W. B. Godbey - Enter His Rest

(2) The identification of “burial” in these Scriptures with “baptism” can only be the conclusion of a most
superficial examination. It says, “we are buried by baptism,” (Romans), and “in baptism,” (Colossians). These
two statements are precisely synonymous. Therefore instead of identifying baptism and the burial, which the
immersionists do, I. e., they tell us the baptism is the burial, the Holy Spirit tells us that the baptism is the agent
by which we are buried, I. e., the baptism instead of being the burial is the undertaker, who digs the grave and
buries the corpse (old Adam), and leaves it there for the grass to grow green over it forever, as the resurrection
of old Adam would be certain damnation. There is a resurrection in this wonderful transaction, but it is the new
creature, created in the heart by the Holy Ghost in regeneration, and hitherto encumbered with the old body of
sin, which having been crucified in burial forever, this new creature is resurrected, to walk in newness of life
forever. As we learn in these Scriptures (Colossians), this resurrection is not by physical power, but by the very
same omnipotent arm that raised up Christ from the dead. Few men in the world have immersed more people
than your humble servant. I always, when putting them down into the liquid grave, sinking them beneath the
yielding wave, found it necessary to raise them up by the muscular power of my left arm. My last exercise was
in the holy Jordan. Now you see the burial is not physical, appertaining to the human body, but spiritual,
crucified old Adam being the subject.
As the resurrection is not physical by human power, but purely spiritual, as it says, by the power which raised up
Christ from the dead, therefore we know that the burial is by that same omnipotent power. Long habituation to
hearing a superficial, materialistic pseudo-gospel, has so cultured many people that when they see baptism in the
Bible they always think it means the ordinance with water.
I have heard preachers confidently quote, “So many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ,”
enforcing on the people that it indubitably means water baptism, which is utterly untrue; to be baptized is one
thing, and to be baptized into Christ is quite another. Baptism has but one meaning and that is a purification,
John 3:25; Luke 11:8, 59, and other citations, we could conveniently give.
The ordinance of water is a ceremonial purification, but the baptism which Jesus gives with the Holy Ghost and
fire is the only actual and real purification. Therefore this is the baptism that puts us in Christ, which water
baptism is utterly incompetent to do.
(3) You see in these Scriptures describing this wonderful transaction, (Col.) that baptism is identical with
circumcision. If you will examine you will see clearly for yourself that the baptism is in both grammatical and
logical apposition with circumcision, and therefore precisely identical. If it were water baptism and physical
circumcision, of course they would not be identical, -- but in opposition either with the other. How do we know
that this is spiritual circumcision? Because Paul says it is the circumcision made without hands. Now since you
see beyond the possibility of question the identity of the circumcision and baptism, therefore the baptism is
spiritual and not physical. Paul says the circumcision is made without hands; and with the same breath, that the
baptism is administered without bands. Jesus is our wonderful Healer. If you have that fatal malady,
hydrocephalus, I. e., water on the brain, turn it over to Him that He may heal you now lest you die.
Do you not see that the conclusion that this means an immersion in water is taken from the mere jingle of the
words, with a luminous analysis of the context?
(4) In the clear light of the blessed Holy Spirit, the author of the precious Word, and especially when
corroborated by your own happy experience in your heart, these Scriptures do loom up so beautiful, bright and
glorious, that you cannot fail to see the grand harmony of this wonderful transaction in all its phases and
ramifications. Then you say, “Brother Godbey, I see clearly that this is all spiritual, without mention or allusion
to the human body, water or any other physical entity.
But since the spiritual has the burial, should we not bury the people when we baptize them with water? Does it
not follow from this that the mode of spiritual baptism is immersion?” We must answer positively in the
negative, because God's Word forever settles the mode of spiritual baptism, Acts 2:17, “I will pour out my Spirit
upon all flesh.” Verily you cannot read your Bible at all without knowing that the mode of spiritual baptism is
effusion invariably. The Savior pours His Spirit on the human spirit, thereby purifying that spirit from depravity,
which is “old Adam,” which this baptism crucifies and destroys, the body of sin. Thus this old dead body is
buried into “His death” and, never resurrecting, leaves it there forever; while the resurrection, as you see, brings