The Baptism of John

Mark 1:4 says: “John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Luke 3:3 says: “And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

In what sense was John’s baptism “for the forgiveness of sins”? How was that different from the baptism we must submit to today? (Acts 2:38) And did those who were baptized by John have to be baptised again when the church began?

It is clear that John told the people that they had to repent and they had to be baptized in order to receive forgiveness of sins. This was to prepare them to believe and follow Jesus.

Jewish society was very corrupt. John was sent to prepare the way for Jesus (John 1:6-8; Matthew 3:1-3). They needed to repent and have their sins removed. To do this, they needed to be baptized.

In Old Testament times forgiveness of sins was promised when the sinner brought a sacrifice to the tabernacle or temple and confessed his sins. The New Testament makes it plain that though God did forgive their sins, the forgiveness was only through the blood of Christ. Hebrews 9:15 says, “And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” Forgiveness was granted to those who lived under the Old Testament, but that forgiveness was through the death of Jesus.

The animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant did not take away sins. “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4) But God did forgive their sins-because Jesus was going to die on the cross for those sins.

When John came, God added another condition for forgiveness. John informed the crowds that they needed to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. We conclude that God did forgive them of their sins, just as He forgave them when they brought their sacrifices. He forgave them because Jesus was going to make the sacrifice for their sins.

Did those who received John’s baptism have to be baptized again when the church began? I believe that they did. Here are the reasons I conclude this:

1. Those who had been forgiven when they offered sacrifices needed to be baptized. Those sacrifices did not put them into Christ. Neither did John’s baptism put people into Christ. It was to prepare for Christ, not to do what only Christ and His gospel could do.
2. When Peter commanded his hearers to be baptized, he said, “Repent and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38 ) He did not except those who had been baptized by John. The command was for “each one” of the hearers, even those who had been baptized by John.
3. In Acts 19 there is the account of those who had received John’s baptism. They had heard about this baptism after the baptism of the Great Commission was in force, so there is some difference between their case and those on Pentecost. But there is this sameness: they truly obeyed the baptism of John. Paul however told them that John’s baptism was to prepare people to believe on Jesus, and he baptized them again. He did not merely correct their belief.

John’s baptism was unique. But it was in the same category as animal sacrifices. Those prepared by obeying God’s commands to make sacrifices, and those who obeyed God’s command to submit to John’s baptism, were prepared to believe in and obey Jesus Christ. When the gospel began to be preached, they were to submit to His baptism, which brings remission of sins and puts one into the body of Christ.