1. [By Ron Halbrook]

2. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 2

3. 3

4. 29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. 4

5. 5

6. Introduction: 3. Arguments rejecting baptism as necessary for salvation today: Saved by the blood of Christ Saved by grace not works Saved by faith only Baptism follows salvation Thief on the cross saved without baptism Baptism not essential in Mark 16:15-16 6

7. 7 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

8. 8 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

9. 9 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10. 10

11. 11 1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

12. 12

13. 13 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

14. 14 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

15. 15 28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

16. II. Saved by the Grace Not Works B. Sinners Can Receive or Reject God’s Grace Baptism is a work or condition of acceptance, not work to earn salvation 16

17. 17 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

18. 18 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

19. 19 42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

20. 20 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

21. III. Saved by Faith Only B. Bible Faith Is Comprehensive Including Obedience, Not Mere Mental Assent Joseph Henry Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament defines the verb “to believe” (PISTEUO) 21

22. Joseph Henry Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament defines the verb “to believe” (PISTEUO) 22 “To think to be true; to be persuaded of; to credit, place confidence in”—“used especially of the faith by which a man embraces Jesus, i.e., a conviction, full of joyful trust, that Jesus is the Messiah – the divinely appointed author of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God, conjoined with obedience to Christ. (Mk. 16:16; Jn. 1:12, 3:16, 18, 36; 6:29, 35; 11:25; 14:1; Acts 10:43; Rom. 1:16; 10:10, 14; I Jn. 5:1, 10; etc., etc.)”

23. IV. Baptism Follows Salvation A. First Saved, Then Baptized “Baptism is an outward sign of an inward grace” “Baptism shows the world your salvation” “Baptism is the first act of obedience after salvation” No Bible verse for these statements! 23

24. 24 38 Then Peter said unto them, 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.

25. 25 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

26. 26

27. 27 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

28. 28

29. 29 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

30. 30 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

31. 31 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

32. 32

33. 33

34. 34

35. 35

36. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 36

37. 29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. 37

38. Invitation: 3. Arguments rejecting baptism as necessary for salvation today fail: Saved by the blood of Christ when baptized Saved by grace not works when baptized Saved by faith when baptized, not faith only Baptism precedes salvation, not follows Thief on the cross saved without baptism: died before gospel age & great commission Baptism essential in Mark 16:15-16 38