Subject: Is baptism a work? |
Bible Note: Dearest teacher, Mark 16:16 does not say that baptism is a REQUIREMENT for salvation. Here's why: I could say that whoever believes AND goes to church will be saved. That is true. But it is BELIEF that saves, not belief AND going to church. I could also say if you believe AND read your Bible, you'll be saved. But it isn't reading your Bible that saves you. It is belief in Christ, in His sacrifice, that saves us. To say we must add something on to what Christ did on the cross is heresy. There are too many verses that clearly demonstrate that justification is by faith to say baptism is REQUIRED. (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:8; Phil. 3:9; etc.). Belief in what Christ has done, not what man can do, is what saves us. As I said: Baptism is just a public demonstration of the inner work of regeneration. This is why the rest of the verse says, "...but he who does not BELIEVE will be condemned." Mark 16:16 focuses on the issue of belief, not baptism. How do you feel about my scenario of someone accepting Christ and dying before being baptized. Are they saved? |