“And he said unto them, go ye into all the world, and preach this gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16.15, 16.)
Introduction. In the verses above, we have the Lord’s orders for the preachers’ work, with the affirmation that some they preach to will believe and be saved, while others will not and be damned. It is necessary to our success in this work that we understand these verses. This morning I shall attempt, in the Lord’s name, to speak directly and to oppose error as the apostles did. I feel an overwhelming sense of duty to do it. I may provoke hostility—I cannot help it.
(1) Baptism without Faith Saves No One. The error I am opposing is baptismal regeneration. To my knowledge no Protestant church in England teaches it except that church which proudly calls itself the Church of England. The error is boldly declared in her Book of Common Prayer, and very plainly in her Catechism for youth: …in my baptism…I was made a member of Christ….Children, no matter how giddy, idle, or wicked, are caused to say that in baptism they were made members of Christ. I am not now dealing with the question of infant baptism, but with baptismal regeneration, whether in adults or infants, whether by sprinkling, pouring, or dipping. There are ministers of that Church who preach against her own teaching on this point. But to profess one thing in a declaration of faith to your Church, and the contrary thing in your preaching, is to live a lie! And this causes men to think truth must be unimportant. But let us drive at the matter. Jesus rebuked scribes and Pharisees for regarding outward rites more than inward grace. Now look at the facts. Is it not true that so many that have been baptized are now criminals? Is that regeneration? And what a joke when “a dear brother” who has died drunk is buried in a “sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life.” Even Rome never perpetrated a grosser error than this! In baptism by the Prayer-Book a promise is made for a babe that he will renounce the devil and his works and keep God’s holy commandments. But the persons promising for the babe can’t even accomplish this themselves! And we are asked to believe that God accepts the wicked promise, and as a result, the child is regenerated! Why do I cry out against this? Because infants may grow up believing they are born again and saved when they are not! I used to disbelieve that Rome was making progress. But this teaching is just a stepping-stone to Rome, which believes in ceremony for salvation, a teaching which drags the soul to hell! Shake it off you and into the fire as Paul did the viper from his hand.
(2) Faith is the Absolute Necessity for Salvation. You must believe the Son came into the world and was made flesh, lived a holy life for man, and was offered up to satisfy for sin. Then you must rely on his death and righteousness for your salvation. Do not rest on any ceremony whatsoever.
(3) The Baptism in the Text is Certainly Connected with Faith. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” Baptism follows belief. But I do not insist on the order of the words to convince anyone. Any man believing on Christ knows he has no right to be baptized until he is saved. Baptism is the outward sign of sin being washed away, just as the bread represents Jesus’ body. It is the Holy Spirit who does the rebirthing. Baptism is a testimony of one’s faith; one of the first acts of obedience; not a superstition; but an encouragement to faith.
Selection from Conclusion. “O my beloved friends…cling to the salvation of faith, and abhor the salvation of priests…Believe me, it is no trifle.”
