Jesus, On Salvation (Mark 16:16) By Warren E. Berkley
(Reprinted from The Expository Files http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4051/)
"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned," (Mark 16:16).
Jesus said this! Do you desire to be an honest student of the Bible? Then you must read and accept everything the Bible says. Do you desire to be a Christian (obedient believer in Christ)? Then you must not reject anything He has said (see Mark 7:9 & Luke 10:16). Mark 16:16 is in the Bible, and Jesus said it? Can you imagine standing before Jesus and arguing against baptism? "Lord, I accept what You said about believing, and I believe in You and love You. I need what You offer, and I want to serve You. But I'm not willing to follow your instructions about baptism!" When the matter is stated in these terms it really sounds ridiculous. To affirm your loyalty and commitment to the Lord, but not obey what He said! Jesus said, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved."
But did Jesus really say this? In some English translations, footnotes and headings question the authenticity of this section (Mark 16:9-20). Most versions include the section, but with a disclaimer: "...lacking in Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus, although nearly all other manuscripts of Mark contain them," (footnote, New King James, Nelson #334). If readers want to seriously consider that comment, they should also consider: (1) King James and American Standard scholars put the section in without question; (2) with the possible exception of the reference to drinking deadly poison, everything in the section is confirmed in other accounts; (3) there is nothing in this section that contradicts anything elsewhere in the Bible. Further, if you decided, based on testimony you have considered, to reject the section, what would it change about our duty to God? Absolutely nothing. {I write this as an individual Bible student, not a textual scholar. For an excellent study of the question, see the Appendix to L.A. Stauffer's commentary on Mark published by Guardian of Truth, 1999. Bro. Stauffer concludes his research by saying: "Regardless of how this issue plays itself out in the days ahead, no student of the Bible, as previously noted, need concern himself about the truthfulness of the teaching of the last twelve verses of Mark's gospel. On that few will disagree."}
Even if we didn't have Mark 16:16, the imperative instruction to be baptized is established in many other places (Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:1-4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21). So the student of the Bible and the one who wants to follow Christ is back to facing the text: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved."
The first part of this statement is seldom disputed. Denominational preachers who deny that baptism is essential robustly maintain that belief is essential. Why? Because the denominational spin (faith alone) is upset by baptism. If you start with a creedal assumption, the temptation is to deny anything in the text that interferes with your assumption! The better approach is, just read what Jesus said (without prejudice) and do it. On the subject of salvation, and man's response to the gospel -- assume no tradition or human spin -- just read what He said, do that and teach others to do it. Jesus included baptism with belief.
If it helps, consider the same grammatical construction in another context. Stand away from any prejudice against baptism and look at the text. Jesus said, He who ______ and _____ will receive this result: _____. If I desire to obtain the result (the gift of salvation in Christ), I must do all that is meant by both belief and baptism. Other passages using the same construction are undisputed.
· In Rev. 2:26 --> He who overcomes and keeps My
words, will have the result: power.
· In John 14:21 --> He who has My commandments and keeps
them, enjoys the result: fellowship with God and Christ.
· Likewise, in Mark 16:16 --> He who believes and is
baptized shall receive the result: Salvation.
Baptism is presented as something you do to receive salvation. On a religious website I read this: "Being baptized in water does not add one iota to your salvation, and missing baptism in water for a valid reason will not detract from your salvation," (http://www.bible.org/docs/theology/eccles/baptism/bapt.htm).
First, baptism is never presented in the New Testament as something that "adds" to salvation. Secondly, consider his reference to "missing baptism for a valid reason." This puts what Jesus commanded into the realm of subjective judgment; something you can "miss" if you have a valid reason. Would the writer subject other commands of Christ to this category - of something you can miss for a valid reason?
Question: If you can "miss baptism for a valid reason," why couldn't you miss belief for a valid reason? He affirms belief, but demeans baptism. If you start with what Jesus said (without prejudice or creedal assumptions), you see baptism as something the believer must do to receive the promised result: salvation.
One more thing! Did Jesus say, "He who believes and is not baptized shall be saved?" No. Men say that, but not Jesus. If you claim to believe in Christ, but you have not been baptized for the remission of your sins, what reason can you give for your disobedience? I strongly urge you to simply look at what He said and do it. Read your Bible and find out all that is involved in belief and baptism. Comply with that instruction and enjoy what God wants you to have.
3 "R's" for the Young by Andrew Mitchell (andrewm@wnclink.com)
Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. (Eccl. 11:9)
If you follow the lusts of your heart to do any and every thing you desire, you better know that you will be judged for it! There are some who dare to tell the young to go ahead and sow their wild oats. But if you follow that advice, it will be to your destruction, because you will reap what you sow (Gal. 6:7, 8). So just remember young person, don't let your sinful pleasure condemn you at the judgment day! Is there one pleasure worth it?
Remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. (Eccl. 11:10)
The world says to rejoice by doing whatever feels best. God shows the way to truly rejoice is to "remove sorrow from thy heart". This is how to truly rejoice and is contrasted with the empty and worthless carousing of a rebellious youngster. And the best way to remove sorrow from your heart is to remove the evil from your body. If you follow whatever your heart desires, it will bring you pain, sorrow and grief. Youth is fleeting, so use it wisely.
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. (Eccl. 12:1)
Young person, you can be so useful for the Lord. Don't live your life for sinful pleasures, but live your life for God. If you have your pleasure now, you won't have pleasure remembering how much valuable time, enthusiasm, and energy was wasted to futility. As much as you might not like to think about it, the "evil days" of old age and loss of bodily functions will come. So remember God now, while there is time!
Thankful, Three Minutes Late - by Larry Ray Hafley
(Reprinted from THE BEACON- 11/28/01)
A special situation, full of importance to me, was a subject
of intense prayer. The particular circumstances do not matter.
Suffice it to say, they were of supreme importance to those involved
and to those of us who were concerned and troubled. Things had
to work out! So, we prayed and prayed; we begged and begged (1
Pet. 5:7).
Suddenly, the call came. In ways not anticipated, the case was
resolved better than could have been hoped. We were exuberant
in our exhilaration! What joy! We were so pleased, so elated.
Happiness was restored; worry was repelled.
At least three minutes went by before I stopped to pray and thank
God. (I also asked him to forgive me for those three minutes.)
In my relief,
I should have first prayed and expressed thanks, but this time,
I had not done so. I am ashamed to admit that. I got carried away.
For three minutes, I failed to thank him who brought the answers
we so desperately needed. For three inexcusable minutes, I was
an ingrate. I regret those three minutes of neglect.
The Lord is patient, but he should not have had to be, not for
three seconds, let alone three minutes.
You'll notice that a turtle only makes progress when it sticks out its neck...
"The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything."
"People doubt what you say and believe what you do."
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34748.
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MONTHLY BIBLE READINGS: Genesis chapters 4 - 15.
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