The Lion's Forums

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16).

The twelve Apostles preached and practiced exactly this. When the Apostle Peter's hearers at Pentecost were convicted of their sins and asked: "Men and brethren, what shall we do" Peter did not tell them that Yâ-hwéh Yâhuwshúa`, The LORD Jesus Christ, had died for their sins and that they could receive salvation as the gift of God's Grace, apart from religion or works. RATHER he said:

"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" (Acts 2:38).

A while back, in a debate on this very topic, I asked a Baptist Pastor: "Suppose, after a Sunday service, some of your hearers were convicted of their sins and asked you and your co-workers: 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Would you tell them what the Apostle Peter told his convicted sinners at Pentecost?"

"Why, of course!" he exclaimed .

"In those words?" I persisted.

He thought for a moment and then replied : "Well, I guess not exactly in those words."

The fact is that this pastor would not at all have said to his hearers what the Apostle Peter said to his. Even though a Baptist, he would not have said: "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins," for he believed that subjection to water baptism should be left to each person's conscience, and he did not believe that it had anything to do with salvation. He would doubtless have said to any inquirers what Paul said when the convicted Gentile jailor asked: "What must I do to be saved?" Like the Apostle Paul, he would have replied: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.. ." (Acts 16:31). The Apostle Peter at Pentecost preached what he was commanded to preach under his commission: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16), but when God raised up the Apostle Paul, that other apostle, He sent HIM to proclaim "the Gospel of the Grace of God" and the finished work of Christ.

So There You Have It!! (smilies are terrific)

HALLELUJAH!!!! I'm so glad that it's our belief on the LORD Jesus Christ that saves us and not being baptized! What would happen to those folks who accept Christ on their deathbeds and have no time to be baptized for salvation if we too had to do as Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized?" Thanks for another terrific post, Pastor David! (And yes, smileys are terrific! lol )

Thank God when we trust the "finished work on the cross" at that moment in time
the Holy Spirit baptizes us with the one baptism for the Body of Christ
into Christ and we are made alive in Him.
Amen brother

Well thank you both, BrotherMark, and Sister Terri for your kind words and Praise the LORD!

I think I understand. The body of Christ (all the Gentiles that ever have or ever will believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus) is wholly baptized, outside of time, as a single body. The, well, the economy of it is awesome; it makes the concept kind of click home in the mind.

My remaining uneasiness along this line is of course, due to my lack of depth (and breadth, width) of understanding of scripture.
So, if anybody'd be willing, please point me at some chapters and verses that deal with the state of untrained children; those too young to have understood the Word in any language. Are they provided for at the White Throne (that's basically a flailing guess)?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Mat 19:13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

Mat 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Luk 18:15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

Luk 18:16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Luk 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.