Our quote will include verses 22-29, "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
Paul, in this lesson, was teaching the Corinthians that the perfection of Jesus and His subsequent death, burial, and resurrection, had fulfilled the requirements of the law and was sufficient to atone for ALL sin. This atonement applied to all those who would place their faith in, or immerse (baptize) themselves into, the (one time serves all) sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The term "baptized" that appears herein, simply symbolizes an immersion, through faith, into the perfection of the body of Jesus Christ so that through His perfection, those of us who place total faith in Him, will be presented perfect without sin before God. Water immersion, or water "baptism", is NOT implied by this usage.
The text is self explanatory in that Paul said, "For as many of you as have been baptized (immersed) into Christ have put on Christ.", implying that those of us who are saved by His grace, are wrapped within the perfection of Jesus Christ Himself.
Those who contend that Paul implied that, in order to be saved, one must be first immersed, (baptized) into water and thereby immersed (baptized) into Christ, or that through being immersed into water one is somehow also immersed into Christ, grossly distort the intent of Paul's message. To so distort that message would be to take the credit for ones eternal salvation away from Christ and place in water.~
The text is self explanatory in that Paul said, "For as many of you as have been baptized (immersed) into Christ have put on Christ.", implying that those of us who are saved by His grace, are wrapped within the perfection of Jesus Christ Himself.
Those who contend that Paul implied that, in order to be saved, one must be first immersed, (baptized) into water and thereby immersed (baptized) into Christ, or that through being immersed into water one is somehow also immersed into Christ, grossly distort the intent of Paul's message. To so distort that message would be to take the credit for ones eternal salvation away from Christ and place in water.~
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