We are given to understand that the word 'baptism' means to dip or to immerse. This being so, it is at once seen that strictly speaking the original creation did not come into being by an act of baptism as we now know it, for it was not dipped or immersed in water as though from above, as being first without and/or above it. Instead God reveals that He brought forth dry land from the waters. He chose to do it this way. The generation of the world was from and through water, and it was accomplished by the Spirit responding to the Word, corresponding and conforming all to it. That was how God did it in material, natural generation. In the same way also re-generation is associated with baptism, which exercise, though it carries the thought of dipping, is only accomplished by immersion into, with a view to remaining and establishing in. Thus the combination of all the ideas relevant to the whole truth is seen to be very felicitous and most instructive. In the act of baptism the Lord is enforcing His original design; man must go back again to eternal realities and unchanging principles. He must go down in, be dipped into, totally immersed (who would begrudge totality at this point?), he must remain and be in the Spirit, thereby becoming wholly new. Thus the prefix 're' is grammatically, logically, scientifically, ethically and spiritually right, for by its use generation becomes re-generation, whereby man is powerfully realigned with God's eternal principles and powers.