Scripture Queries and Answers: "Baptized Into Christ"

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CLERICUS.
A. The premises are unsound, and the conclusion an error. The Greek preposition means “unto” (or “to") as often as “into “: which depends on the context or on the nature of the case. Now baptism with water is clearly indicated in 1 Cor. 10:22And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; (1 Corinthians 10:2) as a warning to the baptized at Corinth. Impossible to think the Israelites were baptized into Moses; and here therefore the A. and R. Vv. rightly say “unto”. The marginal note of the R. V: is a delusion, for the Greek means “to” no less than “into”. So in Acts 19:33And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. (Acts 19:3) it is as in the A. V. “unto", not “into” as in the Revised. Baptism is the symbol of profession. Reality, depends on faith.; which might, or might not, be true of the baptized; as is certain from our Lord's words in Mark 16:1616He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:16). To say “into” therefore goes beyond God's word and implies vital efficacy without and against scriptural warrant. This falls in with the self-importance of a caste (on which the truth frowns), and takes away efficacy from living faith in Christ (on which scripture insists). All have not faith. “He that disbelieveth shall be condemned” (the same sense as “damned” in the A. V.). Baptism will no more save him than dead faith. Baptism is “unto” or “to” only, not “into", even in 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). Compare 1 Cor. 1:13, 1513Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Corinthians 1:13)
15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. (1 Corinthians 1:15).
But the Spirit's baptism is wholly distinct. It is the peculiar privilege of the church of God, and consequently never was till Pentecost and only is after men believe. See Gal. 4:66And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6), Eph. 1:1313In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13). Hence on the church's birthday the apostle Peter told the convicted Jews to “Repent and be baptized”, and they “should receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”. It was a consequence for genuine faith, never a necessary accompaniment of the water. Indeed in Acts 10:4444While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (Acts 10:44) we see the believers received that gift, attested by outward powers, before they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (ver. 48). So false is the ignorant and dangerous tradition which identifies the baptism of water and that of the Spirit. John 3:3-83Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3:3‑8) means no baptism at all.
Further, even the import of the sign in baptism with water is misunderstood generally. It is a sign not of life-giving, still less of the gift of the indwelling Spirit of God, but of death with Christ, as Rom. 6 and Col. 2 make plain. “We who died to sin, shall we any longer live therein? Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized unto Christ Jesus were baptized unto His death?” Baptism by or in virtue of the Spirit, as we see in 1 Cor. 12:1313For 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 12:13), is into (not “unto”) one body, Christ's body; because His work efficaciously unites. Water baptism does not go beyond profession, as in Gal. 3:2727For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27) and elsewhere, though we are responsible to be true. No one is true save he who believing has Christ as his life. But the baptism of the Spirit unites the believer to Christ as a member of His body, the church, in the truest and abiding sense.
He who is baptized thereby says he died with Christ to sin and put on Christ. Yet it is only “to” Christ he was baptized, as it may turn out to be without life and only an outward confession, however important it may be, and whatever the privilege. Baptism is to the objective truth of Christ dead and risen, to the remission of sins therein, to sin judged; and not the sign of our subjective state.