Question 72: Does external washing with water itself wash away sins?

Question 72: Does external washing with water itself wash away sins?

Answer: No. Only the blood of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit wash away all our sins.

Matthew 3:11 "I truly baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to remove. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." John the Baptist baptized with water.

The baptism John the Baptist administered was for the washing away of sins. Matthew 3:6 states, "Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River." Since this was before Jesus' ministry on the cross, the concept of atonement did not apply.

However, when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, Matthew 3:15 says, “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then John gave him permission.” It was to save those who would come into Christ as sons of God in the future. 

“To fulfill all righteousness” (prerosai pasand dikaiosynen πληρῶσαι πᾶσαν δικαιοσύνην) The Greek text reads, “To complete all righteousness.” Here, “to complete righteousness” is the death and resurrection of the cross. Through baptism, the death and resurrection of the cross will be shown in the future.

Therefore, the atoning death is applied to those who are united with the death of the cross, and those who are united with it become free from sin. This does not mean washing away sin, but rather being freed from it. By being freed from sin and receiving resurrection life through the power of the Holy Spirit, they attain God's righteousness.

Galatians 5:1-2 “It was for freedom that Christ set us free. Stand firm therefore in the freedom wherewith Christ has set us free, and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Now I, Paul, tell you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.”

Regarding the blood of Christ, 1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us (katarichei καθαρίζει) from all sin.” Katarichei means to immerse in water, meaning to remove sin. Since it is translated as to wash away sin, it is easy to think of it as washing away sin every day.



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