Saint John the Baptist's Baptism

[Holly3278]

Hey everyone. Would the baptism that Saint John the Baptist gave to others be considered a Sacrament in that it would wash away sins and make one a Christian? If not, what was the point of it?

 

[DavidFilmer]

Hey everyone. Would the baptism that Saint John the Baptist gave to others be considered a Sacrament in that it would wash away sins and make one a Christian?

No, John’s baptism did not impart the Holy Spirit:

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 19:1-5)

If not, what was the point of it?

John was expanding on the use of water immersion in Jewish purification rituals. It was a purely symbolic act (but don’t discount the importance of symbols).

 

[Holly3278]

Thank you for your reply David.

 

[InDefense]

John was expanding on the use of water immersion in Jewish purification rituals. It was a purely symbolic act (but don’t discount the importance of symbols).

                              Mark 1:

4 John the baptist came to be in the wilderness and is heralding a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5 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.

 

[Trevor_Stamm]

Mark 1:
4 John the baptist came to be in the wilderness and is heralding a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5 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.

[BIBLEDRB]Matt 28:19[/BIBLEDRB]

Were they baptized like this, as commanded by Christ?

 

[Sirach2]

Hi Trevor,
When Jesus gaave the commission you quote in Matthew’s gospel, He had bestowed the priesthood upon His disciples, and as priests, they had the power to baptize, which is a sacrament that removes all sins.

However, John the Baptist had never been ordained. The baptism he preached was the type we call “baptism of desire” which is able to bestow salvation. John’s followers had repented of their sins and desired to follow God, but they did not receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Keep in mind that, in their desire to follow God, the Holy Spirit is able to bestow actual graces upon them, but not the **supernatural **grace we receive in the sacrament.

 

[Trevor_Stamm]

Hi Trevor,
When Jesus gaave the commission you quote in Matthew’s gospel, He had bestowed the priesthood upon His disciples, and as priests, they had the power to baptize, which is a sacrament that removes all sins.

However, John the Baptist had never been ordained. The baptism he preached was the type we call “baptism of desire” which is able to bestow salvation. John’s followers had repented of their sins and desired to follow God, but they did not receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Keep in mind that, in their desire to follow God, the Holy Spirit is able to bestow actual graces upon them, but not the **supernatural **grace we receive in the sacrament.

I already knew that was trying to have our protestant guest naturally come to that conclusion you wrote by supplying the verse and asking the question. Think he got the idea by not responding