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258 ♦ Bble Writers'Theology Chapter Eigiit
which is baptism in the watery grave in Jesus' Name.
Paul's understanding of God's covenant with Abraham and the promised seed made him declare, "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not. And to seeds, as of many; but as of one. And to thy seed, which is Christ" (Galatians 3:16). "For ye are all the children of God by faith
in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Chrisfs, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise"
(Galatians 3:26-29).
In the Old Testament dispensation, the covenant of circumcision addressed only males, for Eve came out of Adam. The new covenant addresses all mankind. Spiritual circumcision, which is "the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh..." (Colossians 2:11) is for both male and female. God declared, "1 will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters" (II Corinthians 6:18; Jeremiah 31: 9,33).
D Baptismal Regeneration
It was Christ who declared "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God...Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" Qohn 3:3,5). This was humanly impossible (John 3:4,6-7). Jesus explained to Nicodemus, "...as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life" Qohn3:14-15). Lifteduponthecross.HewasgivingHimselfa"ransomfor many"Qohn12:32-33;Mark10:45). GodwasinChrist,reconcilingtheworld unto Himself (II Corinthians 5:19). The scripture says He did this "that he might reconcile both, Jews and Gentiles, unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity there by... for through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Ephesians 2:16). Jesus Christ came by flesh, blood, and water for the ultimate atonement (I John 4:3; I John 5:6; Revelation 5:5-6, 9-13). Jesus said, "This is my body which is given for you...this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the
remission of sins" (Luke 22:19; cf. Matthew 26:28).
The great salvation wrought by God through Christ was made accessible tomanwhenonthecrossChristsaid,"Itisfinished" Qohn19:30). TheBible declares, "this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God...For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:12,14). That was God's part in
the salvational transaction. "All things must be fulfilled, which were writ-