NOVEMBER 2ND, 1937

NOVEMBER 2ND, 1937

BELOVED BROTHER, — The enquiry which you raise is one of much interest and importance, and it is well worthy of consideration. No doubt there is something for us to learn from the fact that the particular form of words used by the Lord in Matthew 28 in giving the eleven their commission is not said to have been used by any in the Acts.

It seems to me that the Lord’s words are more comprehensive than any of the terms used in the Acts. The making disciples of all the nations was in view of men being brought into that great economy of revelation connected with the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. This economy included all that was made known of God as revealed in grace in the Son, and it also had in mind the Holy Spirit as subjective ^[p. 253] power to make the revelation effective in human hearts. The nations were to be baptised to that Name with a view to their coming into the blessedness of it in that true spirit of subjection which would mark the kingdom of the heavens. The Lord seems to have in mind the great positive gain that would come to all the nations through the service of His disciples, so that it would look on in result to a day that is still future. But His words are an authoritative commission in the light of which we can baptise now, as having a great sense of the Name to which we baptise, and of all the fulness of blessing which is wrapped up in it. I am sure this should have a great place in our thoughts as we baptise.

In the Acts what is made prominent is the Name of Jesus Christ or the Name of the Lord. God having made Him Lord and Christ raises a direct issue with those who had crucified Him. Repentance in regard to what they had done, and the public recognition of the Name of Jesus Christ in baptism, would secure the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Baptism here is that by which men clear themselves in respect of the dreadful deed that has been done. So that it is the divine way of escape from a perverse generation into a position on earth where God’s blessing and favour can be known and enjoyed. It is evident that from this point of view the name of Jesus Christ is the important matter to make prominent in connection with baptism. It is not exactly in Acts 2: 38 that it is done in His Name, but His Name supplies the occasion or condition on which it is done. There is the recognition of His Name in doing it on the part of those baptised.

In Acts 10: 48, it is “in the name of the Lord”. It is done as directly under His authority. In Acts 19: 5 it is “to the name of the Lord Jesus;” He being known now as having come, they were set by baptism in relation to His Name like being baptised to Moses in 1 Corinthians 10: 2. So also in Romans 6: 3, 4, and Galatians 3: 27. So that in the Acts and in the epistles we see how baptism stands in relation to the Name of Jesus Christ and to the Name of the Lord, and that it is to Christ. It is needful to see clearly that baptism is a matter of the Lord’s authority, and that it is to Him. It seems to me that this is what would generally be stressed at baptisms at the present time, and that it is on this account that it is so presented in the Acts and epistles.

^[p. 254] But this does not in any way mean that we are to lose sight of the great scope of what the Lord presented in Matthew 28. But the latter requires more maturity of spiritual understanding as embracing the whole economy of grace — one might say the whole mediatorial system. Those of the nations are to be baptised to that. We have that in mind when we baptise, so that it is quite in order that persons should be baptised to that Name. Nothing less than that is really in view, but it is a vast and wondrous presentation of God as known in three Persons. The whole Christian economy is bound up in it — God as saints of the assembly know Him. But in the actual taking up of things we first come to the recognition of the Name of Jesus Christ; that Name becomes the occasion of our baptism; we identify ourselves publicly with that Name here where He has been crucified. Then in being baptised to Him we are permanently committed to Him to own Him as Lord, and, as He has died here, to accept identification with His death. All this involving a public position here in which believing parents are entitled to have their children with them, in view of bringing them up in the discipline and admonition of the Lord. All this, it seems to me, is more the side of how we take up baptism, while Matthew 28 gives the whole great result as known to the Lord, and as in the minds of those who baptise intelligently.

This is what occurs to me at the moment, and I hope it may in some way meet the exercises which have been in your mind.

With much love in the Lord,

Yours affectionately in Him,