One Baptism # 155
I've already explained Mark 16:16 to you numerous times - He who believes and is baptized will be saved (general cases without making a qualification for the unusual case of someone who believes but is not baptized) but he who does not believe will be condemned. The omission of baptized with "does not believe" shows that Jesus does not make baptism absolutely essential to salvation. Condemnation rests on unbelief, not on a lack of baptism. So salvation rests on belief. NOWHERE does the Bible say "baptized or condemned."
Amen! The truth is crystal clear, but unfortunately, I see that you still reject the truth. Why do you continue to fight against the truth?
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed been baptized and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.” (Mark 16: 15, 16)
I sense a certain exasperation because you have explained Mark 16: 16 numerous times, however printing an explanation on a forum does not necessarily establish the validity of the explanation. An explanation is valid if it is consistent with the Scriptures.
My explanation is valid and is consistent with the rest of Scripture. NOWHERE does the Bible say "baptized or condemned." If water baptism is absolutely required for salvation, then why did Jesus not mention it in the following verses? (3:15,16,18; 5:24; 6:29,40,47; 11:25,26). What is the ONE requirement that Jesus mentions 9 different times in each of these complete statements?
BELIEVES. *What happened to baptism? *Hermeneutics. John 3:18 - He who
believes in Him is not condemned; but he who (is not water baptized? - NO)
does not believe is condemned already, because he has not (been water baptized? - NO)
because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
You have apparently copied your explanation from A. T. Robertson and IMO he was attempting to undermine the idea Jesus was conveying.
Only part of my explanation was from A.T. Robertson and he was not attempting to undermine the idea Jesus was conveying, but you are attempting to undermine the idea Jesus was conveying in Mark 16:16(b); John 3:15,16,18; 5:24; 6:29,40,47; 11:25,26.
IMO Jesus was saying that he who has believed the gospel and obeyed the gospel by being baptized, shall be saved.
Jesus did not refer to baptism as "obeying the gospel" in Mark 16:16. NOWHERE does the Bible equate "obeying the gospel" with being baptized,
but the Bible does equate "obeying the gospel" with "believing the gospel." Romans 10:16 - But they have not all
obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has
believed our report?" We
obey the gospel by
choosing to believe the gospel. Those who refuse to believe the gospel by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as the ALL-sufficient means of their salvation have not obeyed the gospel. When will you finally choose to repent and believe the gospel?
The gospel is not a set of rituals to perform, a code of laws to be obeyed or a check list of good works (including water baptism) to accomplish as a prerequisite for salvation. The gospel simply sets forth Christ crucified, buried and risen (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the Savior of all who
believe/trust exclusively in Christ's finished work of redemption as the ALL-sufficient means of their salvation. The
gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who
BELIEVES.. (Romans 1:16).
Now in Mark 16:16, Jesus simply said, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved"
(general cases without making a qualification for the unusual case of someone who believes but is not baptized) but he who does not believe will be condemned. Jesus clarifies the first clause with "but he who does not believe will be condemned." *NOWHERE did Jesus say whoever is NOT water baptized will NOT be saved. Deal with it and quit fighting the truth.
Robertson’s word are meant, IMO, to cast doubt upon the essentiality of baptism for salvation.
Robertson is a believer and understands the truth, unlike unbelievers in various false religions and cults who teach baptismal regeneration.
I agree that condemnation rest upon belief but if one claims to believe and does not obey, his disobedience is proof of unbelief. (Heb. 3: 18, 19) There would be no logical reason for Jesus to speak of baptism and condemnation in the face of unbelief.
Why would someone who truly believes refuse to get water baptized? I couldn't wait to get water baptized after I believed the gospel and was saved! It logically follows that we get baptized after we believe, but if you are on your death bed (like the thief on the cross) or for some other reason are unable to get water baptized, you are still saved because you BELIEVE (John 3:15,16,18; 6:40,47; 11:25,26; Acts 10:43; Romans 1:16) which is in harmony with Mark 16:16(b)..but he who
does not believe will be condemned.
Certainly, water baptism is an important act of obedience. Any one professing to believe in Jesus and yet refusing to be baptized is of questionable sincerity. Indeed, it is unthinkable that anyone would believe in Jesus and refuse to be water baptized. Notice, however, those who Jesus said would be condemned:
"whoever does not believe." No mention was made of not being baptized. The emphasis is on unbelief, not baptism. There are many people who get water baptized in various false religions and cults, BUT THEY DON'T TRULY BELIEVE. Many of these people may believe "mental assent" in the existence of Christ and even in the historical facts about Christ, but many people
don't truly believe/trust exclusively in Christ for salvation. Instead they trust in works for salvation and pervert the gospel of Christ.
The Scriptures do address the question of those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel. Those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus will pay the penalty of eternal destruction. (2 Thess. 1: 8, 9)
Those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel are UNBELIEVERS who refuse to believe the gospel. In John 17:3, we read - And
this is eternal life, that they
know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent, which is an intimate, experiential knowledge, found only in a relationship. The term
"know" implies intimate, experiential knowledge, through a relationship with Him, not merely theoretical knowledge. Unfortunately, many people (unbelievers/works salvationists) will find out the hard way on judgment day that Jesus
NEVER knew them (Matthew 7:22-23).
Romans 10:16 - But they have not all
obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has
believed our report?"
Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ, for it is the
power of God to salvation for everyone who
BELIEVES, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. I hope and pray that you are ready to REPENT and BELIEVE the gospel.
1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and
this life is in His Son. 12 He who
has the Son has life; he who
does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who
believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may
know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. Praise God!