Mark 16:15-16 and Conversion

What Does Mark 16:15-16 Teach? 1. God gives us a responsibility  Jesus said “Go…”  This commission continues today (2 Tim. 2:2)  There is a time to say “Come…” (Rev. 22:17), but we must also make time to “Go…” (Lk. 14:21-23; Acts 8:4)  We may not be GROWING because we are not GOING!

What Does Mark 16:15-16 Teach? 2. God wants all mankind to be saved  The gospel is to go into “all the world” … “to the whole creation”  All mankind needs saving (Rom. 3:23)  God wants all saved (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9)  Evangelism must be done at home and abroad

What Does Mark 16:15-16 Teach? 3. Preaching is important  “Go … preach”  Preaching comes before / after salvation (Rom. 1:15-16; 10:9-10)  No entertainment or stand-up comedy

What Does Mark 16:15-16 Teach? 4. There is only one true gospel  “Go … preach the gospel”  Only the one gospel of Jesus Christ saves (Gal. 1:6-9; Eph. 4:4-6)  Not a latter-day gospel or gospel of health and wealth

What Does Mark 16:15-16 Teach? 5. Belief (faith) in the truth saves  “He that believes…”  Only belief in the truth (the gospel) saves (Eph. 1:13; Jn. 17:17)  Belief in error will condemn (2 Thess. 2:10-12)  But belief only gives one “the right to become” a child of God (Jn 1:12)  Having the right to become president does not make you president

What Does Mark 16:15-16 Teach? 6. Each one must have is own belief (faith) to be saved  “He that believes…”  The one saved is the same one who believes and is baptized; belief must be personal  No proxy salvation (Catholicism, Mormonism)  Not enough to be a “good person”

What Does Mark 16:15-16 Teach? 7. Belief (faith) always comes before baptism and salvation  “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved…”  God’s order: belief + baptism = salvation (Acts 18:8)  Man’s order: baptism = salvation + belief

What Does Mark 16:15-16 Teach? 8. Belief (faith) only does not save  “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved…”  True Bible belief (faith) acts and obeys (Mk. 1:15; 2:5)  Faith only is dead (Jas. 2:24-26)

What Does Mark 16:15-16 Teach? 9. Baptism comes before salvation  “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved…”  Baptism is necessary for salvation; it washes away sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-4; 1 Pet. 3:21)  God’s order: belief + baptism = salvation  Man’s order: belief (faith only) = salvation + baptism

What Does Mark 16:15-16 Teach? 10. Baptism alone does not save  “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved…”  Many falsely accuse us of believing in “water salvation”  Baptism is a work of God (Mt. 3:15; Lk. 7:30; Col. 2:11-12) and a work of faith  Baptism is followed by growth (Ac. 2:42; 2 Pet. 1:5)

What Does Mark 16:15-16 Teach? 11. Disbelief (disobedience) alone will condemn  “But he that disbelieves shall be condemned”  Many believe God will not condemn anyone  Disbelief (disobedience) alone will condemn one to hell (Jn. 3:18)  Examples…  He that enrolls and takes a class will be educated; he that does not enroll will be uneducated  He that eats and digests his food will live; he that does not eat will die

Conclusion So what do we learn from Mark 16:15-16? –We need to go and preach the gospel –We need to believe –We need to be baptized –If we wish to be saved –If we do not wish to be saved Then we don’t need to do anything