Does Luke 1:15 mean John the Baptist was born saved?

Question:

"Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary`s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit." (Luke 1:39-41 NASB) Does this mean John the Baptist was born saved?

Answer:

The Scriptures tell us that John the Baptist was “filled with the Holy Spirit” even before his birth: “…He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb” (Luke 1:15b). The verse you referenced (Luke 1:41) states that his mother Elizabeth was also filled with the Holy Spirit!

Does this mean John the Baptist was born saved? An interesting question!

“Saved” – as the term is used biblically – refers to salvation from the penalty of sin which is granted upon receiving through faith alone the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior from sin (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-13). This salvation is available only because of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in behalf of sinners (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 3:21-26; 1 John 4:9-10).

John the Baptist was born before the atoning work of Christ; thus, “saved” does not accurately describe this filling of the Holy Spirit before Christ had even been born.

To get a little “technical,” John was born during the Old Covenant (Old Testament) time – when Israel was under (and the whole world was judged by) the Law (Galatians 4:4; Romans 3:19-20). The New Covenant/Testament was/is the result of Jesus shedding His blood on the cross (1 Corinthians 11:25); everything up to that point was/is considered to be under the Old Covenant. During the age of the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit would often enable various individuals for specific service for God (e.g. Samson – Judges 13-16; King Saul – 1 Samuel 11; David – 1 Samuel 16; et al).  John became the final Old Covenant prophet (Matthew 21:26; Luke 7:28) who was enabled by the Holy Spirit to fulfill the specific ministry God had given him to do (John 1:19-28).

The Scriptures tell us that while locked up in prison, though He knew full well Who Jesus was/is (John 1:29-34), even John had doubts about Jesus (Luke 7:19ff). Not long after that, John was beheaded by Herod (Matthew 14:1-13). Not much else is stated in the Bible about John the Baptist, except what we have considered above, in fulfillment of many Old Testament prophecies concerning him – which is remarkable, to say the least!

Was John the Baptist saved? It is my opinion that, indeed, he was “saved” in the same manner as all other Old Covenant saints (e.g. Abraham, Moses, David, Daniel, et al) – through faith in the coming atonement that would be provided by God Himself, Jesus Christ.

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