Many years later, Paul said there was only one baptism; one Lord, one faith, one baptism.[116]

One of these two baptisms which Christ and all the evangelists tell us about must have ended before Paul wrote.  Which baptism had ended?  Which remains?  Can any Christian doubt which baptism remains to us?  Christ’s death, resurrection, ascension and return at Pentecost had all intervened between the time when John told the Jews of two baptisms and the time when Paul claimed there was but one.  During this time Christ had blotted out ordinances and nailed them to his cross.  He made no reservation 3 of water baptism.  It went with the rest.[117]

Christian baptism came in fullness; water baptism ended.

Near the close of Peter’s ministry he said:  The baptism which now saves is not the putting away the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.[118]

Putting away the filth of the flesh evidently here refers to Jewish purification by water baptism.  Peter says this is not the baptism which now saves.  The baptism which now saves is the answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.[119]

This answer of a good conscience toward God can refer to no other baptism than that of the Holy Spirit which Jesus said was the promise of the Father to follow or supercede John’s water baptism.[120] It is also called the gift of the Holy Spirit, and being filled with the Holy Spirit.  And again it is called the earnest of the Spirit.  This is the baptism which Peter recognized as that which was foretold by the prophet Joel:  In the last days saith God I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.  On my servants and on my handmaidens will I pour out of my Spirit and they shall prophecy.[121]

These are the Gospel days in which we now live.  This is the one baptism ordained to remain.

Churchmen say:  Burial with Christ in baptism (Rom. 6-2) is figurative, a mortification of our lusts; not a literal burial in water.[122]

We heartily accept this church teaching and suggest that baptism into Christ and crucifixion with Christ are no more literal.[123]

We see no more water about baptism into Christ than we see wood in the cross upon which all Christ’s children must be crucified.[124]

Church catechism teaches that “baptism is generally necessary to salvation.”  As an apology for introducing this extrinsic word “generally,” they say the thief upon the cross was evidently saved without baptism.[125]

As we understand this is all contrary to Scripture teaching, one error calls for another and the catechism leads astray.  There is no “generally” about Christ’s teaching.  He said positively, Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit; and again he said, Ye must be born again.  Without this new birth and baptism we see no hope of salvation.[126]