Page 277 - Bible Writers Theology Original

Soteriotogy • Salvation ♦ 261 Jew, nor Gentile, nor others. All are one in Christ Jesus.
God covers the repentant believer, who puts on Christ by baptism in the Name ofJesus Christ, with the garment ofseilvation: a robeofrighteousness, which is Christ (Isaiah 61:10; Romans 8:1;Galatians 3:27). Paul stressed the absolutenecessityofbaptismforsalvation. Hetestified,"Forweourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient... But after that the kindness and love of God o u r Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the wash ing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ ourSavior" (Titus 3:3-6). This also indi catesthat baptism is not man's workbut theplace where thebeliever meets withGod'ssavinggrace. ThewordofGoddeclares,"Allfleshisgrass,and all the godliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth,
the flower fadeth: because the spirit ofthe LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass" (Isaiah 40:6-8).
Surely, this is the condition of the earthly Adamic nature, which needs to beremoved. TheinnermanmustputonChristbyfaith.Petersaysthatthis isthewordbywhichthegospelispreacheduntous. Heexplains:
bom again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever" (I Peter 1:23-25).
Peter confirms the saving power attached to baptism as proclaimed by Jesus Christ and Paul. He compaies it to Noah's household in the ark, who were saved by water "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Chrisf (I Peter 3:20-21).
E Baptismal Formula - Why "In the Name of Jesus ?
Y eshua - Isaiah 12
The New Testament baptism for the remission of sins is to be adminis
tered in the Name of Jesus Christ.
• JesusisthehighestandsavingNameofGod. TheNameJesusishigh ly exalted above every name, "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to theglory ofGod the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11). This was the fulfillment of Isaiah 45:22-23.
• SincetheNameofJesus,whichisaboveevetyname,istheonlypower that destroys sin, death, and the devil "that had the power of death,"