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268 ♦ Bible Writers' Theology Chapter Eight
Holy One to see corruption" (Psalm 16:10). Job also knew this mystery and said, "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the lat ter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall 1see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes
shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me" Gob 19:25-27).
As Paul stated, "Christ is risen from the dead...the firstfruits of them that slept" (I Corinthians 15:20). This indicates all those that slept in hope were risen after His resurrection. New Testament believers will be their follow ers. "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ
were baptized into his death? (Like our patriarchs) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection;...For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him" (Romans 6:3-5, 7-8).
K "Christ Sent Me not to Baptize?"
What does Paul mean when he says, "Christ sent me not to baptize?" (1 Corinthians 1:17). The Corinthian church had a misunderstanding of "whom" and "in whom" they were baptized. Some of them said they were of Paul, some of Apollos, some of Cephas; and others of Christ. Paul was explained that they were not baptized in the Name of the messengers, but in theNameofJesusChrist. PaulfurtheremphasizedtotheCorinthiansthat salvation comes only through Christ, and not through great preachers. When Paul said "Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the gospel", it didnotmeanthathewasdegradingorignoringthevalueofbaptism. Itdid not mean that he would no longer baptize anyone. Paul gives a guideline for baptism to the church (Acts 19:1-6; Ephesians 4:4-6).
God sent the apostles two by two. We find Paul's idea was that he was sent to preach the gospel, and his friend was to help him baptize the con verts. ItwasthesamewithJesus;Hewasateacherandapreacher,butHis disciples were baptizing His converts Gohr^ 4:1-4).
On the day of Pentecost, after the preaching of Peter, the apostles bap tized the three thousand converts. When Peter commanded Cornelius and his household to be baptized in Jesus' Name, it is clear that the disciples that followed him baptized them.
Paul is not questioning the act of baptizing in general, but whether there