Know Your Bible
September 2000
Five Views Of Mark 16:16
Mankind is certainly ingenious when it comes to inventing different views to tip toe around what God's word says. Mark 16:16 is one such passage.
THE METHODISTS read Mark 16:16 like this: "He that believeth not and is baptized shall be saved". One of their cardinal doctrines teaches the practice of infant baptism when the infant is way too young to know what's going on much less to believe anything the Bible teaches concerning sin, repentance, and salvation.
THE ATHEISTS read Mark 16:16 like this: "He that believeth and is baptized shall not be saved". They do not even believe in God to Whom man is accountable for his actions. Since there is no accountability to a God, there can be no such thing as sin and definitely no need for salvation.
THE UNIVERSALISTS read Mark 16:16 like this: "He that believeth not and is baptized not shall be saved". They believe EVERYBODY is SAVED and NOBODY is LOST.
THE BAPTISTS read Mark 16:16 like this: "He that believeth and is not baptized shall be saved". They believe salvation comes at the point of faith and baptism has nothing to do with saving.
JESUS said in Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved". Now, which view are we going to take on this passage?
—E.R. Hall, Jr.
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Are We Willing To Accept All The Truth?
Many folks think that everything they need to know on any Bible subject can be found in one verse. When they think they have found that verse, they are unwilling to accept any other verse that might explain in full meaning or give additional instructions concerning the matter. While nearly all would agree with the title of this article, is that really the case? Are we willing to search for all the truth and accept it when it is found?
Not all truth on a Bible subject or Bible question can be found in one verse. Take, for example, the incident in Jesus' life recorded in Mark 10:17. There "came one running" to Jesus. Who was this person? Were they male or female? It is not until we look in the parallel account of Matthew 19:20 that we learn it was a "young man". What do we know about this young man who came running to Jesus? When we look in Luke 18:18 we find he was a "ruler" and verse 23 tells us he was "very rich". After looking in three books and four verses we conclude the "one" who came running to Jesus was a man who was a rich young ruler. I admit, this is not a matter of eternal consequences but the point is this: not everything we could learn about this man was found in one verse.
There are Bible subjects and Bible questions that have serious eternal conse-quences. For example: How are we saved from sin? Many people think John 3:16 gives the all sufficient answer: "believe"or have faith. Is this all the truth in the Scriptures that gives answer to this vital question? How do we "believe" or have faith? Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Also, Jesus said, "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."(John 6:45). In order to have faith we must hear and learn the word of God. Is hearing and knowing all there is? Jesus said in Matthew 7: 2, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." But Jesus also said, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3) and "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 10:32). We learn what confessing is from Romans 10:10: "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Thus we learn that we confess with our mouth what we have been taught and believe from the word of God. But concerning being saved Jesus had something else to say: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16:16). So, from four books and eight verses we learn all the truth concerning what to do to be saved from sin. The conclusion is that we must hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized. Are we willing to accept all the truth on this vital subject?
—E.R. Hall, Jr
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What Does "For" In Acts 2:38 Mean?
(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."
If I had a lot of money that I wished to give away
I think upon my preacher friends a little test I'd play.
I'd call them all together and explain to them a plan
Whereby a thousand dollars would be given to each man.
The plan, it would be simple, anyone could get it straight
The language would be a paraphrase of Acts Two Thirty Eight.
They'd ask of me, "What Shall We Do?" I'd answer them as follows,
"Be baptized, each one of you "FOR" a thousand silver dollars."
My Baptist friend would shed his coat and cease his "because of " prattle
He'd know the meaning of this "FOR" when he heard the silver rattle.
Friend Methodist too, without a doubt this "FOR" could understand
If the understanding meant for him a thousand smackers in the hand.
Not one of them would argue back, and you can write it down
Within thirty minutes, there would not be a dry preacher in this town.
—W. Curtis Porter
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