Living in Liberty

A Ministry of Bryce Lowance

Elder Bryce Lowrance

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8 May 2014

"John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." (Mark 1:4)

"And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26:27-28)

With only a cursory glance at these verses, you might think there is a contradiction in scripture. One verse seems teaches that remission of sins comes through baptism, the other says it comes through the blood of Jesus Christ. So, which is it?

The Bible clearly teaches that the remission of sins comes through the offering of blood to God.

"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." (Hebrews 9:22)

So what does it mean "baptism for the remission of sins?"

One of the most popular opinions is that baptism is what makes remission particular to each believer. In reference to the personal experience of feeling forgiven, I might agree but this position has many dangers. First of all, what about all the old testament saints who were never baptized? In the new testament, what about the thief on the cross who went to paradise with Jesus? Or for that matter, why was Jesus baptized? He did not need to be forgiven!

May I offer another explanation?

The key to understanding this Scripture is the word "for." Jesus' blood was shed for the remission of sins. This means that His death caused the sins of God's people to be forgiven.

But the word "for" can have another meaning!

I am in my mid forties and, as most men my age, my hair is thinning (but only a little). Each day I use a shampoo designed to help men my age. Right on the bottle it says, "For Thinning Hair."

Now let me ask you a question, "Am I using this shampoo in order to get thinning hair or because I already have thinning hair?" Regretfully, I must admit to the latter. I use the shampoo because I already have thinning hair.

Baptism is exactly the same. We are to be baptized because we already have remission of sins in Jesus Christ. Our baptism is an outward symbol that expresses what God has already done by His grace on the inside.

We seek to be baptized because we want to be publicly identified with the One who died for our sins and was raised for our justification!

« Into, At, or Nearby | The Message of John the Baptist »

Tags: baptism, harmony_of_the_gospels, john_the_baptist, mark

Welcome

Brentwood Hills Primitive Baptist Church is a community of believers working together to transform our lives to the image of Jesus Christ. We believe it is our duty and privilege to live the gospel of the doctrines of grace in such a way as to edify the families within our church and other children of God in our community. Through regular worship based on strong Biblical principles, fellowship, admonishment, and outreach, we glory in the grace of the sovereign God working in our lives thereby showing the Spirit of God in the world.

Brentwood Hills was organized in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas as Laodicea Primitive Baptist Church. You can find much of the history of the church, as well as other churches here: Primitive Baptist History Database

We identify ourselves as an old-line Primitive Baptist church. If you read our Articles of Faith, you’ll see that we hold to such doctrines as the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. We recognize the King James Version (KJV) as the only English translation worthy of being called the Bible. We believe in salvation solely by the grace of a sovereign God. We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, came to the earth to do the will of His Father, which was to deliver from the sentence of death all those the Father gave Him before the world began. We believe that Jesus fully satisfied the Father by atoning for all the sins of all His people. In time, we believe the Holy Spirit comes to each person that belongs to Jesus and regenerates them. Then (and only then) can anyone have faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit, by which you are able to believe the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether or not you ever hear the gospel, or believe it if you did hear it, or obey it if you did believe it, rest assured that Jesus will remain forever faithful to you because, if He died for you, He will never deny that you belong to Him.

We believe that everyone for whom Christ died will without fail be raised again from the dead to a glorified life. Even if we are alive when He returns to raise the dead, we shall be changed to a glorified life. All the Redeemed will meet the Lord in the air. Then He will take us to Heaven and there we shall forever be with the Lord. The wicked will be raised at the same time as the righteous, but the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment along with Satan and his angels. Until that glorious day when Christ returns to raise the dead, He has provided a place for His people to find rest for their souls. This place is the Church. Jesus Christ set-up His church on this earth before His death on the Cross. The church is there for those of His people who have come to believe that God saved them by His Son, Jesus Christ. To believe that Christ “paid it all” gives believers the strongest motivation to serve Him. Once enlightened to this glorious truth, then the child of God should feel an obligation to become and remain an active member of the His church. To serve the Lord in His church makes for one of the great blessings to experience this side of Heaven. It fulfills you to serve in His church and it gives your life purpose and meaning.