LESSON XVIII.
(Scripture Reading Exercise.)
SPIRIT BAPTISM.
ANALYSIS. | REFERENCES. |
I. Birth into the Kingdom: Water and Spirit Baptism. | The works and Scripture passages cited in the body of the lesson. |
II. The Testimony of Enoch. | |
III. Purification by Spirit Baptism. |
SPECIAL TEXT: "Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of heaven. * * * Except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God." (St. John iii:3,5.)
DISCUSSION.
1. The Birth of Water and of the Spirit: "There, cometh one mightier than I after me," said John the Baptist. "I have baptized you with water," he continued, "but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost."[A] Jesus said to Nicodemus: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God." At this the Pharisees marveled, and enquired, "How can a man be born again when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" Then answered Jesus in way of explanation—"Except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God."[B] This in plain allusion—it is universally conceded—to the baptism of water and of the Spirit essential to entrance into the Kingdom of God—into the Church of Christ.
[Footnote A: St. Mark i:7, 8.]
[Footnote B: St. John iii:3-5.]
2. The Testimony of Enoch to the Necessity of Water and Spirit Baptism: In the Pearl of Great Price occurs a very remarkable testimony of the necessity of water and spirit baptism; and indeed, of the whole Gospel plan of man's redemption, including an exposition of the Atonement and the relationship of the symbols of water and spirit baptism to the natural birth into the world. I quote it in extenso—the testimony is that of the Prophet Enoch, the seventh from Adam: