668. Baptism was commanded, as is plainly established by John's baptising in the Jordan, to which the whole of Judaea and Jerusalem came (Matthew 3:5-6; Mark 1:4-5). Again, the Lord our Saviour Himself was baptised by John (Matthew 3:13-17). Moreover, He commanded the disciples to baptise all nations (Matthew 28:19). Can anyone fail to see, provided he wants to see, that there is something divine in that institution, something which has until now been hidden, because the spiritual sense of the Word has not before been revealed? This has been revealed at the present time, because the Christian church as it is in essence is now for the first time beginning. The previous church was merely Christian in name, not in fact and in essence.