Lesson 703

(Lesson 703)(07-23-13) Our next example of the term "baptized" is found in Acts 22:16. To provide context we will quote verses 6-16 of Acts 22, "And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

This is Paul's own account of what happened to him as he traveled to Damascus to retrieve and imprison the followers of Jesus.

The usage of the term "baptized", as it is applied in verse 16, describes Paul's "baptism" into Christ. In my opinion, this reference has nothing to do with water. Here's why. We know that Jesus died on the cross to remit sins, 1 John 1:7, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

1 John 1:7 perfectly describes Paul's experience. After he had believed in Jesus and had accepted his saving grace (baptism), Paul was told to "arise, and be baptized, and WASH away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Who "cleanseth" us of our sins? "Jesus Christ His son"! NOT water.

There is no doubt in my mind that the term "baptized", as it is applied in this lesson, refers to the "baptism" into Jesus Christ as it is described in Galatians 3:26-27, "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized" (immersed) "into Christ have put on Christ."~