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Galatians 3:27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
KJV

Comments:

The word "for" introduces an additional thought or an explanation of the preceding statement in verse 26.  The two verses are bound to each other in the context.  V26, "For ye are all children of God by [the] faith in Christ Jesus".  Keeping in mind that the original Greek had the definite article associated with the word for "Faith" which the vast majority of translators chose to omit from the texts.  Faith and baptism are inextricably connected.  There is much more to faith in Christ than simple mental assent of who He is and what He did for us.  Faith implies action and as James explained it in chapter 2, faith without works is dead.  In this context, faith without baptism is dead. 

As many of the Galatian Christians as had been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  Conversely then, all of those who had not been baptized into Christ had not put on Christ.  Baptized into Christ is an interesting term.  Paul also used these words in Romans 6:3, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?"  It is significant to note that there is not one single verse of scripture in all the New Testament that provides any other way of getting into Christ.  Never does it say that we are in Christ by confession, or repentance or even faith or belief.  The words "into Christ" are only seen in the New Testament in association with baptism. 

Some today advocate that this is an example of Holy Spirit baptism.  If it is then so must be the one Paul wrote of in Romans 6:3-6.  That baptism is one where we are buried with Jesus.  In verse 5 the text says "planted together in the likeness of His death".  Notice also we are "raised up" in the likeness of His resurrection.  So it is clear from the text of Romans 6:3-5 that the element of baptism is something that we can be "buried" in and then "raised up" from.  There is no example in all of the New Testament where anybody was "raised up" from Holy Spirit baptism.  There is however the example of the Ethiopian Eunuch who went down into the water of baptism and then came up out of the waters of baptism (Acts 8:38-39). 

The baptism spoken of here in Galatians 3:27 can be non other than the baptism of the great commission, in water for the remission of sins and in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.  The only one that can be administered by man, and the only one we can submit to in obedience to the will of God.  Paul said in Ephesians 4:5 that there was one baptism.  The baptism of the Great Commission is the only one that was commanded and the only one that can be obeyed.  The only way to put on Christ Biblically is through baptism in water.  There is no salvation outside Christ for accountable individuals, it is therefore absolutely essential to one's salvation that they be baptized with the baptism of the great commission, the burial into and resurrection from water. 

Baptized into Christ means into His body.  The body of Christ is the church (Colossians 1:18-24; 2:10-14).  The body is "of Christ"  (Colossians 2:17).  Therefore the body of Christ is the same thing as the church of Christ and baptism is how one puts on the body of Christ and is thus added to the church by God (Acts 2:47).


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Revelation 21:5-7

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.