Salvation and Condemnation - Jesus’ reference to faith specifically points to belief in his resurrection: in other words, what Christ has achieved through the Cross. The Cross stands at the very heart of the Gospel Commission that has been entrusted to followers of Jesus Christ. The reason and context for obeying Jesus is because of your trust relationship with him. faith is the instrument of our salvation and not the agent of our salvation. It isn’t what saves us. Faith is what connects us with the Saviour so that he can save us. In the same way, baptism – or anything else we do ­- has no saving power itself. It is merely the outward sign of the saving faith within. It is the mark of God’s covenant with you

"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." - (Mark 16:16, NIV)

Jesus told his disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

And now he tells them why this is so important.

In this part of the Gospel of Luke, it is important to link Jesus’ affirmation here of the importance of belief for salvation with his rebuke to his disciples for their unbelief.

What this means is that Jesus’ reference to faith in the Great Commission doesn’t point to faith in a body of doctrinal truths as such, but instead it specifically points to belief in his resurrection: in other words, what Christ has achieved through the Cross.

The Cross stands at the very heart of the Gospel Commission that has been entrusted to followers of Jesus Christ.

Notice the order of what Jesus says here. 

First you believe, then you are baptised – you obey.

In other words, the reason and context for obeying Jesus is because of your trust relationship with him.

When Jesus says that “whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned”, 

he isn’t saying that we are saved because of our faith, because that would make faith a work that we do in order to be saved.

Instead, faith is the instrument of our salvation and not the agent of our salvation. 

It isn’t what saves us. 

Faith is what connects us with the Saviour so that he can save us.

In the same way, baptism – or anything else we do ­- has no saving power itself. 

It is merely the outward sign of the saving faith within. 

It is the mark of God’s covenant with you.

REFLECT

This begs the questions, 

“Have you responded to the great Gospel call?” 

“Have you believed?” 

“Have you been baptised?” 

What is your response to him today?

Dr Eliezer Gonzalez

Dr Eliezer Gonzalez is simply passionate about the gospel. With a background in teaching and management, the Lord called him to the gospel ministry and set him on an academic path. As a result, Eliezer earned two Master’s degrees (in Theology and Early Christian History), and then a PhD in Early Christian History. The Word Spreads Fast, and so do we. Good News Unlimited is led by Eliezer Gonzalez, who communicates the gospel of Jesus Christ with passion and conviction. 

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