Your Bible question was:
> Well, my question was that, does baptism save you? Or just excepting Jesus
> Christ as your personal lord and savior? Another question can you please
> answer the scripture (Mark: 16:16), because I have the doubt on it, my
doubt
> is that if your not baptized your not saved?
Of course, Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world (1 Tim. 4:10). The real
question is what does Jesus expect of me so that He will save me?
The Bible not only says that one must believe that Jesus in the Christ, the
Son of the living God (Matt. 16:18; Jno. 8:24;Rom. 10:9-10), it also plainly
teaches that baptism saves us (1 Peter 3:21).
Let's look closer at 1 Peter 3:21:
"The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the
putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience
toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ...."
Like water saved Noah and his family (1 Pet. 3:20), water baptism _now saves
us_. To argue against the necessity of water baptism is to argue against
this clear statement of scripture.
1 Peter 3:21 tells us what baptism is not and what it is.
First, please notice what water baptism is not: It is not merely an
external washing of the body. It is not the water that cleanses or saves
the soul - the blood of Jesus does that. But please notice that we are
baptized into His death (Rom. 6:3).
Then what is baptism, and who does it relate to our salvation? Peter says
it is "the answer of a good conscience toward God." That is, it is the
action taken by one who seeks to have a good conscience in God's sight.
Since Christ has commanded us to be baptized to be saved (Mark 16:16), those
who seek to please God will do so. This is why the believing, penitent Saul
was told by the preacher Ananias: "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be
baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts
22:16)
So, we have learned from the scriptures that in order to be saved from sins
by the blood of Jesus Christ we must be willing to obey His commandment to
be baptized in water "unto the remission of sins" (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38).
You asked about Mark 16:16, so let's look at it more closely:
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not
shall be damned."
In this verse Jesus says there are two things which are necessary in order
to be saved: belief and baptism. And, He says there is only one thing
necessary in order to be lost: unbelief. Which do you want? If you want
to "be saved" by Jesus, then you should believe that He is the Christ and be
baptized to "wash away your sins" (Acts 22:16) by His blood (Rom. 6:3; 1
Pet. 3:21).
Please notice the order of action in Mark 16:16:
Jesus said the order in salvation is: BELIEVE + BAPTISM = SAVED
Most religious folks say the order in salvation is: BELIEVE = SAVED +
BAPTISM
The question becomes: Which did you do, and which must you do in order to
be saved according to the words of Jesus in Mark 16:16?
From your post I discern that you are a believer in Christ, but that you
have not been taught the whole counsel of God about water baptism and
Christ's plan of salvation - until now (and via the Bible Answers website).
I urge you to see the importance of obeying the full gospel of Christ - not
the will and wisdom of men - and be baptized into Christ to be saved by Him
(Acts 8:35-38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21).
I would be happy to assist you by putting you into contact with someone near
your home with whom you can study this important Bible topic. Just let me
know and I'll be glad to do whatever I can to help you do all that Jesus
commands of you.
Thank you very much for your post. Please continue to write if I can be of
help to you.
Because of Calvary,
Joe Price
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Joe R Price
joe@bibleanswer.com
Bible Answers
http://www.bibleanswer.com
Mt. Baker church of Christ
http://www.bibleanswer.com/mtbaker
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