684. 第6节 洗礼的第三个作用, 也就是最终的作用, 是人的重生
这是洗礼背后的真正作用, 因而是最终的作用。 原因在于, 若一个人是真正的基督徒, 就会认识并承认主, 救世主, 耶稣基督; 并且由于祂是救世主, 所以祂也是再造者 (关于救赎与重生为一体, 可查看改造与重生一章的三节 579-582)。 另一个原因是, 基督徒拥有圣言, 其中清楚说明了重生的方法, 这些方法就是对主的信和对邻的仁。 这和主说的一致, 祂会用圣灵与火施洗 (马太福音3:11;马可福音1:8-11;路加福音3:16; 约翰福音1:33)。 “圣灵”表信之圣真, “火”表爱或仁之圣善, 二者皆从主发出 (关于“圣灵”表信之圣真, 可见于圣灵那一章; 关于“火”表爱之圣善, 可见于395, 468)。 这二者就是主成就一切重生所借助的方法。 主自己也受约翰的洗 (马太福音3:13-17;马可福音1:9;路加福音3:21-22)。 祂这样做不仅因为祂要为将来引进洗礼的惯例, 并率先垂范, 还因为祂荣耀了祂的人性, 使之成圣, 如同祂使人重生, 使其成为属灵。
684. The Third Function of Baptism, and Its Ultimate Purpose, Is to Lead Us to Be Regenerated
This function is the ultimate reason why baptism exists; this is its goal. For one thing, true Christians know and acknowledge the Lord the Redeemer Jesus Christ, who, because he is the Redeemer, is also the Regenerator. (For the point that redemption and regeneration amount to the same thing, see under the third heading in the chapter on reformation and regeneration [579].)
For another thing, Christians have the Word. In it the means of being regenerated are set forth and described; those means are faith in the Lord and goodwill toward our neighbor.
This is the same as the point made about the Lord that "He baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with fire" (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8-11; Luke 3:16; John 1:33). The Holy Spirit here means divine truth that is related to faith; the fire means divine goodness that is related to love and goodwill. Both emanate from the Lord. (For more on the point that the Holy Spirit means divine truth that is related to faith, see the chapter on the Holy Spirit [139-140]. For more on the point that fire means divine goodness that is related to love, see Revelation Unveiled 395, 468.) It is through these two things that the Lord carries out the entire process of regenerating us.
The Lord himself was baptized by John (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9; Luke 3:21-22) not only so as to institute baptism for the future and set the example, but also because he glorified his human nature and made it divine in the same way that he regenerates us and makes us spiritual.
684. VI. The third purpose of baptism, which is its end in view, is a person's regeneration.
This is the real purpose behind baptism, and so the end with a view to which it was instituted. The reason is that one who is truly a Christian gets to know and acknowledge the Lord the Redeemer, Jesus Christ; and since He is the Redeemer, He is also the Regenerator. Redemption and regeneration are one; see section III [579-582] in the chapter on reformation and regeneration. Another reason is that a Christian possesses the Word, in which is available a description of the means of regeneration, and these are faith in the Lord and charity towards the neighbour. This is the same as when it is said of the Lord that He will baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8-11; Luke 3:16; John 1:33). The Holy Spirit means the Divine truth of faith, fire the Divine good of love or charity, both of these proceeding from the Lord. For the Holy Spirit meaning the Divine truth of faith, see in the chapter on the Holy Spirit; for fire meaning the Divine good of love, see Apocalypse Revealed 395, 468. These two are the means by which all regeneration is accomplished by the Lord.
The reason why the Lord Himself was baptised by John (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9; Luke 3:21-22) was not only to introduce the practice of baptism for the future and to lead the way by His example, but also because He glorified His Human and made this Divine, just as He regenerates a person and makes him spiritual.
684. VI. THE THIRD USE OF BAPTISM, WHICH IS THE FINAL USE, IS THAT MAN MAY BE REGENERATED.
This is the essential use for the sake of which baptism exists, and thus the final one. This is because the true Christian knows and acknowledges the Lord Jesus Christ the Redeemer, who, as being the Redeemer is also the Regenerator (that redemption and regeneration make one may be seen in the third section of the chapter on Reformation and Regeneration); also because a Christian possesses the Word, in which the means of regeneration are plainly described, those means being faith in the Lord and charity toward the neighbor. This is identical with what is said of the Lord, that,
He baptizeth with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8-11; Luke 3:16; John 1:33).
"The Holy Spirit" means the Divine truth of faith, and "fire" the Divine good of love or charity, both proceeding from the Lord. (That "the Holy Spirit" means the Divine truth of faith may be seen in the chapter on the Holy Spirit; and that "fire" means the Divine good of love may be seen in the Apocalypse Revealed, n. 395, 468.) By means of these two, all regeneration is effected by the Lord.
The Lord Himself was baptized by John (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9; Luke 3:21, 22).
This He did not only that He might institute baptism for the future, Himself setting the example, but also because He glorified His Human and made it Divine, as He regenerates man and renders him spiritual.
684. VI. THE THIRD AND FINAL USE OF BAPTISM IS, THAT MAN MAY BE REGENERATED.
This is the use itself for the sake of which Baptism was instituted, and thus the final use. For a true Christian knows and acknowledges the Lord, the Redeemer Jesus Christ who, because He is the Redeemer, is also the Regenerator. That redemption and regeneration make one, may be seen in the chapter on Reformation and Regeneration, Art. III. Moreover, a Christian possesses the Word in which the means of regeneration are fully described, and are there declared to be faith in the Lord and charity towards the neighbor. This is what is meant by what is said of the Lord,
That He baptizeth with the Holy Spirit and with fire, Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8-11; Luke 3:16; John 1:33.
The Holy Spirit means the Divine Truth of faith, and fire, the Divine Good of love or of charity, each proceeding from the Lord. That the Holy Spirit means the Divine Truth of faith, may be seen in the Apocalypse Revealed 468, 395. By means of these two the Lord effects all regeneration.
The Lord Himself was baptized by John, Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9; Luke 3:21-22.
The reason was not only that He might institute Baptism for the future, and go before as an example, but also because He glorified His Human and made it Divine, as He regenerates man, and makes him spiritual.
684. Quod Tertius usus Baptismi, qui est finalis, sit ut homo regeneretur.
Hic usus est ipse Usus propter quem Baptismus, ita finalis; causa est, quia vere Christianus cognoscit et agnoscit Dominum Redemptorum, Jesum Christum, Qui quia est Redemptor, etiam est Regenerator; quod Redemptio et Regeneratio unum faciant, videatur in Capite de Reformatione et Regeneratione, Art. III. 1 tum quia Christianus possidet Verbum, in quo media Regenerationis exstant descripta, et media ibi sunt Fides in Dominum, et Charitas erga proximum: hoc idem est cum hoc quod dicitur de Domino, quod Ipse baptizet Spiritu sancto et Igne, Matthaeus 3:11, Marcus 1:8-11; 2 Luca 3:16, Johannes 1:3 per Spiritum sanctum intelligitur Divinum Verum fidei, et per Ignem Divinum Bonum amoris seu Charitatis, utrumque procedens a Domino; quod per Spiritum sanctum intelligatur Divinum Verum fidei, videatur in Capite de SPIRITU SANCTO; 3 et quod per Ignem intelligatur Divinum Bonum amoris, in APOCALYPSI REVELATA 468, 395; et per haec duo fit omnis Regeneratio a Domino. Quod Ipse Dominus a Johanne baptizatus sit, Matthaeus 3:13-17, Marcus 1:9, Luca 3:21-22, fuit causa, ut non modo in futurum institueret Baptismum, et praeiret exemplo; sed etiam quia glorificavit Humanum suum et Hoc Divinum fecit, sicut regenerat hominem, et hunc spiritualem facit.
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