Lesson 2407

(Lesson 2407)(07-18-18) Mark 1:5-8
    “And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”

   The first part of today’s quote relates that many of the Jews: “they of Jerusalem”, after hearing John’s message, (hearing the message being one action which was described as a baptism) went to John and received yet another intention of the word baptism, the ritual Jewish water immersion in preparation for confession of sins: “and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan”.
    Within the first part of today’s quote, there are two applications of a form of the word baptize: One describes an overwhelming by, or acceptance of, John’s message, and the other, a required ritual Jewish water bath at the hands of John the Baptist.
    In the final part of the quote, we find yet another application of that same word “baptize” when John said; “I indeed have ‘baptized’ you with water: but he shall ‘baptize’ you with the Holy Ghost.”
In that part of the quote, John verbally differentiated between two distinctly different applications of the word “baptize”: One usaged referred to the ritual water baptism that John had administered for the Jews from Jerusalem; “I indeed have baptized you with water”. The other usage referred to a cloaking of those who would come to believe in Jesus Christ, within the Holy Ghost; “he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”
    The point of this commentary is to firmly establish that there are many different applications and usages of the word “baptize” within the New Testament. This is very important to note because, as we continue these lessons, this knowledge will clearly refute the erroneous and established contention that water baptism is requisite to eternal salvation.~
There will be further clarification of this lesson as we continue.