Page 271 - Bible Writers Theology Original

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Soteriology - Salvation ♦ 255 Micah foretold the pardoning of our iniquity and the casting of all our
sins into the depth of the sea, which is baptism (Micah 7:18-20).
Zecharieih proclaimed, "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness" (Zechariah13:1). That day is the fullness of time, the day ofsalvation. ThefountciinwasthebleedingChristontheCross,pour
ingoutHisbloodandwater. This,bytheSpiritofGod,operatesdur ing baptism of the believer to put away his old nature of sin.
In Jeremiah 31:31-34, a new covenant is promised for God's people. This covenant is expressed by Christ before His cmcifixion when He said, "this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the rentussion of sins" (Matthew 26:28). It is also interpreted in Hebrews8:6-13. ThebloodofChristisappliedtothebelieverbywater baptism, and remits his sin (Isaiah 53).
Psalm 74:12-14, "For God is my King of old, working salvation in the
midst of the earth. Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou
brakest the heads ofthe dragons in the waters. Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhab iting the wilderness," is a prophecy indicating the spiritual deathblow inflicted to the devil that once had the power of death. This takes placeinthewaterofbaptism. (SeealsoHebrews2:14;Exodus14:24-
31; 15:3-7; Matthew 12:43; Colossians 2:11-15.)
Divine Image Promised in Second Birth
In Genesis 1:26, we read the decree of God to make man in His image, afterHislikeness. Weleamthatinthefullnessoftime,therealimageofGod appearedonearthinthefleshbody(Christ). TheBibledeclares:
• "God...in these last days spoken unto us by his Son... Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person" (Hebrews 1:1-3).
• "... his dear Son: In whom we have redemption.... Who is the image of the invisible God, the first bom of every creature:" (Colossians 1:13- 15.)
• "...Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (11 Corinthians 4:4).
The Bible confirms that a person bom of the water and spirit must put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge (or faith) after the image of Him that created him (Colossians3:10; Ephesians 2:15-18).
• Adam and his seed were predestined to be complete by putting on the nature of Christ (the Word that became flesh) to be the adonted sons .