Mr 1:4
- Mr 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
baptize
John did baptize (baptizo) meaning immersed them and kept them there. (see W: baptize βαπτίζω baptizo) Since he did not drown anyone, he only immersed them and removed them (bapto). He immersed them and did not remove them from the preaching of repentance!
The immersion in water was merely a symbol of introducing them to a changed life.
repentance
Repentance means to change your mind, to agree with God about who is God. This is the first step to returning to him. Your carnal mind is at war with God [1] about who is in control. Repentance is surrender.
remission of sin
Remission ἄφεσις aphesis comes from the root meaning to separate. It does not mean to forgive! John had no power or authority to forgive. If John could forgive sin by baptism or through repentance, then Jesus died in vain. Forgiveness comes through the cross.
Remission means release from bondage. You are no longer in slavery to sin. When you confess that God alone is God, and you are not; you are now free to obey him.
The boy broke his neighbor's window with baseball. He confessed to his father and promised to be more careful.. this is repentance. His brother heard about it, and seeking to get him in trouble runs to his father to tell him of the event. This is the accuser. But the father already knew about it and planned to fix it. The accusation has no power, because things are in progress. This is the state of those disciples of John. They have the promise that all will be made right, but all will not be right until the cross.
Next Mr 1:5
