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"FIVE VIEWS OF MARK 16:16"
How Some People Just Will Not Accept The Obvious
INTRODUCTION
1. There is a statement of Jesus that is so plain, and yet so
controversial...
a. That you rarely hear it referred to by denominational preachers,
whether it be in their churches or on TV or the radio
b. That when they do, they feel it necessary to give an explanation
that goes against the clear statement of Jesus
2. I have reference to the words of Jesus as found in Mark 16:16...
"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does
not believe will be condemned."
3. To illustrate what I said earlier, let's take a look at four
different views of this verse as taught by men, and then contrast
those views with the one plainly stated by Jesus and supported by
His apostles in their teaching and preaching...
[The first view is one held by those who do not profess to be
Christians, but for the purpose of our lesson should be considered.
In essence, they would say...]
I. HE WHO BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED "WILL NOT" BE SAVED
A. TWO SEPARATE GROUPS HOLD THIS VIEW...
1. ATHEISTS - who do not believe in God, heaven or hell, or
salvation of any kind
2. JEWS, MUSLIMS, HINDUS, etc.
a. Who believe in God (or gods)
b. But who do not believe that salvation is to be found in
Jesus
c. And that to believe and/or be baptized is contrary to the
will of God
B. BUT THOSE WHO ACCEPT JESUS AND THE AUTHORITY OF HIS APOSTLES
REJECT SUCH A VIEW...
1. There IS a God who offers salvation (contrary to the views of
atheists) - 1Ti 2:3-4
2. Salvation DOES come only through Jesus (contrary to the Jews,
Muslims, Hindus, etc.) - 1Ti 2:5-6; Jn 14:6
[Though I doubt any present actually hold to this view, there are some
who do, and it only begins to illustrate how some are willing to deny
the plain statement of Jesus.
Consider a second view...]
II. HE WHO "DOES NOT BELIEVE" AND "IS NOT BAPTIZED" WILL BE SAVED
A. THIS VIEW IS HELD BY "UNIVERSALISTS"...
1. Who believe that God will save everyone eventually
2. To support their view, they will isolate some verses like 1 Ti
2:6
B. BUT THOSE WHO KNOW THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST AND PAUL LIKEWISE
REJECT SUCH A VIEW...
1. Jesus Himself told that there would be few who would be saved
- Mt 7:13-14
2. Paul warned of those who would not be saved, but would face
the wrath of God - Ep 5:5-6
[Most "Bible-believing, professing Christians" would never treat Mark
16:16 the way the first two views do. But as we consider two more
views, we may start hitting closer to "home".
But please understand...that we do so, desiring to "speak the truth in
love"; and we pray that your love for the truth is such that you are
willing to serious consider what follows (cf. Ac 17:11).
The third "view" then...]
III. HE WHO "DOES NOT BELIEVE" AND "IS BAPTIZED" WILL BE SAVED
A. THIS VIEW IS HELD BY MOST WHO PRACTICE "INFANT BAPTISM"...
1. By "baptizing" (actually sprinkling, not immersing) infants
incapable of faith...
a. They (esp. Catholics) indicate that faith is not essential
to salvation
b. Some (esp. Lutherans) try to get around this by saying that
God imparts saving faith to the infant so baptism can still
save
2. By sprinkling or pouring instead of immersion, they also
indicate Jesus did not mean what He said (the reason
"BAPTIZED" above is in quotes)
B. BUT SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, WE MUST POINT OUT...
1. That faith is a necessary prerequisite...
a. For baptism - Ac 8:35-37
b. For salvation - Ro 10:9-10
2. That sprinkling or pouring is NOT Bible baptism...
a. The Greek word used in the Bible is "baptizo", and it means
"to immerse"
b. This is why baptism is described in the Bible as a "burial"
- cf. Ro 6:3-4; Col 2:12
c. Sprinkling or pouring was substituted in the place of
baptism (immersion) hundreds of years after Christ and His
apostles
d. By keeping the "tradition of men" by sprinkling or pouring,
we fail to keep the "command of God" concerning baptism -
cf. Jesus' condemnation of displacing God's commands by
traditions of men, Mt 15:3-9
3. That baptizing infants is without scriptural precedent
a. There are no commands or examples of infant baptism
b. Since the prerequisites of faith (Mk 16:16; Ac 8:37) and
repentance (Ac 2:38; 17:30) are beyond the infant's
capability, they are not suitable candidates for baptism
[I am confident that those who hold to the view of sprinkling infants
are honest and sincere. But despite their honest sincerity, they are
just as guilty of twisting the words of Jesus as are the atheists,
unbelieving Jews (and Muslims, Hindus, etc.) and the universalists.
But there is another view sincerely held by many, and that is...]
IV. HE WHO BELIEVES AND "IS NOT BAPTIZED" WILL BE SAVED
A. THIS VIEW IS HELD BY THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN SALVATION BY FAITH
"ONLY"...
1. That one is saved BEFORE baptism
2. That baptism is not essential to salvation
-- This view is held for all practical purposes by most members
of various denominations
B. BUT JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES CLEARLY TAUGHT DIFFERENTLY...
1. That faith "alone" cannot save
a. As declared by Jesus - cf. Mt 7:21; Lk 6:46
b. As taught by His apostles - cf. Ro 6:17-18; He 5:9;
Jm 2:14,17,20,24,26; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jn 2:3-5
2. That baptism IS essential to salvation
a. According to Jesus - Jn 3:5; Mk 16:16; Mt 28:18-20
b. According to His apostles - Ac 2:38; 22:16; Ga 3:26-27; Co
2:12-13; Tit 3:5; 1Pe 3:21
[Again, I believe that those who hold this view (including personal
relatives) are sincere, and are not knowingly twisting the words of
Jesus. Yet, I cannot help but think of such people as Paul thought of
his brethren in the flesh (cf. Ro 10:1-3).
This leads us to the fifth and final view, one that I believe we are
compelled to accept...]
V. HE WHO BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED WILL BE SAVED
A. THIS VIEW TAKES THE WORDS OF JESUS AT FACE VALUE...
1. No explanations are necessary
2. Jesus says what He means, and means what He says
B. WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN PREVIOUSLY THAT THE BIBLE TEACHES...
1. That one must "believe" - cf. Ac 8:36-37
2. That one must be "baptized" to enjoy the forgiveness of sins
- cf. Ac 2:38; 22:16
CONCLUSION
1. Which of the five views of Mark 16:16 do you hold to?
a. He who believes and is baptized "will not" be saved?
b. He who "does not believe" and "is not baptized" will be saved?
c. He who "does not believe" and "is baptized" will be saved?
d. He who believes and "is not baptized" will be saved?
e. He who believes and is baptized will be saved?
-- It should be clear that there is only view which is in harmony
with Jesus' words, as there is only one which does not involve
"tampering" with the clear statement of Jesus!
2. But perhaps more importantly, with which of these views is your life
consistent?
a. One may hold intellectually to the FIFTH view...
1) But act as though they believed the SECOND view
2) How? By never confessing faith in Christ and being baptized!
b. One may hold intellectually to the FIFTH view...
1) But act as though they believed the THIRD view
2) How? For though they may have been "baptized", they are not
living the life of faith required of one in Jesus!
c. One may hold intellectually to the FIFTH view...
1) But act as though they believed the FOURTH view
2) How? For while believing in Jesus, they have never submitted
to being baptized!
Only those who have come to Jesus in faith and ACTED in harmony with
His teachings can have the assurance of salvation. The words of the
Bible are clear...
"Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
"And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash
away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord."
- Ac 2:38; 22:16
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