Lesson 2494

(Lesson 2494)(10-17-18) Mark 16:14-20
    “Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”

   Since there are three distinctly different points that should be made from Mark 14-20, today’s lesson will also be taken from that quote.
    Note that after Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved”, He then cited the penalty for those who fail to believe. He said, “he that BELIEVETH NOT shall be damned”. The very most important part of that statement is that Jesus DID NOT SAY ‘he that is baptized not shall be damned’. Therefore, it behooves every sincere bible student to note that NO penalty was imposed upon those who are not “baptized”, as that word is applied herein, because, the word “believeth” and the word “baptized”, as they are applied in the quote, define the very same event. When a lost soul believes, that lost soul is automatically baptized into Christ by and through that belief. “For by grace are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) Water baptism is a physical act, a WORK; Therefore, the word “baptized”, as it is applied in today’s lesson, CANNOT be intended to define a ritual water baptism (immersion).~