On
Baptism
Baptism is the immersion in and
the washing with water and this is divided into five kinds: First, the washing
off the filth of the body, as is commonly done by all men. Second, the washings
according to usages of the law, whereby it was believed that purity towards God
from all carnal uncleanness was attained. Thirdly, those of the traditions of
the elders, such as “the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, beds”, and
as “when they come from the market, except they bathe, the eat not.” Fourth,
the baptism of John, whereby he preached only repentance and the forgiveness of
sins. Fifth, the baptism of our Saviour, which is received, through the Holy
Spirit, for the gift of adoption of sons, for the resurrection from the dead,
and for everlasting life; which is “the circumcision of Christ.” For as the
circumcision of the flesh was given for a sign denoting those who were of the
family of Israel of old according to the flesh; so the baptism of Christ is a
sign of spiritual relationship to the new Israel, viz., those who are the
called, and the children of God. “But those who received Him, to them He gave
power to become the sons of God.
The matter of Baptism is pure
water. If a man is not born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of God. The form, of baptism is: “in the Name of the Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit,” according to the words of our Savior. There is also a Sixth
Baptism, that of blood, as our Lord has indicated: “I have a baptism to be
baptized with, and I am oppressed until it is fulfilled”. There is also a
Seventh Baptism, that of tears, after the saying of the fathers. These two are
allied to the fifth, which is an emblem of death and the resurrection. (Mar
O’Dishoo, Metropolitan of Suwa (‘Nisidin) and Armenia, The Book of
Marganitha (The Pearl) On the Truth of Christianity [trans. Mar Eshai
Shimun XXIII, Catholicos Patriarch of the East; Xlibris: 2007], 43-44)
Further Reading
For a book-length discussion of the topic of baptismal regeneration, see:
"Born of Water and of the Spirit": The Biblical Evidence for Baptismal Regeneration
[*] for those who want a PDF copy of the book, drop me an email at ScripturalMormonismATgmailDOTcom
