and his sons are marked with the symbol of death, and so accounted
and, in consenting, receive from his hand the baptism of blood, by which the great death is made over to thee, forgiveness sealed, and cleansing at once received?
Remember that that which God calls cleansing can only be accomplished by death. It is guilt that has made thee unclean, and that uncleanness can only be removed by that which removes the guilt from between thee and God. That guilt cannot be cancelled save by the death of the sacrifice applied to thee. The application of that death by the sprinkling of the blood upon thee is that which at once takes away thy guilt, and makes thee wholly clean. Put yourself in the position which God asks thee to do; that is, believe the Father's testimony to the death of his Son. The moment that thou believest, the blood is sprinkled, the death is transferred, thou art counted as one who hast died, and so paid the penalty,—and thou art forgiven, accepted, clean!
5. There is the sinner's new life thus received through death. Aaron and his sons are marked with the symbol of death, and so accounted as dead men; yet they go away alive. The stains of the blood are washed off at the laver, though the legal and ceremonial effects of it remain indelible. They are thus represented as men who have passed through death to a life beyond death,—who are alive from the dead. In other words, they are risen men; and as such, they go forth to the service of God.
Just so is it now with the saints,—God's kings and priests. They have been baptized with Christ's baptism, and have thus died with him. But having died with him, they also rise; and, as risen men, they go forth to serve Him who has done all for them. "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of him who loved me." Made partakers of Christ's resurrection and Christ's life, they go forth to do his will, in the strength of his risen life. It is as resurrection-men that they serve him; as men, partakers even here of the power of resurrection-life, and who are drawing from that