9. J. R., Newton-le-Willows. In Rom. 6 the Holy Spirit is not speaking so much about water baptism as of that of which baptism by water is a type. He is meeting the common objection to grace. If Christ be all to you, as is set forth in chapter 5, then you mean by that that you may go on in sin. How can this be, since we are baptized into, or unto, His death? These persons had accepted the gospel, and the atonement—Christ’s death for them; but this is death with Him: “Buried with him.” This had been professed even in baptism. Not only that Christ died for them, but they took the place of death with Him. A dead person does not then go on in sin. He is to reckon himself dead to in and alive to God. Burial in water is a most striking figure of this; but only a figure, not the reality. “The like figure whereunto baptism doth also now save us.” (1 Pet. 3:21.) We pass from death unto life, like the persons saved out of the flood. It is not accepting the gospel, but rather the results of the gospel. Thus those who believed were baptized. It is not that we are actually dead, buried, and risen; but we take that place; we reckon ourselves to be such. (Compare Col. 2:12, 20; 3:1, 2.) Thus you will see the thing signified is death to the old man, and new life in Christ, all sins being forgiven.
Your other question, as to the Lord’s supper, will be answered by referring to Acts 20:7. The disciples came together to break bread. Though the apostle Paul and his companions happened to be there that day, yet it is evident the disciples were accustomed to come together, not merely to feed on the word of God, but to break bread, in obedience to Christ. There is nothing in scripture of the nature of a priest offering a sacrifice for sins now. All that is the effort of Satan, to set aside the infinite value of the one sacrifice on the cross. Neither is there anything of a minister administering the sacrament. That also takes away the true character of communion: that is, all having equal fellowship in His death. Read carefully—1 Cor. 10:16, 17. To set a man between the saints and God to administer a sacrament, would alter the whole thing. It is all the members of the body of Christ. “We bless,” &c.
But, then, it is a real act—real bread, real wine—so read 1 Cor. 11:23-26. Now if Paul received this from the Lord, he could not have obeyed Christ if he neglected this blessed ordinance of fellowship in breaking of bread. “This do” is the injunction, and this was to continue until Jesus comes again. (Ver. 26.) Then, believing these inspired words, how can we despise the words of Christ to Paul? It is quite true the church of God is nowhere now seen together in one place, doing this; but wherever two or three are gathered to His name, they will surely desire to do His will, just as though all the church was doing so.
10. F. S., Wincanton.—It would seem that the Holy Ghost did so order that the serious question of the attack on the gospel at Antioch should not be settled there, but at Jerusalem by the apostles, elders, and the assembly; so that ad occasion for division should thus be avoided. (Acts 21) And though, in the, present ruined state of Christendom, we have neither apostles, nor official elders of the church (for the church is nowhere in unity as then), yet surely we learn the mind of the Lord in all such cases now. When serious error comes in undermining the gospel, we should seek the council of the brethren in the fear of the Lord, and in dependence on the Holy Ghost. And where this is the case, it is a most serious thing to set aside the decision of such an assembly.
The Lord is still present where two or three are gathered to His name. If we set this aside, there is nothing left but utter confusion. What we need in these days is to wait patiently on the Lord until we know His mind. May He preserve us from all self-will on the one hand, and from all allowance of false doctrine on the other.