The Second of the Seven Baptisms

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?" (Rom. 6:3)

This baptism is sometimes called "Sanctification." In Heb. 12:24, it is called "the blood of sprinkling." By this work of grace, through faith, we "put off the old man with his deeds." (Col. 3:9; Rom. 5:1,2) We trade the old nature, which is "corrupt according to the deceitful lusts," for "the new man" of Ephesians 4:22-24.

In order to experience this marvelous operation of God in our hearts, we must first be alive in Christ through repentance and faith. Circumcision of the flesh was done on the eighth day to show us that it was an experience for the living, and not a part of the birth experience..

It is only through the application of His blood to our hearts that we can truly destroy the works of the flesh. "Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience." (Heb. 10:22) As He also said in Heb. 9:13,14, "If the blood of bulls and of goats, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" This is what he meant when he said, "By one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Heb. 10:14) Our conscience is purged, and therefore, perfected and free to serve God. Our old, inner, nature has been destroyed through faith in that blood which he shed for us.

The Apostle Paul makes this point so well in Heb. 7:11,19. He said, "If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, what further need was there that another priest should rise? For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."

Rom. 6:4,6 tells us that "we are buried with Him by baptism into death. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." This baptism into death is one of the great marvels of the New Covenant. It is this experience that gives us victory over the sinful nature that we were born with. Under the Old Covenant, natural circumcision was a requirement for all males, if they were to continue to be citizens of the nation of Israel. Being born an Israelite was not enough. Likewise, being born again is not enough today. (Gen. 17:14)

For us to remain "fellow citizens with the saints," in God's Holy Nation, we must submit ourselves to God for spiritual circumcision. (Eph. 2:19) We must circumcise the foreskin of our hearts. Deut. 10:16. We must rid ourselves of the carnal mind which "is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be." (Rom. 8:5-8) As he said, "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ." (Col. 2:11)

In Heb. 10:10, and 1 Thess. 4:3, He uses the term "Sanctification" for this experience. "We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. This is the will of God, even your sanctification."

Then, "we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life." (Luke 1:74,75)