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Mark 1:15 – Repent then Believe?
One of the arguments made against baptism being the “when” one receives God’s grace is that the “order” of Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, and Baptism is not set in scripture. For example, Mark 1:15 is cited where repent is listed before believe: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news (I.e.gospel)”.
The argument used against that suppostion is just because something is listed first doesn’t mean it literally comes first, such as when people say, “Put on your shoes and socks and let’s go.” If someone literally followed that order then that would be ridiculous!
However, if we knew that Mark (among others) uses and loves chiasms there is a far better answer:
A – The time is fulfilled
B – and the Kingdom of God has come near,
B’ – Repent
C’ – and believe in the good news
Jesus is speaking to Jews who knew daily what repentance was and that being near to God required holiness. If the Kingdom of God is coming near, then God is near. That is an OT concept. They needed to repent.
Jesus, in speaking to Jews, spoke of an OT prophecy that was being fulfilled in the first century. These Jews needed to believe that prophecy (Isaiah 61:1ff) was nearly fulfilled in their lives.
The Kingdom of God has always existed because God has always ruled – even despite being rejected (1 Samuel 8:7). What was new was “God” ruling through Jesus which was revealed on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2).
This is why Jesus said (removing the chiastic order) “The time is fulfilled, believe in the good news; and the kingdom of God has come near so repent.” Properly understood, believe still comes before repent.
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