Written by Mark Copeland, adj. By Chris M. Preached March 17, 2002 Mesa, AZ

Accepting The Obvious

TEXT: MARK 16:16

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) - 1 Tim 2:3-4

2. Salvation DOES come only through Jesus (contrary to the Jews,

Muslims, Hindus, etc.) - 1 Tim 2:5-6; John 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 Tim

2:6 [**IN last lesson taught reading before and after**]

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 that would be saved

- Matt. 7:13-14

2. Paul warned of those who would not be saved, but would face

the wrath of God – Eph. 5:5-6

3. The Prophecy of John in Rev 21:8 clearly states this will not happen

[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".

We desire to "speak the truth in love"; which is why you should confer the bible as stated in Acts 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 - Acts 8:35-37

b. For salvation - Rom 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. Rom 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, Matt. 15:3-9

3. That baptizing infants is without scriptural precedent

a. There are no commands or examples of infant baptism—In denominational churches they will use Mk 10:13-16 for their Rite of Baptism

b. Since the prerequisites of faith (Mk 16:16; Acts 8:37) and

repentance (Acts 2:38; 17:30) are beyond the infant's

capability, they are not suitable candidates for baptism

***[In the interest of fairness to infant baptism, asked my youngest daughter 3 questions: 1. Jesus, Lord? 2. Died for Sins? 3. Are Sinner? Erika ignored me. Asked Sara. Said no to question 1, told “parable of God and Band-Aid.]***

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"...(The Baptists)

1. That one is saved BEFORE baptism

2. That baptism is not essential to salvation

3. “Sinner’s Prayer” They isolate Rev. 3:20 [**talk more on that in future lesson**]

B. BUT JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES CLEARLY TAUGHT DIFFERENTLY...

1. That faith "alone" cannot save

a. As declared by Jesus - cf. Matt. 7:21; Lk 6:46

b. As taught by His apostles - cf. Rom 6:17-18; Heb 5:9;

James 2:14,17,20,24,26; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 2:3-5

2. That baptism IS essential to salvation

a. According to Jesus - John 3:5; Mk 16:16; Matt. 28:18-20

b. According to His apostles - Acts 2:38; 22:16; Gal. 3:26-27; Col.

2:12-13; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 3:21

Yet, I cannot help but think of such people as Paul thought of his brethren in the flesh (cf. Rom 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. Acts 8:36-37

2. That one must be "baptized" to enjoy the forgiveness of sins

- cf. Acts 2:38; 22:16

CONCLUSION

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!

DON’T WAIT TOO LONG

Baptism statistics

Age 25…1 in 5000 become a Christian

Age 35…1 in 25,000 become a Christian

Age 50…1 in 150,000 become a Christian

Age 75…an unconverted most certainly doomed eternally

78% of all conversions occur between 12 and 16

Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it”.