2. Many Experts Reject Baptism
Mark 16:15-16
[By Ron Halbrook]

3. Many Experts Reject Baptism
Introduction:
1. Mark 16: In the Great Commission Christ gave God’s plan for our salvation
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

4. It seems simple!
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

5. Many Experts Reject Baptism
Introduction:
1. Mark 16: In the Great Commission Christ gave God’s plan for our salvation
Faith & baptism necessary?
Why do many experts reject baptism as necessary for salvation?

6. Many Experts Reject Baptism
Introduction:
2. Luke 7: Expert teachers rejected God’s plan for John’s baptism
29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

7. Many Experts Reject Baptism
Introduction:
2. Luke 7: Expert teachers rejected God’s plan for John’s baptism
John preached “the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” to prepare souls to hear Jesus (Lk. 3:3)
Common people accepted John’s baptism as true, now ready to hear Jesus
Some teachers (“experts in the law” NIV) made arguments rejecting God’s plan

8. Many Experts Reject Baptism
Introduction:
3. Arguments rejecting baptism as necessary for salvation today:
Saved by the blood of Christ
Saved by grace not works
Saved by faith only
Baptism follows salvation
Thief on the cross saved without baptism
Baptism not essential in Mark 16:15-16

9. Many Experts Reject Baptism
I. Saved by the Blood of Christ
A. The Blood of Christ: Basis of Salvation
Heb. 10: The perfect sacrifice
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

10. Many Experts Reject Baptism
I. Saved by the Blood of Christ
B. Faith & Baptism: NOT Basis of Salvation But Conditions to RECEIVE Salvation
Mk. 16: Gospel message includes conditions
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

11. Saved by the blood when baptized!
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

12. Many Experts Reject Baptism
II. Saved by the Grace Not Works
A. God’s Grace Offers Salvation to Sinners
Eph. 2:8-9 God provides, offers gift
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

13. Many Experts Reject Baptism
II. Saved by the Grace Not Works
A. God’s Grace Offers Salvation to Sinners
Eph. 2:8-9 God provides, offers gift
“Not of works:” we have sinned, we cannot offer God a sinless perfect life (Eph. 2:1-2 )

14. “Not of works:” we have sinned, we cannot offer God a sinless perfect life (Eph. 2:1-2 )
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

15. Many Experts Reject Baptism
II. Saved by the Grace Not Works
A. God’s Grace Offers Salvation to Sinners
Eph. 2:8-9 God provides, offers gift
“Not of works:” works of Old Law cannot save Jews, no perfect sacrifice for sin (Eph. 2:14-16 )

16. “Not of works:” works of Old Law cannot save Jews, no perfect sacrifice for sin (Eph. 2:14-16 )
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity,
even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God
in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

17. Many Experts Reject Baptism
II. Saved by the Grace Not Works
B. Sinners Can Receive or Reject God’s Grace
Mk. 16: Conditions allow man to accept or reject the gift, not work to earn it
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

18. Many Experts Reject Baptism
II. Saved by the Grace Not Works
B. Sinners Can Receive or Reject God’s Grace
Jn. 6: Faith is a work or condition of acceptance, not work to earn salvation
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

19. Many Experts Reject Baptism
II. Saved by the Grace Not Works
B. Sinners Can Receive or Reject God’s Grace
Baptism is a work or condition of acceptance, not work to earn salvation

20. Salvation by grace through faith!
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

21. Many Experts Reject Baptism
III. Saved by Faith Only
A. Faith Is A Condition for Salvation
Jn. 3:16 Christ’s sacrifice made without conditions, received by faith
Provided
Unconditionally
Received
Conditionally
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

22. Many Experts Reject Baptism
III. Saved by Faith Only
B. Bible Faith Is Comprehensive Including Obedience, Not Mere Mental Assent
Jn. 3:5 Baptism included in context
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

23. Many Experts Reject Baptism
III. Saved by Faith Only
B. Bible Faith Is Comprehensive Including Obedience, Not Mere Mental Assent
Jn. 12: If saved by faith only, these are saved
42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

24. Many Experts Reject Baptism
III. Saved by Faith Only
B. Bible Faith Is Comprehensive Including Obedience, Not Mere Mental Assent
Ja. 2:24 Not saved by “faith only”
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25. Many Experts Reject Baptism
III. Saved by Faith Only
B. Bible Faith Is Comprehensive Including Obedience, Not Mere Mental Assent
Joseph Henry Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament defines the verb “to believe” (PISTEUO)

26. Joseph Henry Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament defines the verb “to believe” (PISTEUO)
“To think to be true; to be persuaded of; to credit, place confidence in”—“used especially of the faith by which a man embraces Jesus, i.e., a conviction, full of joyful trust, that Jesus is the Messiah – the divinely appointed author of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God, conjoined with obedience to Christ. (Mk. 16:16; Jn. 1:12, 3:16, 18, 36; 6:29, 35; 11:25; 14:1; Acts 10:43; Rom. 1:16; 10:10, 14;
I Jn. 5:1, 10; etc., etc.)”

27. Salvation by obedient faith!
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

28. Many Experts Reject Baptism
IV. Baptism Follows Salvation
A. First Saved, Then Baptized
“Baptism is an outward sign of an inward grace”
“Baptism shows the world your salvation”
“Baptism is the first act of obedience after salvation”
No Bible verse for these statements!

29. Many Experts Reject Baptism
IV. Baptism Follows Salvation
B. Baptism Follows Salvation in Acts 2:38?
Acts 2:38 “FOR the remission of sins:” in order to obtain or “because of”?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

30. Many Experts Reject Baptism
IV. Baptism Follows Salvation
B. Baptism Follows Salvation in Acts 2:38?
Matt. 26:28 “FOR the remission of sins:” “in order to obtain” or “because of”?
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

31. Many Experts Reject Baptism
IV. Baptism Follows Salvation
B. Baptism Follows Salvation in Acts 2:38?
Matt. 26:28 Christ shed his blood as the BASIS for man to receive “the remission of sins”
Acts 2:38 We must be baptized as a CONDITION to receive “the remission of sins”

32. Baptism precedes salvation!
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

33. Many Experts Reject Baptism
V. Thief on the Cross Saved Without Baptism
A. Thief Saved on the Cross
Lk. 23: Christ saved the thief
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

34. Many Experts Reject Baptism
V. Thief on the Cross Saved Without Baptism
A. Thief Saved on the Cross
Lk. 23: Christ saved the thief
Possibly baptized under preaching of John or Jesus
Matt. 3:1-6; Jn. 4:1 Baptism prepared souls for coming kingdom— thief knows of the kingdom!
Not baptized under Great Commission

35. Many Experts Reject Baptism
V. Thief on the Cross Saved Without Baptism
B. Thief Died Before the Gospel Age & the Great Commission
Heb. 9: Died under Law of Moses, New Testament not “of force” yet
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

36. Many Experts Reject Baptism
V. Thief on the Cross Saved Without Baptism
B. Thief Died Before the Gospel Age & the Great Commission
Mk. 16: Died before Great Commission
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

37. Thief died before Great Commission given!
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

38. Many Experts Reject Baptism
VI. Baptism Not Essential in Mk. 16:15-16
A. Baptism Is In the Great Commission
Mk. 16: Is baptism essential?
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

39. Many Experts Reject Baptism
VI. Baptism Not Essential in Mk. 16:15-16
A. Baptism Is In the Great Commission
Mk. 16: Is baptism essential?
Not essential: It does not say, “He that believeth not & is not baptized shall be damned.”
That would be redundant because faith is a prerequisite BEFORE baptism.

40. Many Experts Reject Baptism
VI. Baptism Not Essential in Mk. 16:15-16
A. Baptism Is In the Great Commission
Mk. 16: Is baptism essential?
LIKE: “He that eats & digests shall live; but he that eats not shall die.”
NO NEED TO SAY: “He that eats not & digests not shall die.”
That would be redundant because eat is a prerequisite BEFORE digest.

41. Many Experts Reject Baptism
VI. Baptism Not Essential in Mk. 16:15-16
A. Baptism Is In the Great Commission
Mk. 16: Is baptism essential?
Faith essential, not baptism, like this: “He who gets on the bus & is seated will go to Manila.” Not essential to sit!
If saved by faith only, here is parallel: “He who believeth is saved already…,” “He who gets on bus is in Manila already.” No time to sit! Sit after arrive in Manila?

42. Many Experts Reject Baptism
VI. Baptism Not Essential in Mk. 16:15-16
A. Baptism Is In the Great Commission
Mk. 16: Is baptism essential?
Two conditions necessary for salvation: believe & be baptized
One condition to be lost: reject Christ, do not believe in him

43. Baptism is clearly essential for salvation!
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

44. Many Experts Reject Baptism
Invitation:
1. Mark 16: In the Great Commission Christ gave God’s plan for our salvation
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

45. Many Experts Reject Baptism
Invitation:
2. Luke 7: Expert teachers rejected God’s plan for John’s baptism
29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

46. Many Experts Reject Baptism
Invitation:
3. Arguments rejecting baptism as necessary for salvation today fail:
Saved by the blood of Christ when baptized
Saved by grace not works when baptized
Saved by faith when baptized, not faith only
Baptism precedes salvation, not follows
Thief on the cross saved without baptism: died before gospel age & great commission
Baptism essential in Mark 16:15-16

47. Come now & be baptized: Christ will save you!
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.