Mr. W. I see that clearly.
Elder B. The next condition required is repentance. As all men have sinned, all men are required to repent of their sins. Says Jesus—"Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."—Luke xiii. 3. See also Luke xxiv. 47. Acts xvii. 30. Now to repent, is not to mourn, and grieve, and hang down one's head like a bulrush, but to forsake everything that is evil, and to make a firm resolution, like a man, to follow those things no more. In short, to repent is to cease to do evil, and resolve to do well. This is what is required of all men.
Mr. W. That appears right enough.
Elder B. The third condition required is for men to be baptized in water, for the remission of their sins. This is a condition quite as important as any other, yet it is one which is little thought of by many persons, and much misunderstood by others.
Mr. W. That is a subject upon which I have thought much, when I have heard my friends argue the matter.
Elder B. It is a subject concerning which much diversity of opinion prevails amongst the religious world. Some persons believe baptism to be altogether unnecessary, and they sing—
"Were I baptized a thousand times,
It would be all in vain."
Others believe baptism to be an ordinance that can be attended to, or dispensed with, at the discretion of the believer. Now we do not agree with either of these kinds of persons. We believe that baptism is one of the essential conditions of salvation. We deem it absolutely necessary that all persons who believe and repent, should also be baptized. If we consider what baptism is for, we shall see at once its necessity. Baptism is for the remission of sins.
Mr. W. But does not Jesus say that his blood was to be shed for the remission of sins? And does not St. John say that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin?
Elder B. If you read the preceding part of the verse in which the last passage you have quoted occurs, you will find these words—"But if we walk in the light." Now to walk in the light, is to walk in obedience to the law of God, and, as baptism is a part of the law of God, we must attend to that ordinance, or the blood of Jesus Christ will not cleanse us from all sin. As to the other passage, I said, previously, that the atonement of Jesus Christ extended to the sins of all the human family, but to individual sins on conditions only. Three conditions I have named. The full benefit of the atoning blood of Jesus Christ cannot be claimed, by any man, for his individual sins, until he is baptized. Baptism is nothing of itself, and cannot wash away our sins. But God has ordained that the blood of Christ for the remission of individual sins shall be available to no man till he has been baptized. No man is entitled to a pardon for his sins, until he obey that ordinance. So far, baptism is for the remission of sins; not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer—the return, of a good conscience towards God.