As was established in the passages of scripture examined in the last couple of articles, the elements that are associated with being born again under the New Covenant in Jesus Christ are water, spirit, obedience to the truth, the resurrection of Jesus, and occurring in Christ. In this article, we will explore scriptures that tie all these elements together in one place. While none of these elements have any greater importance than the others (it has already been noted in previous articles that each must be present), for the sake of maintaining some semblance of order, I will address them in the order listed above.
Repeatedly throughout the New Testament Scriptures, there is one rite consistently practiced that involves water…baptism. “And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came and were baptized.” (John 3:23). “Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.” (Acts 8:38). While there are other verses that could be listed these two should serve to display that baptism involved the element of water.
While it is evident and universally expected that baptism involves the element of water, what about spirit? “And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38). Here, Peter attributes the receiving of the gift of the Spirit to the physical act of baptism. He also states that it is for the purpose of receiving the forgiveness of sins, but that is a topic for later. “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). Here Paul connects the work of the Spirit to the baptism of an individual. When one is baptized in water, neither the individual being baptized nor the individual there with them is actually doing any work. Yes, the one being baptized is pledging to live in all good conscience before God (1 Peter 3:20-21); but it is God, Christ, and the Spirit who are doing all the real work (more on this as it presents itself in other passages we will examine). In the passage in 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, the Spirit is doing the work of incorporating the individual into the body…the body of Christ…which is His Church. “And He (Christ) is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn form the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18). In several locations throughout the New Testament, such as here in Colossians, we find the body and the church as interchangeable terms. Turning back to Acts 2 we see this work of the Spirit performed upon those who were baptized that day. “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” (Acts 2:41). So, what were these souls added to as a result of their baptism…them…this them are the apostles that are present along the 120ish souls that had remained faithfully, consolidated together, following the death of Jesus (Acts 1:15). Thus, on that day the body of Christ, the Church of Christ, grew from 120ish to 3120ish by those added by the work of the Spirit.
Another wonderful work of the Spirit is found in Ephesians 1:13-14; “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” This is mentioned in other passages as well, such as 2 Corinthians 5:5; “Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” The primary ‘gift’ of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee, or as some other translations word it, the downpayment or earnestness of the promises contained in the gospel. It also serves as the seal that one is in a covenant relationship with God (this was covered in a past article series).
Going back to the events of Acts 2, we see that those Peter convinced of their state of being alienated from God because of their sins, crying out for a solution for their sins (Acts 2:37). Peter immediately tells them the solution in the following verse (38) and along with verse 41 also informs them of the benefits of baptism…the gift of the Holy Spirit. I do not know what the ‘many other words’ Peter told them in verse 40, but I suspect that it contained elaboration on exactly what the Spirit would give…a seal of the covenant relationship, a guarantee, and entrance into the body/church of Christ.
What God’s inspired Word contains is truth, what Jesus spoke is truth, what He instructed His apostles to present is truth, and what the Holy Spirit inspired and directed them to do is truth. This sentence of fact is not disputed amongst Christians and is supported throughout the New Testament. Thus, what Peter instructed in Acts 2:28 was the truth that needed to be acted upon; what Jesus instructed Nicodemus in John 3:5 needed to be acted upon; what Jesus instructed the apostles in Matthew 28:19 needed to be acted upon; what Peter commanded the household of Cornelius in Acts 10:48 required them to take action; the question and statement made by Ananias to Saul (Paul) required Saul to take action; the Treasurer for the Queen of Ethiopia (a.k.a. the Ethiopian eunuch) understood clearly from Philip’s gospel message exactly what action he needed to take…”Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, ‘See here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?’ Then Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ So, he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.” (Acts 8:35-38).
Simply hearing the truth, simply knowing the truth, and simply accepting the truth as truth is of no avail if one does not act upon what that truth instructs.
“Therefore, lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:21-25)
“…and from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15)
It is clear that God has given us ample instruction in the scriptures of the New Testament on how to enter a covenant relationship with Him through Christ. God’s revealed truth demands action on our part. He has told us where the door is and the combination to the lock…you need to enter the whole combination to open the door and pass through to the other side. We must not allow our own stubbornness, pride, or long-held man-made religious traditions to prevent us from simply obeying His truth.
Spend some time digesting what God’s Word said about these elements, and next week we will continue and explore the last two on the list.
(Carl Hartman is the Minister at Main Street Church of Christ in Lockney)
