Correspondence: Baptism in Water/Holy Ghost; Laodicea; Heb. 11:9 True?

From: Young Christian: Volume 33, 1943

Hebrews 11:9 • 2 min. read • grade level: 7

Question: What is the use of baptism in water? Is not the baptism of the Holy Ghost enough?

Answer: The baptism of the Holy Spirit took place at Pentecost (Acts 2); by it the body of Christ was formed, and it cannot take place again (1 Cor. 12:12-13¹²For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. ¹³For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:12‑13); Eph. 4:4⁴There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:4)). Since then every believer sealed with the Holy Spirit is a member of the body of Christ. “There is one body.”

When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, He took His dwelling among the disciples. All who came among them, did so by baptism in water, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost (Matt. 28:19¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Matthew 28:19)).

This is the use of baptism: it brought the one baptized from off the ground of Jew or Gentile, on to the ground of the profession of Christ’s name, as the house of God; and though men have greatly abused this use of baptism, it is still the same with God. God will not allow man to take His name in vain.

We could not have fellowship with those who deny this use of baptism by determinedly remaining unbaptized. If once baptized it would be folly to repeat the form. In the sight of God it is done, whatever mode may be used. Therefore the Word of God abides, and baptism is just as much needed as ever.

Question: Is all the professing church Laodicea now?

Answer: No. Revelation 2:25,28²⁵But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. (Revelation 2:25)
²⁸And I will give him the morning star. (Revelation 2:28) shows a remnant in Thyatira who are waiting for the coming of the Lord. He has not come yet.

Revelation 3:3³Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. (Revelation 3:3) tells that the church in Sardis will be treated as the world—the Lord coming as a thief to them.

Revelation 3:11¹¹Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (Revelation 3:11) shows a remnant looking for the coming of the Lord, keeping His word, and not denying His name. Overcomers are there also.

Revelation 3:20²⁰Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20) has overcomers even in Laodicea who sup with Christ and He with them.

The truth that there is one body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling, continues till the Lord comes. Our responsibility and privilege is to walk worthy of that vocation, with all lowliness and meekness, and the Lord’s care of the church, and provision for its needs, will not cease till the perfect Man is reached (Eph. 4:4-16⁴There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; ⁵One Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. ⁷But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. ⁸Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. ⁹(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) ¹¹And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹²For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ¹³Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: ¹⁴That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; ¹⁵But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: ¹⁶From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:4‑16)).

Question: How could Hebrews 11:9⁹By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: (Hebrews 11:9) be true when the persons spoken of there were not living at the same time?

Answer: It is their character as strangers dwelling in tents that is the point, not that they were living together at the same time. Jacob built a house for himself at Succoth, that was failure; but in the New Testament, God speaks of the faith of the Old Testament saints, not of their failures.

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