Theological Use of Mean
Perhaps another confused word in theology is the word means. Here's the Matthew Henry commentary that can get people confused:
The sacrament of baptism, rightly received, is a means and a pledge of salvation.
Understanding the Old English environment, it can be pretty confused. So let's get down with the meaning of mean:
a : to have in the mind as a purpose : intend <she means to win> —sometimes used interjectionally with I, chiefly in informal speech for emphasis <he throws, I mean, hard> or to introduce a phrase restating the point of a preceding phrase <we try to answer what we can, but I mean we're not God — Bobbie Ann Mason>
b : to design for or destine to a specified purpose or future <I was meant to teach>
2
: to serve or intend to convey, show, or indicate : signify <a red sky means rain>
3
: to have importance to the degree of <health means everything>
4
: to direct to a particular individual
The word mean can also mean this- baptism shows, conveys or indicates one's salvation and not as a method, depending on how the word "mean" is being used like repent turn,, believe, save and justify. Always note that words do have more than one meaning. Which in today, it may be said as this:
The sacrament of baptism, rightly received, is an indication or signification and a pledge of salvation.
So in short, the whole commentary passage is talking about two kinds of baptism- the saving baptism (into the body of Christ) and how water baptism signifies it.
Maybe here's a little bit of a commentary to help. 2 minutes and are more meaningful than a 1,000 page book defending a heresy on baptismal salvation:
As said take it in CONTEXT.