Wednesday, August 13, 2003 (52)THE WASHING OF REGENERATION. This is called by some, the laver of regeneration, rebirth and in particular, Messianic restoration. The outward washing of the flesh, or water baptism is significant of the inward work of grace that has been accomplished. Titus 3:5 This satisfies the command of the Lord Jesus given in Mark 16:16 He that beliveth and is baptized shall be saved. The complete work of salvation can only come to fruition by complete obedience to the Word of the Lord. Water baptism identifies the baptized with the death of Christ. Death to the old man, the carnal man, the former life. Rom. 6:3 The purpose is to bury that which has been contaminated and to achieve that new, resurrection life which is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a liberty from that life which was once lived and is no longer desirable in the waters of baptism. The old life, the former walk must die and cease to exist that we might walk in the newness of life found in Christ Jesus. Rom. 6:4-6 Water baptism is a burial, a spiritual act, not a dead ritual. In it is the secret of a life which is free from sin and iniquity, for through it we touch the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. It is a most important factor in the foundation of a strong and healthy spiritual life. Rom. 6:7-13
THE LINK BETWEEN BAPTISM AND FOOT WASHING. Again, it is Peter who through his unhampered exuberance and extreme reaction creates the link between the two. His enthusiasm was ready for anything. Shown the value of this washing he was ready to plunge in with the whole man. Lord, not only my feet but my hands and my head also. What a complete switch of attitude. John 13:9 How easy it is to relate to his fervor as this spiritual truth was revealed to him. The words of Jesus show the value of foot washing. An act as we have seen which was not strange to the religious and customs of hospitality for that day. What Jesus did that day went far beyond either of these and was one of deep spiritual implication. Physically, the washing of feet does not cleanse the whole body. However, when Jesus washed their feet it had the effect of cleansing the whole man. That becomes the beauty of the whole act. It is the revelation of its purpose. In many ways, the feet are symbolic of that which touches the contamination of the world. The disciples, having already been baptized, now, through the washing of their feet were cleansed, wholly, totally made clean. Jesus said, you are clean. John 13:10 From His statement they had obviously bathed, so this act which He performed had nothing to do with the cleanliness of the human body. Plainly what Jesus had done was a spiritual work touching the whole being. Some who have backsliden desire to be rebaptised for they feel contaminated. Not necessary, if Jesus washing their feet had the outcome of a full cleansing for the whole man, then foot washing will have the same results in our day. Jesus established a way of blessing that we too often miss out on.