Monday, June 28, 2021

Mark E. Petersen on Baptism remitting personal sin committed but the resurrection of Jesus Christ Remitting "Original Sin"

  

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF BAPTISM?

 

It is for remission of sins we personally commit, or is it to remit the Original Sin of Adam and Eve and free us from its consequences? To determine this let us first ask what is the result of the original sin of Adam and Eve from which some say we are freed by baptism?

 

To understand what the original was, and what it brought into the world, let us again resort to the scriptures:

 

Genesis 2:17

 

Catholic Bible: “But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat. For in what day soever thou shalt eat of it, THOU SHALT DIE THE DEATH.”

 

King James Bible: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

 

American Translation (Smith & Goodspeed): “From every tree in the garden you are free to eat; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you must not eat; for the day that you eat of it you shall certainly die.”

 

New Revised Version: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.”

 

Genesis 3:3-4

 

Catholic Bible: “But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of paradise, God hath commanded us that we should not eat; and that we should not touch it, lest perhaps we die. And the serpent said to the woman: o, you shall not die the death.”

 

King James Bible: “But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:”

 

American Translation (Smith & Goodspeed): “ . . . it is only concerning the fruit of the tree which is in the idle of the garden that God has said, ‘You may not eat any of it, nor touch it, lest you die.’ But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You would not die at all; . . .’”

 

New Revised Version: “but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not die.’”

 

1 Corinthians 15:21-22

 

Catholic Bible: “For by a man came death, and by a man the resurrection of the dead. And as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.”

 

King James Bible: “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

 

American Translation (Smith & Goodspeed): “For since it was through a man that we have death, it is through a man also that we have the raising of the dead. For just as because of their relation to Adam all men die, so because of their relation to Christ they will all be brought to life again.”

 

New Revised Version: “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”

 

Greek New Testament: (Literal translation into English by Berry.) “For since by man (is) death, also by man resurrection of (the) dead. As for in Adam all die, so also in the Christ all shall be made alive.”

 

From a reading of these scriptures it is plain that the original sin brought death into the world. What does away with death? Baptism? Or Christ’s resurrection?

 

The scriptures quoted above from 1 Corinthians 15 are sufficient to show that death is overcome through the resurrection of Christ, which brings about our resurrection. So it is not baptism at all which does away with the result of Original Sin. It is Christ’s resurrection. Therefore, we are not baptized to do away with the Original Sin.

 

What is baptism for then? It is for remission of which we ourselves personally commit, and of which we are expected to repent. (Mark E. Petersen, One Lord, One Faith! [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1962], 123-25, emphasis in bold added)

 

Further Reading on the Salvific Efficacy of Water Baptism


I have written a full-length book addressing water baptism and related topics (e.g., two appendices refuting imputed righteousness):


"Born of Water and of the Spirit": The Biblical Evidence for Baptismal Regeneration


If one wants a free copy (PDF format), you can contact me at:

ScripturalMormonismATgmailDOTcom