J. M. Frost - 1916
J. M. Frost
THIS is something more than ”just another book on baptism.” The plea is for Evangelism plus the great ordinance - a plea for New Testament order and ideal. It comes of definite purpose, and is distinctive somewhat both in viewpoint and method. It is a message for the practical worth and larger service in certain great phases of gospel teaching and practice, of which our people have been foremost champions.
The baptismal question and some of the great baptismal texts and occasions of the New Testament are brought forward in a constructive way, and in their relation to evangelism and salvation. The ordinances, baptism having the larger space, are magnified in their didactic character and function with renewed emphasis also on their sacred nature and ceremonial value. Sacraments they are, indeed, when this imperial word is used in its original sense of supreme authority-the believer’s oath of allegiance and loyalty to Christ his Sovereign and Saviour.
A prominent member from one of the best churches in the South compared the preaching of two of his pastors as follows - one gave him clearer and more exalted view of God, the other gave him more adequate view of baptism in its larger and richer meaning. The first is the basal thought, while the second is the motive and aim of what is contained in the following pages. Indeed, the two are not far apart, viewed from the standpoint of the New Testament and of a full, well-rounded pulpit ministration. For any study of baptism worth while will surely develop its wonderful relation to God as the basis of its own exalted character, and a study of God’s wondrous grace and his effort for its expression will bring one inevitably within the field of this greatest of all symbols.
The word-baptism-is the name of this ordinance of the New Testament, and indicates the form of its administration with unvarying regularity and emphasis. But the ordinance itself, though impossible without this form, is yet larger than its name in fullness and richness of symbol. Its component parts are all essential to its integrity, whether considered separately or in a unit. The following answers, expressive of its several phases, are indispensable in considering the ordinance, but no one of them is adequate as a definition :
It takes all this and perhaps more to make baptism, and every item is essential to its integrity and fullness of meaning. The immersion, for example, though in a sense the lowest in the scale, is yet basal to all the others, the one essential form, and indispensable in its administration. There may be the physical act of immersion as the name baptism requires, but it cannot be baptism except there be in addition the qualities of spirit and purpose herein named, as its life, character and adornment.
This booklet, which is devoted to these great matters of New Testament life and teaching, consists of two parts. The first part, as explained in Number 2, consists of fifteen articles previously published. They will show some repetition from one to the other, which was partly unavoidable and partly not sought to be avoided. Not that quotations are made from one to the other, but words and phrases, now from this point of view and now from that, iteration and reiteration, to illustrate and enforce the great subjects under consideration, hoping by some means to reach their aim and fasten in heart and mind the different features and functions of this great ordinance.
The second part presents in outline five lectures on The Doctrinal Content of the Ordinances - baptism and the supper, which were delivered at Arkadelphia, Ark., in a State Workers’ Institute, February 20-25, 1912. They were not written out and I have misgiving as to their publication in this shape, but some think they will be helpful in the way of suggestion. It is a growing wonder with me how largely the great doctrines of the New Testament find embodiment with emphasis and illustrative power in these two memorials, - souvenirs, one of the cross, and the other of the empty sepulchre.
Are we meeting the claims of Christ concerning these two ordinances of the gospel system? The ordinary views of baptism even among our own people seem at times inadequate - not incorrect as far as they go, but inadequate. Having made good the contention for immersion as the form, we are in danger lest we become satisfied with that as being all there is of it - as if one should lay the foundation of his house, and then not go on to build and equip his home. There is great need for emphasis of the other phases of the ordinance by all proper method. Baptism speaks volumes for itself, even for immersion, if only its significant nature and wonderful symbolic import can be fully developed and brought to the front. Its marvelous didactic power for the gospel of grace has scarcely had a fair opportunity or showing.
The little book, ”In Christ’ by Dr. A. J. Gordon, came into my life in the early years of my ministry, and was almost the first to open my eyes and touch my heart with the charm and beauty of baptism in its symbolic use. He was not discussing the ordinance, but like Paul was using it to illustrate some of the greatest spiritual truths, like the believer’s union with Christ and his risen life in him. This opens a wide, rich and far-reaching subject for study. Ordinarily we appeal to the symbolism of the ordinance to prove immersion as the form, but Dr. Gordon appealed to baptism as immersion to illustrate and enforce these great evangelistic truths, and so set before the Christian world an illustrious example of teaching through the larger use of the ordinance. For there is no finer or more powerful exhibit of what grace has done and will yet do than is shown in these ordinances of the Lord’s house. For this reason no doubt they were set in their place so conspicuous and commanding in gospel teaching and Christian experience.
Important scriptures concerning baptism, - great baptismal passages, - ed at all. There has been reaction from the old controversy, and the reaction has gone too far and brought on an indifference that is almost deadly in its influence on Christian character and life. These texts lie at the very heart of the gospel, and sometimes carry its very marrow and fatness in doctrinal teaching and experiential grace. Baptism is never presented in these pages for itself, but always for those mighty things which it so powerfully sets forth in figure and symbol. Why should not these very scriptures become even now a fresh power in Zion, not as of old, but in a positive, constructive way, and without reference to controversy or opposing people be made an evangel like living pictures in the present-day preaching? It would be a fresh emphasis of New Testament truth by means of a New Testament method. This in part is the aim and purpose of this writing.
A noble sermon on the Spiritual Meaning of Baptism was said by some one, ”to be the final word on the design of baptism.” It was strong, out of the ordinary, and deserved the high word. As a matter of fact, however, there can be no final word on baptism in any of its phases. Especially is it true that whoever may speak the great word, others need to speak it for themselves and so keep the wonderful message on the wing. There is need for individual study and individual expression from one’s own experience and conviction. This cannot be done by reading an article on baptism, or a volume, or by preaching one sermon, or a sermon now and then at long intervals. But much more is required than all this, and by such methods as the thoughtful and devout will devise for themselves.
Large use, of course, may be made of what others have done, in a way to suggest and stimulate, possibly to direct somewhat, but here is a work of tremendous moment for mind and heart, which each one must undertake for himself, with the New Testament as his guide and inspiration. Must we not face the question in all seriousness, whether the ordinances have been given in our thinking and life, the high place and use which are theirs by right? Have we done our duty toward these ordinances? This question should appeal to everyone who has experienced the grace of God in his heart, who is concerned for spiritual and evangelical truth, and who is warm in his devotion and loyalty to Christ and Christ’s cause. If the high duty goes unattended to, then we suffer, the cause of truth suffers, and Christ is dishonored in the things which are his. A better and nobler way, however, is open for us, if only we set our hearts to walk in it.
Surely this must be a great matter that claims our attention, since Christ himself was baptized and then gave baptism its commanding place in his final word of conquest; since the Apostle Peter following his Lord and in the first victories of the cross set baptism among the wonders of Pentecost; and since Saul of Tarsus, notwithstanding his vision of midday glory and his receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, was yet baptized and ever after cherished the meaning of his baptism as symbolizing his greatest experience of grace and the forecast of his final triumph. Surely unless we know all that is to be known concerning these great ordinances, we must follow on to know more and more of the charm and beauty of their figure and symbol.
As illustrating the wide scope open to the preacher in preaching on baptism, I venture to suggest a list of subjects. Of course as many more could be easily added and then leave the field unexhausted.