NOT & Mark 16:16

Words have power and meaning. They can enlighten and inspire, but they can also deaden and destroy. They can spur arguments and cause anger. The words in Mark 16:16 are some of these words. 

40 days prior, Jesus had been risen from the dead. During these 40 days, He had visited witnesses and encouraged His disciples. About to ascend into heaven, Jesus left His apostles with one more directive. Mark records Jesus’ words in four verses, telling them to preach the Word (Mark 16:15-18).  Part of these words included belief and baptism as preliminaries for salvation, yet they are some of the most debated in religion. 

Jesus rarely spoke about baptism (Matthew 28:19; John 3:1-8), but when He did, power and authority flowed from His mouth. Some attempt to change his words by adding “not” to His phrase by their doctrines to which they hold. Let us examine five views of Mark 16:16 and see what one is true. 

“He That Believes and is Baptized NOT Shall be Saved.”

This view is held by advocates of the faith alone mindset. These believe that God saves a person the moment he believes or puts his trust in Him. Because they advocate against a “works based salvation,” they add “not” in Jesus words to eradicate the essentiality of baptism. Faith alone; however, is:

               Foolish. Jesus required more than mere faith. His brother also observed its folly when he said the demons believe (James 2:19), but no one would affirm that they are saved. Faith alone is foolish because advocates claim a “no works-based salvation,” but Jesus says faith is a work (John 6:29), which denies their own doctrine!  

               Foreign. There is NOT ONE passage that teaches faith alone. The passages often used to support this false doctrine are those that mention “faith” or “believe” without action on the part of the believer. But these verses note a step toward salvation or are used as synecdoches.[1] From Genesis to Revelation, man has been required to obey (Deuteronomy 6:3; Acts 2:40; Philippians 2:12). In fact, the only verse that mentions the words “faith only” together are used to teach that one is not saved by it (James 2:24).

                Forced. Because Jesus did not tell the thief on the cross to be baptized, faith alone advocates conclude two things: (1) He was saved by faith alone and (2) baptism is not essential. But:

• The thief was under the Law of Moses, He still was required to obey. 

• The thief was under the Law of Moses, there was a different baptism (Matthew 3:6-8). 

• The thief was under the Law of Moses, while we are under the Law of Christ (cf. Galatians 6:2; 1 Peter 3:21). 

One must FORCE faith alone into this instance and Mark 16:16. It isn’t there!

“He That Believes and Baptized Shall NOT be Saved.” 

This view is taught by those who do not even believe Mark 16:16 to be authoritative. Atheists believe Jesus’ directive is just as important as the children’s books in the library. Since God is dead (Psalm 14:1), belief in Him and His words are worthless. Because there is no place or state from which to be saved, there is no reason to be baptized. There are three reasons why their view is wrong: 

               Jesus is real. Historical writers like Tacitus (56-177 A.D.) and Pliny (110 A.D.), wrote of Jesus existence. Jewish historian Josephus wrote of Him too. Since Jesus was a real human, then the atheist is already standing on the wrong foot and is walking down the wrong path!

                Jesus is deity. Jesus’ existence leads to a study of His deity. The Jews accept His existence but deny His deity. Scripture is filled with declarations of His miraculous ability (John 20:30-31; 21:25). Jesus numerously claimed His deity (Luke 22:70; John 8:24, 58; 10:30) and New Testament writers agreed (Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:8). We like Thomas can assuredly say, “My Lord and My God” (John 20:28). If Jesus is deity, then those who do not believe in Him are in danger (John 3:18), for Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven (John 14:6).  

             Hell is real. If Jesus is real and He is deity, then we can conclude that Hell is real. Jesus spoke on this subject more than any other writer in the New Testament. He used the word genna eleven times and had a long discourse about this place (Mark 9:43-48). Common traits associated with Jesus’ speaking about hell were “outer darkness” (Matthew 25:30), “weeping” (Matthew 24:51), and “gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 22:13). Because Hell is real, Jesus offers a way to escape its trenches (Mark 16:16), but not to those who disregard this urgent message.

This view denies historical and Biblical evidence.  

“He That Believes NOT and is Baptized NOT Shall be Saved.”

The Dalai Lama wrongly concluded, “People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.” The perfectionist says no one can be saved, while the Universalist says no one will be lost. The Universalist takes the third view of Mark 16:16 and claims that belief and baptism are not essential because everyone will be saved. They base their teaching on a handful of verses like Acts 3:21 and Colossians 1:20. 

Some universalists believe that a loving God would never send anyone to Hell, therefore, they say that it does not exist. Contrary to what some believe, God is loving, but this does not eradicate His justice (2 Thessalonians 1:6). It goes against God’s character to allow injustice. Also God does not necessarily “send” anyone to hell. People go there themselves when they choose to follow the opposite of God’s law.  

To obey or not to obey; the Universalist says it doesn’t matter because everyone will eventually go to heaven. The Bible specifies who will be saved by the Savior (Hebrews 5:9) and destruction comes to those who do not obey (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

While some do not even believe a hell exists, some Universalists teach that hell exists, but it will not be eternal. It is almost like a purgatory. The Bible teaches against such a view (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:10). The word “everlasting” is aiōnios and it means perpetual. Those in hell, stay in hell. 

While Universalism says all will be saved, Jesus affirms many will be lost (Matthew 7:13-14). This view is unbiblical.  

“He That Believes NOT and Is Baptized Shall Be Saved.”

Some churches believe anyone can be baptized with little or even no conditions. The Catholic church sprinkles infants and one reported that even “An aborted foetus must also be baptized.”[2] Baptismal regeneration is also taught, which attributes the power to the water. “Baptism” in these instances is done by sprinkling instead of immersion. Infant baptism is foreign to Scripture for:

               Only believers were baptized. Every New Testament baptism included preceding faith. There is not one example of infants needing to be baptized because they did not need to be saved (Matthew 18:3). Children are not born into sin; they choose that path later (Psalm 58:3). Even a mature man may not be a candidate for baptism if he doesn’t believe (Acts 8:37). Only believers who have repented and confessed may be baptized. 

               The Greek shows a bath, not a sprinkle. Infant baptism came after the first century; it wasn’t a New Testament teaching. Sprinkling became a common practice around 450 A.D.[3] No where in Scripture is baptism for salvation done through sprinkling. Dead sinners are buried with Christ (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12), not sprinkled. Interestingly, A.T. Robertson (a Baptist scholar) claimed that the word baptism, even when used figuratively, means immersion.[4]

               The power is in the blood, not the water. When one is baptized, the literal H2O doesn’t save, but the blood of Christ (Acts 22:16; Revelation 1:5). Baptismal regeneration would have people saved without even knowing it! 

Those who desire to be baptized are to understand a few things. Taking away belief from salvation’s plan eradicates all else, for without faith, pleasing God is impossible (Hebrews 11:6). This view is incorrect too.   

“He That Believes and is Baptized Shall Be Saved.”

This is the correct view and the one we read in the Bible. Those who hold this view have accurately examined the Scriptures (cf. Acts 17:11) and do not add or take away any words. Jesus requires both belief AND baptism for salvation. 

Unfortunately, many will be lost. The other four views are held by the majority. Many will be “damned” because they did not follow Jesus’ plan for salvation (John 12:48). On the other hand, some doubt Jesus’ words. “Can I really be saved?” “Did Jesus really mean what He said?” “Did I do everything required to be saved?” All these questions stem from a heart of doubt and fear. Jesus took away doubt when He said “believe” and “be baptized,” and you will have salvation. There should be no questions regarding his statement.

Salvation is plated in red letters, founded in red blood, and the code is red, alarming everyone to heed to Jesus’ words before its too late. There is no hidden secret nor a deep theological truth we are missing. Jesus means what He says and says what He means.  

Endnotes

[1]A synecdoche is a word used as a part for the whole of something or a whole for the part (See Luke 2:1).

[2]https://www.padfield.com/acrobat/taylor/denominations.pdf

[3]F.W. Mattox, The Eternal Kingdom A History of the Church, Gospel Light Publishing Company, 1961, p. 146.

[4]https://bible.org/article/what-primary-meaning-baptism-some-translational-difficulties