“He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”
(Mark 16:16)
In the computer world, it’s called a logic gate. The word ‘and’ means that two things have to be true to pass through the gate. Believe and be baptized requires both actions in order to receive salvation. In the early first century, Jews were baptized for many reasons – oftentimes for ritual uncleanness – so Jesus reminds them baptism is not enough to save you. You must believe that Jesus is the Christ and be baptized based upon that belief. Belief AND baptism combined are the gateway to the saving grace of Jesus. To early Jews, it was the belief in Jesus that was the harder thing to accept – baptism was no big deal.
Today, the cultural struggle is the opposite. Belief in Jesus is much more common than acceptance of baptism as necessary for salvation. Many belief in Him, but are unwilling to act upon that belief and combine it with immerse. Yet, the text is clear – BELIEVE and BE BAPTIZED.
The logic gate is clear. Will we accept the conditions to enter through the narrow gate?
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites