Shortly before His ascension, Jesus gave His apostles the Great Commission: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). This passage succinctly tells us who it is that will be saved. Those who believe and are baptized will be saved.
This order seems pretty simple. A person believes, then they are baptized, and then they are saved. Though this seems simple, many have the order wrong. They think that a person believes, then they are saved, and sometime later they are baptized. This is not what Jesus taught. He taught that those who will be saved are those who believe and are baptized.
Many who believe that baptism comes after salvation allow themselves to be confused by the second part of the verse: “But he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.” The argument is made that since Jesus said disbelief results in condemnation and said nothing in the second clause about baptism, then baptism is not necessary for salvation. This is a popular notion. But notice that Jesus did not say that baptism is not necessary for salvation. He said that disbelief results in condemnation.
Why then did Jesus not say, “He who has disbelieved and has not been baptized shall be condemned”? He did not need to. One who does not believe in Christ will not be baptized. Baptism is an act of faith (Colossians 2:12). Consequently, those who resist baptism do not believe Christ, for He said, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved.”
Faith manifests itself in various ways. It will result in a changed life (repentance) as we “live by faith” (Romans 1:17). It will be revealed verbally as we confess the belief in our heart (Romans 10:9-10). It will lead us to the watery grave of baptism (Colossians 2:12). Faith is the attitude that no matter what God has said, we are going to believe it and practice it. When we read the words of Jesus, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved,” we are going to do just that – belief and be baptized.
Are you one of those who “shall be saved”? If not, why not?
