There is one more part to the gospel, among many that can be named. It is number 11 and the one that is denied by preachers and teachers because they do not want to admit that God demands obedience to his word in a prescribed manner. The lengths they will go and the twisting of scriptures to deny immersion in water for remission of sins knows no bounds. As was presented in part V, the gospel message has many parts and progresses in an orderly fashion through the scriptures.

The first mention of baptism is found in Matthew 3:1-6, the baptism of repentance. John said in Matthew 3:11 that a baptism with Holy Spirit and with fire would arrive, but beyond that, he was silent as to the meaning.

Jesus acknowledged it, was immersed and said it was to fulfill all righteousness Matthew 3:15. The baptism of repentance continued throughout the life of Jesus. But after his death and resurrection, Jesus added another requirement for salvation. We find in Matthew 18:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  Here is the teaching to teach and baptize. The apostles are to teach all that Jesus commanded and that includes being baptized if they desire to be saved.

Then in Mark 16:15-16 we find  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. Obviously the preaching of the gospel has the content that includes the belief and is baptized shall be saved. If it didn’t include the necessity of baptism for salvation, why did Jesus utter the words?

An examination of the Greek words reveal the teaching in the two verses. Believeth is active voice, meaning that the hearer does the believing whereas is baptized is passive which means that the believer submits to immersion and someone else does the immersion. Further, the conjunction and links the two words (believe-baptize) to make both equal in importance. In other words, belief isn’t completed or credited until the believer is baptized.   

 Those who do not believe in the necessity of baptism often state the following. They say, “Jesus never said what would happen if they weren’t baptized.” That statement shows an utter lack of understanding the gospel message. The answer is they remain not saved and lost because if they didn’t believe they wouldn’t be baptized. Belief is the operative word because belief leads to baptism, and in every case of conversion in the scriptures, beginning on the Day of Pentecost, preaching was followed by believers being baptized. Without belief, baptism is useless and without baptism one is not saved. 

Some point to Paul’s words in I Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. They make much of what Paul said to refute baptism, but they do understand the reason for his statement. The context tells us that the Corinthians were fighting over who baptized them in verses 10-13. Paul said in verses 14 and 15,  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius 15  Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. Paul did not say baptism was not necessary as is commonly taught by some groups (Swaggart Ministries for example). Someone must have preached the gospel to the Corinthians other than Paul (Acts 18:1-11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.) because they were fussing over who had baptized whom. Paul wanted no part of it and knew well that without the gospel, belief is impossible and that baptism by itself is of no effect. In verse 17 Paul wrote, For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. The preaching of the gospel always precedes belief and baptism is always the reaction to belief.

Unless the whole gospel message is preached, it is as Paul said in that Christ would be of none effect. In summation, the gospel is Christ was born; he kept the law; he died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for sin; he was buried and rose from the grave. He gave the instructions for salvation to the apostles (See I Peter 3:21). They followed his instructions faithfully and many were saved. Anyone who chooses to believe the false teachings of men such as Greg Laurie, and many others instead of the gospel message, will remain in their sins and not be saved. 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.

01-25-2012 DEC

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