Mark 16:14-20 KJV
(14) 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.
(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.
(17) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
(18) 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.
(19) So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
(20) And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
- In (Verse 16) Jesus says. "He that believed and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believed not shall be damned. In this verse of scripture Jesus is not talking about or referring to water baptism. Sometimes we assume that He is talking about water baptism because we simply have not looked at the scriptures as it pertains to the "Doctrine of Baptisms". Water baptism is not the only type of baptism and in this scripture Jesus is not referring to water baptism. He is referring to being baptized by the Spirit of God into the body of Christ through regeneration, by being born again.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 KJV
(12) For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
(13) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
- Upon being born again the Spirit of God baptizes us into the body of Christ. In other words we are immersed into the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:13-17 KJV
(13) Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
(14) 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.
(16) And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
(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.
- Paul wasn't emphasizing (water) baptism. Verse 16 says he didn't even remember baptizing others. Then in verse 17 he says Christ sent him to preach, not to baptize.
- If water baptism was a pre-requisite for salvation then the Apostle Paul would have been going out of his way to ensure people were water baptized.
Matthew 9:1-8 KJV
(1) And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
(2) And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
(3) And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
(4) And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
(5) For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
(6) But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
(7) And he arose, and departed to his house.
(8) But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
- Notice what Jesus didn't say. He didn't say, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. Now go forward and be baptized. Jesus rarely mentions being baptized during his encounters with people. If water baptism was essential to being saved then Jesus would have put a whole lot of emphasis on it, but he doesn't.
Luke 7:44-50 KJV
(44) And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
(45) Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
(46) My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
(47) Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
(48) And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
(49) And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
(50) And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
- Notice again in (Verse 50). Jesus didn't say Thy faith hath saved thee:go in peace and find somebody to baptize you (water baptism). By virtue of her acceptance of Jesus (Verse 47) and her sins being forgiven, she became a member of the family of God without being baptized in water.
- We should seek to be baptized in water because it is an outward show of our identity with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus but water baptism is NOT A REQUIREMENT to be saved. To make it a requirement is to turn it into a "work". We are saved through faith and not works.