Mark 16:16 He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned. I. CONSIDER THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS DECLARATION. 1. Because of the character of the Being who has given it. He is God; therefore He has power to perform what He has said. 2. None can escape His scrutiny, as He is all wise and omnipotent. 3. The declaration re. mains unchangeable forever, as He is a Being who possesses the attribute of truth. II. EXPLAIN THE GROUNDS OF WHICH SINNERS ARE TO BE SAVED. 1. Faith in Christ is necessary to salvation. 2. Baptism is necessary. III. THE AWFUL CONSEQUENCE OF NOT BELIEVING. 1. If we do not believe, we remain in sin. 2. Guilt and misery of mind arise from this condition. 3. Temporal punishment in this life is also the result. Wherever the gospel of Christ is received in the love of it, there will be stability of principle, and an inculcation of purity of morals; where it is absent there will be, in a less or greater degree, an entire want of its holy effects. Intemperance produces sickness; extravagance leads to poverty, etc. 4. Our not believing will have an evil effect on society at large. 5. Eternal torment. IV. THE BLESSED EFFECTS OF BELIEVING. 1. Deliverance from condemnation. 2. Emancipation from the dominion of sin. 3. Salvation from the fear of death and hell. 4. In proportion as our faith becomes strong, our spiritual wisdom will increase, as well as our happiness. (W. Blood.) Parallel Verses KJV: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.WEB: He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned. |
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