There is another view sincerely held by many, and that is, "he who believes and `is not baptized' will be saved". This view is held by those who believe in salvation by faith "only". That one is saved before baptism. That baptism is not essential to salvation. Jesus and His apostles clearly taught differently. Faith "alone" cannot save. As declared by Jesus - Mt 7:21 `"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."; Lk 6:46 `"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?" As taught by His apostles - Ro 6:17-18 "But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness."; He 5:9 "And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,"; Ja 2:14 "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?", 17 "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.", 20 "Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?", 24 "You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.", 26 "For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead."; 1 Pe 1:22 "Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,"; 1 Jn 2:3-5 "And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him:"
Baptism is essential to salvation according to Jesus - Jn 3:5 "Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."; Mk 16:16 "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."; Mt 28:18-20 "And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."' According to His apostles - Ac 2:38 "And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."; 22:16 "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.'"; Ga 3:26-27 "for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."; Co 2:12-13 "having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,"; Ti 3:5 "he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,"; 1 Pe 3:21 "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,"
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 (Ro 10:1-3 "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.").
This leads us to the fifth and final view, one that I believe we are compelled to accept. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved." This view takes the words of Jesus at face value. No explanations are necessary. Jesus says what He means, and means what He says. We have already read previously what the Bible teaches. That one must "believe" - Ac 8:36-37. That one must be "baptized" to enjoy the forgiveness of sins - Ac 2:38; 22:16.
Which of the five views of Mark 16:16 do you hold to? He who believes and is baptized "will not" be saved? He who "does not believe" and "is not baptized" will be saved? He who "does not believe" and "is baptized" will be saved? He who believes and "is not baptized" will be saved? He who believes and is baptized will be saved? -- It should be clear there is only one view which is in harmony with Jesus ' words, as there is only one which does not involve "tampering" with the clear statement of Jesus! But perhaps more importantly, with which of these views is your life consistent? 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!
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!
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.'" - Ac 2:38
"And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." - Ac 22:16
