Reconstituted In the Waters of Baptism

# 530 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 9:12a. “Then He answered and told them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things.

Jesus tells His disciples that the Scribes had it right about the necessity of Elijah coming first, but the scribes missed the part about him coming as a TYPE of Elijah. In Matthew's account of this incident, we are told that the disciples understood that Jesus was talking about John the Baptist. (Mt 17:13) John the Baptist preceded Jesus. He would “restore” all things. He was the TYPE of Elijah.

This word, “restore” is very interesting. It means to reconstitute. Listen to the definition of reconstitute: “to restore to a former condition by adding water.” Is that amazing or what? The Baptist came and restored with water! (and the Word)

John came preaching the necessity of repentance. Why? Because we are all sinners and we need to see ourselves in this light. We are in need of cleansing“ and in order to be restored to the original (the former) sinless condition of Adam, we need to have our sins washed away and God has chosen the waters of baptism to accomplish this “reconstituting.”

When the Apostle Paul was converted Ananias told him, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' (Acts 22:16)

In baptism, we are calling on the name of the Lord to use the water, connected with His promise to reconstitute us. We are born again, cleansed of our sin and reconstituted in the new Adam.

Lord, thank You for the clarity of words we find in Scripture. You choose them wisely, let us hear them wisely.