Faith, Repentance, and Baptism, Do Not Pardon
Faith changes, purifies or christianizes the heart, or converts the subject in heart. Repentance changes, purifies or christianizes the man in character, or converts him in character. But this is all simply a change in the man, but no change in his relation or state. It is simply preparing the man to enter into a justified state, or a state of pardon. There is no forgiveness of sin in all this. There is no salvation of the soul from sin here. The salvation of the soul from sin, pardon or forgiveness of sins, is as distinct from all the preparation of heart and life, or all the change in the subject, as heaven or earth, as the work of God and the work of man. Man believes, repents, feels and confesses, but God pardons. No believing, repenting, feeling or confessing, saves the soul or pardons. It is God that pardons. Nor does baptism save the soul. It, too, is but the act of the creature; but it is the initiatory rite, consummating or transition act, where pardon is promised in the divine process. The candidate is baptized “into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” All the prophets bear witness of him, that through his name, whoever believeth in him, shall receive remission of sin. His is the only name given under heaven and among men whereby man can be saved. When we come into his name, there is salvation, or forgiveness of sins. As many as have been “baptized into Christ, have been baptized into his death.” In his death, his blood flowed to wash away sin. When man comes into his death, he comes to his blood that cleanses from all sin. When he enters the body of Christ, he comes to the life, to all spiritual blessings in Christ, to the salvation of our God.