Is Baptism Necessary?

Bulletins

Brian Nielsen
01/28/24 - General

Imagine an employee going to work and being told: “Go to the store and get some doughnuts for the VIPs visiting the office today and you can keep your job. If you don’t go to the store, you’ll be fired.”

The employee went to the store, saw a line at the bakery counter, so just decided to not bother with the doughnuts and returned to work empty-handed. When he had no doughnuts and the boss was angry, the employee said, “You didn’t say if I didn’t bring back doughnuts I would get the axe. You just said if I don’t go to the store, I’d be fired.”

I might have the most understanding, flexible supervisor in the world but I don’t know that even she would put up with such actions, or non-action.

But tell me, is there any difference in the foolishness of this story and saying baptism isn’t necessary when reading Mark 16:16 -- “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

You don’t have to answer me, but please, honestly read the scripture, not for the sake of an argument but for the sake of your salvation.

If you need more than Mark 16:16, a passage some have tried to disregard, and claim baptism is not necessary, you may also want to delete Acts 2:38, 22:16 and 10:48 as well as 1 Peter 3:21, Luke 7:30, Galatians 3:27, Romans 6:3-4, and John 3:5.

While you’re at it you probably need to erase Revelation 22:19 and Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32, which warn us about adding to or taking away from God’s word.

This isn’t meant to be insulting, which I hope it isn’t, or funny. It is meant to help you find salvation offered to us by the wonderful grace of God.

Don’t take my word for it, but the word of God in Acts 22:16 -- “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ ”

(Scripture quotes are from the NKJV)