8. Theological aspects. — (a) A study of the NT leads us to the conclusion that baptism is no mere ceremony whereby outsiders are fitly received into the Christian Church. It is a means of grace — it conveys by an outward sign the grace of God, but always under certain conditions, for which see below (/). St. Peter says that water after a true likeness {avrirvTrov) saves us, even baptism : a cleansing of the body, but also a cleansing of the soul ; the outAvard part, water, is the symbol or sign of the inward washing (1 P 3^^). God saved us [iduaev, aorist) through the washing of regenera- tion and renewing of the Holy Ghost (Tit 3'). The WTiter of the Appendix to Mk. says that ' he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved' (16'^). And this is in accordance with God's usual way of working. He normally uses outward instruments and means, though He is not bound by them and can work otherwise if He wills. On the one hand. He uses human beings as His instruments (cf., e.g.,
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Ac 9^^ 13^, Gal l'*'-, Eph 3^ for men as preachers of the gospel), and, on the other hand. He uses inanimate things or outward actions. Thus the ' gift of God ' is conveyed by imposition of hands (2 Ti 1®). Jesus ordinarily (but not always) used outward means in healing and in doing other mighty works (DCG i., art. ' Gestures,' 1). So He instituted outward means (water, bread, and wine) for the two sacraments of the gospel. Among OT analogies may be noted the cloud and pillar of fire, which symbolized God's presence. By using out- ward means, God shows that matter is not, as Gnostic dualism asserted, naturally evil, but that it is consecrated by Him for His sacred purposes.
The same truth may be expressed by saying that baptism is a. pledge or ivitness of grace, by which God assures us that He will perform His part of the covenant between Him and man ; cf. the pas- sages where the gift of the Spirit, the earnest (dppa^ihv) of our inheritance, is associated with faith, and by implication with baptism (Eph l^^'* ; see above, 1).
(b) Baptism is a union with God. The baptized is incorporated into the Divine Being, united with Christ, apart from whom we can do nothing ( Jn 15^). This baptismal union is clearly asserted in Ro 6^, Gal 3^", and by contrast is implied in 1 Co P^- ^* 10^ ; it is made possible only by the Incarnation, and by the glorifying of Jesus' humanity ; see Jn 7^^. It involves sonship by adoption (Ko 8'^^' [note the aorist iXd^ere, pointing to a definite time]. Gal 326f. 44f. . ggg art. ADOPTION). This aspect of bap- tism as an incorporation into God holds good what- ever view we take of the meaning of the Lord's command to baptize, which must now be considered carefully, as it is essential to the understanding of baptism.
(c) Meaning of baptism 'in' or 'into the Name.' — The words els to ovofxa (or eh alone) in the bap- tismal passages are usually interpreted as denoting incorporation into a person or society, and the pur- pose for which the baptism is administered ; but another view interprets the words in Mt 28^® as meaning 'by the authority of.' (For a full dis- cussion, see F. H. Chase in JThSt vi. 50011'., viii. 161 ff. ; J. A. Robinson in JThSt vii. 186 If., and EBi, art. 'Baptism.')
It is agreed that by a Hebrew idiom common in Hellenistic Greek ' the name ' of a person is used for the person himself. To believe in the name of some one is to believe in him (Jn P- 2-* 3'^, 1 Jn 5^^ Tnarevcj} eh ; 1 Jn 3''^'' ttkit. with dative — for the dif- ference, see Westcott on Jn S-'* 8^"'- ; cf. Ac 3'^) ; to come, or to act, or to receive a person, in the name of some one, is to come or act or to receive one as his representative (Mt 18^ 2P 23»^ Mk 9" IP 13«, Lk 13=5*, Jn 5« lO^* 12'3 \^^\ all with ii^ [ry] 6v6/iaTi ; Mt 24' with iir 6v6/mti) ; to hope in God's name is to hope in Him (Mt 12-\ with simple dative, = Is 42^ LXX with iiri) ; to have life in Christ's name is to receive life from Him ( Jn 20^^) ; to ask or give thanks in (if) Christ's name is to do so in Him, i.e. for His merits (Jn 14'»'- 15'« le'^^'- ^, Eph 5'-") ; to adjure in (if) the name of a person is to adjure by him (Ac 16'^ ; cf. 1 Co V" 5id) ; to receive remission of sins through (dtd) Jesus' name is to receive it through Him (Ac 10'*^). In Jn 17^"- Jesus prays the Father to keep the disciples ' in (iv) thy name which thou hast given me' (so best text ; cf. Ph 2**), and says that He has kept them while on earth in the Father's name — a very difficult passage. The latter phrase must mean ' as the Father's representative (as above) ; for the former, cf. 11*^- ^, where the 'name ' stands for God and His attributes, and we may perhaps paraphrase : ' in thyself, with whom I am one' (cf. 10^*). In Col 3^^ to do all in (iv) the name of Christ is to do all ' in Christ,' however we are to understand that cliarac-