Mark 1:4 (KJV)
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
When I was in Bible College, way back in the early 1980s, I was required to take an English course with Professor Rufus Bryant. We did all the normal college-level English (I had taken English Composition a few years earlier at Walla Walla Community College), but Bro. Bryant taught it with a biblical twist. We diagrammed sentences and discussed the book of Mark throughout the semester.
This verse came up very early in the semester. We were just getting acquainted with Bro. Bryant, and I can still recall how emphatic he was that poorly diagramming this passage could lead to heresy.
The little word "for" is so familiar that we hardly give it a thought. But the Greek word translated "for" has a list of definitions that could fill a page. The fact is, if we are not very careful, we will interpret this verse according to our preconceived ideas rather than the true intent of the Word of God.
The first definition is "to or into, indicating the point a place is reached." In other words, baptism does not effect the remission of sin; rather, baptism is a sign that remission of sin has already been reached. We are baptized not as a means of salvation but as a testimony that we have been saved.
However, the same word can also mean "for the intent or purpose of," which would suggest that baptism is an essential means of remission of sin. So, since it can mean either one, how do we determine the correct interpretation? By studying and understanding the Word of God as a whole.
I am convinced that the Bible teaches the sufficiency of Christ for salvation and that no good works—including baptism—should or can be attached to His sufficiency. Baptism is scriptural, important, and a significant step of Christian faith, but it must be considered a sign, an ordinance, and a memorial of what has already been accomplished in us—never as a means or work that is essential in the accomplishment of that salvation.
That belongs to Christ alone.
#BaptismIsASign #SalvationInChristAlone #RightlyDividingScripture #BiblicalDoctrineMatters #Mark14KJV
A Sign of Salvation, Not the Means: Christ’s Sufficiency and the Role of Baptism
Take time this week to study Mark 1:4 and other key passages to better understand the biblical purpose of baptism.
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Indeed, using the whole bible for context, when determining the meaning of a particular text, is the correct hermeneutic. And in the case of baptism you are no doubt absolutely right!
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