Whom to Know Is Life Eternal
The sermon emphasizes the significance of Jesus' baptism as the unique inaugural Baptism of the New Covenant and the importance of understanding the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
G.W. North emphasizes the transformative nature of baptism in the New Covenant, explaining that the apostles, after Jesus' resurrection, were commanded to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, reflecting a deeper understanding of the Godhead. He highlights that this new baptism represents a significant shift from their previous practice, as they now possess the ability to baptize into the fullness of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit. North asserts that Jesus' command signifies His eternal presence and the essence of eternal life, which believers enter through baptism. He concludes that while John's baptism was from heaven, the baptism instituted by Jesus is even more profound, marking the inauguration of the New Covenant. Ultimately, he stresses that there is one baptism that encompasses all, unifying the various forms of baptism into a singular, greater reality.
Text
These men had baptised in Jesus' name and presence whilst He was with them in the flesh during the course of His earthly ministry, but not until He had made baptism 'the Baptism' could they baptise in the New Order. From that time onward they did not, as before, baptise in the name of Jesus alone, for that would have excluded the other two members of the being of God; with superior knowledge they baptised in the name of Jesus who was now able to baptise in Spirit into the triune God.
When they had baptised in His name earlier, He had not been able to do so, but now He could, so He commanded them to go beyond their former limitations and baptise into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. They were to do so now because they represented Him in a new way; His new ability became new ability to them also. Being born of the Spirit, they could bear the name which formerly they only used, and bearing it could act in a capacity until then impossible to them. They could represent Him now more fully as they understood Him to be a Person and representative of the entire Godhead of which He is Jesus, but they all One God.
This is what He had definitely said to them: 'Lo, I AM with you'. In those simple words He had spoken out His conscious knowledge of His own personal eternal existence, and also the 'family name' of God unto all generations -- the name which is the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. The name of the eternal, conscious existence of the unique, original Being who is and was and is to come: ETERNAL LIFE. Into Him, into that, are we baptised when Jesus baptises us in Holy Spirit. As many as believe and are baptised shall be saved, He said, and He alone knows.
We therefore conclude that the baptism of John was indeed from heaven, for by it Jesus, the Son of God, came unto men as 'the Lamb of God that beareth away the sin of the world', 'He that baptiseth with the Holy Ghost'. And if this be so, how much more is the Baptism of Jesus, the Lamb, the Son of God, from heaven also! We are informed that upon the occasion recorded in Acts 2, it was from heaven. What had until then been His unique Baptism became the unique inaugural Baptism of the New Covenant.
The last view we have of the whole subject of baptism as faithfully recorded in scripture is true to Paul's later statement to the Ephesians -- there is ONE BAPTISM. All combines and is embraced in one; the lesser is absorbed in the greater and made an illustration of it, which is as it should be. The age of Baptism is upon us!
Sermon Outline
- I. The Baptism of Jesus
- A. The Baptism of Jesus is from heaven
- B. It is the unique inaugural Baptism of the New Covenant
- II. The Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
- A. The name is the name of the eternal, conscious existence of God
- B. It is the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
- III. The Baptism of John
- A. It was from heaven
- B. It was a preparation for the Baptism of Jesus
- IV. The Age of Baptism
- A. The age of Baptism is upon us
- B. There is one baptism that combines all others
Key Quotes
“Lo, I AM with you.” — G.W. North
“As many as believe and are baptised shall be saved, He said, and He alone knows.” — G.W. North
“There is ONE BAPTISM.” — G.W. North
Application Points
- We should understand the significance of Jesus' baptism and its relationship to the New Covenant.
- We should recognize the importance of the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost in our faith.
- We should be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost to receive eternal life.