Gospel Plan of Salvation: Be Baptized, for what?

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.

Mark 16:16

Diagram

Mark 16:16 is one of many passages that confirm that baptism is one of the five steps in the Gospel Plan of Salvation that is applicable to all men. Some observations in the verse include the fact that both belief and baptism are coequals to be saved. The diagram below shows their correlation as well as the order of both belief and immersion for the purpose of salvation. Belief is an absolute prerequisite of baptism, and this is very well explained in the second section of the verse, for it is by disbelief that one is condemned. As noted before, it certainly takes more to be saved than to be condemned.

He____________________________________________________/shall be saved

That______________________ /believeth

/and

/is baptized

He____________________________________________________/shall be condemned

That_____________________/disbelieveth

There is Further Evidence

The essentiality of baptism is not limited to just Mark 16:16. In Acts 2:38, Peter commanded that those who were lost and guilty of the blood of Jesus were to repent and be baptized for the remission of sin. Verse 41 tells us that all of those who received His word were baptized and they were added to the church. This is expressed later in Acts 8:35-36 in which Phillip preached unto the Ethiopian eunuch Jesus and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” Did you notice that the eunuch said here is water? What do you suppose he understood from the preaching of Jesus by Philip? In Acts 22:16, Ananias declared to Paul, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.” Paul later explains that we are to die to our sins and are buried in baptism and resurrected to walk in the newness of life (cf. Rom. 6:4-6). It is in baptism where we are united with Christ in the likeness of His death, as well as His likeness. Paul also said, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. (cf. Gal 3:27).” Peter also reminds us that baptism is salvific (cf.1 Peter 3:21). Lastly, 1 Corinthians 12:13 concludes that we were all baptized into one body (the church). Mark 16:16 is one of many supporting texts that confirm the essentiality of baptism for the remission of sin.

With the evidence above can one deny the essentiality of baptism? I suppose without Biblical evidence, one could. However, without Biblical evidence, one cannot have Biblical salvation. To answer our critics, we want to remind you that baptism is not the only act of obedience one must satisfy to receive the gift of salvation our Lord freely offers. One must hear, believe, repent, and confess, otherwise, baptism is merely a bath. When the Gospel is obeyed, one is not merely baptized, one is saved!

Grace and Peace,

R.D. Beavers

At the Feet of Jesus

How amazing it must have been to sit at the feet of Jesus. Have you thought much about that? What would it have been like to be around the Master? It was obviously life altering for His disciples, the majority of which (by historical accounts) would go on to violent deaths. Christians would go on to be persecuted throughout the centuries. Why? Jesus is worth the shame (Acts 5:41). Jesus is worth it all, because “there is no other name, under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). It is for this very reason we think about how amazing it would have been to personally sit at the feet of Jesus. To Talk to Him Must Have Been Tender Talking to Jesus must have been so tender. We know that He would tell people what they needed to hear, and sometimes that was rather forthright (see Matt. 23), but he was loving and compassionate to those who wanted to learn from Him. Remember when parents were b...

Don't Raise an Ahaz

Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he did not that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations, whom Jehovah cast out from before the children of Israel. And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree . 2 Kings 16:2-4 When was the first time you drove a car? What about the first time you jumped off a diving board or gave a speech? After that first time, it certainly became easier. What about the first lie you told? Did it become easier? King Ahaz of Judah was evil and far from the example of David. Ahaz was the first to offer child sacrifices to t...

Zedekiah and Regret

“Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden (now the Chaldeans were against the city round about); and the king went by the way of the Arabah. But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him.Then they took the king, and carried him up unto the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him.And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters, and carried him to Babylon.” 2 Kings 25:4-7 Sin Will Cause You to Flee One that lives outside the law will face the consequences of the law; this is what happened to Israel first and then the kingdom of Judah. The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar had control of Judah and yet King Zedekiah rebelled against him (2 Kings 25:1). Zedekiah believed he was safe for a while holed up in the ...

Ironworks

Search This Blog