congregation was also symbolic of baptism (Numbers 19:1-13; I Corinthians 6:9-11; Colossians 2:11-14; Galatians 3:27; Titus 3:5).
The crossing of the river Jordan by the children of Israel, their circum cision at Gilgal (Joshua 3; 5:6-9), and the cleansing of Naaman in the Jordan River (II Kings 5) are all shadows of the New Testament bap tism for the remission of sins.
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We read in Deuteronomy 29:5, "And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot." The fact that their clothes and sandals were not worn out for forty years until they entered Canaan was a miracle. This mir acle foreshadowed the putting on of the body of Christ by baptism once for all and which lasts for eternity. (See Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:4; 5:3o-
Philippians 3:20-21; Romans 8:29-30; I John 3:1-3; 1 Peter 1:23-25; Ephesians 1:4-11; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 1:4-17.)
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Salvation by Baptism Prophesied
Baptism was prophesied by many of the Old Testament prophets.
• Ezekiel predicted New Testament salvation by baptism saying, "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean from: all youfilthiness,andfromallyouridols,willIcleanseyou. Anewheart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and will I give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:25-26). The apostle Paul in 11 Corinthians 3:3-18 has interpreted this verse. It shows the replacement of the law written on the stone by the New Covenant, manifested in the new birth throughwaterbaptismandtheinfillingoftheHolyGhost. Thisgives a new heart of flesh to the believer, signifying Christ in him. The believer has both received Christ and put on Christ.
• The prophecy of Ezekiel 37:1-14 also foretells the great salvation to take place in the New Testament time involving repentance, baptism, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost.