Sometimes we read a verse or a phrase in the New Testament and we think we understand it; however, is this true? Well, yes, in many cases it is true, we do understand it! On the other hand, it may be the case that we have read it and heard it, so many times we now just read right over it without any thought at all.
In the last six articles I have written, the two words, “in Christ,” which have been at the heart of all six articles, in which I tried to get the reader to simply think! Questions were asked, in order to get the reader to think and just maybe, do a little study as to what it means to be “in Christ.” We do know somethings for sure; such as, Paul wrote: “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). In that, not only are we to be baptized “into Christ,” but in so doing, we have “put on Christ.” Well, just what does it mean to “put on Christ?” Is it any easier to be “in Christ,” than, it is to “put on Christ?”
For instance, Adam Clarke wrote this: “As many of you as have been baptized into Christ – All of you who have believed in Christ as the promised Messiah, and received baptism as a public proof (The word “proof” was in blue in the quote, frw) that ye had received Christ as your Lord and Savior, have put on Christ – …” Does he get the point of the words, “baptized into Christ,” correctly? Does it mean nothing, that New Testament says nothing about “a public proof that ye had received Christ as your Lord and Savior, have put on Christ!” Paul wrote, “As many of you,” as in no one else, “as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” With whom do you stand, with Adam Clarke or Paul?
Albert Barnes wrote this: “As have been baptized into Christ – Or “unto” (είς, eis) – the same preposition which in Galatians 3:24 is rendered unto) Christ. That is, they were baptized with reference to him, or receiving him as the Saviour; …” (Barnes Notes on the Whole Bible). When it comes to the Greek word, “eis,” the text must be allowed to determine if the word should be translated it “unto,” or “into.” Unto is forward looking, that is, a thing is done with a view to, receiving whatever the next words say. Where on the other hand, “into” is a present action! It is done now! Paul’s use of the word “eis” in the text before us and is followed with “have put on Christ.” These words are not forward looking but present looking. In other words, the person who has been “baptized into Christ,” is a person who has “put on Christ” at the same time; presently!
Strong gives us this, which will help us in our understanding of the words, “put on”, “in the sense of sinking into a garment.” The garment is fully “put on,” as Christ is fully “put on!” When is Christ put on? Christ is “put on” when a person is “baptized into Christ.” “Putting on Christ,” takes place and only takes place, when a person is “baptized into Christ,” and at no other time or no other way! Question, is a person saved at this very time? Yes! The person who has been “baptized into Christ,” has “put on Christ” and is saved at that very moment! Please understand, you cannot physically see Christ being put on at this moment! Fact is, you cannot see it at all. Yet, Clarke wrote, that one “received baptism as a public proof that ye had received Christ as your Lord and Savior, have put on Christ.” I am sorry, but this is not what Paul wrote! It is not being mean spirited, it is not being ugly, to write a truth! It is done to save souls from an eternal hell.
Here are the words of A.T. Robertson: “did put on Christ” … “This verb is common in the sense of putting on garments … He does not here mean that one enters into Christ and so is saved by means of baptism after the teaching of the mystery religions, but just the opposite.” (Robertson Word Pictures in the New Testament). Robertson and others who believe the same thing, would have us believe that a person may have “put on Christ” but that Paul “does not here mean that one enters into Christ and so is saved by means of baptism …” Just what do the words, “have put on Christ,” mean? Robertson would have us believe, that the words, “have put on Christ,” do not mean it; they do not mean that one has “put on Christ!” This is the case, even though he understands the true meaning of the word, as he wrote: “in the sense of putting on garments.”
Well, we have not answered our question, but we have learned a few things about what others teach on this verse and it is not what Paul wrote! The key words are those who “have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” If one has “put on Christ,” that person is saved, as salvation “in Christ” and the only way “into Christ” is to be baptized “into Christ!”
Before concluding this article, why will people write volumes teaching what Paul did not teach? If one has been “baptized into Christ” and by that act, such a person has “put on Christ,” and that such a person is clothed in Christ, that person is saved. Just how could such a person be lost at that moment?
Frank R. Williams