March 1, 2018 – Mark 16
Whoever believes and
is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark
16:16
Belief that takes
action is the way to salvation.
Many preachers and motivational speakers have used the story
of “The Great Blondin”, a French tightrope walker that traversed the Niagara
Falls many times in 1859 – forward, backwards, with a wheelbarrow, even with a
man on his back. A story is often told
of him asking the crowd: “Do you believe I can carry a man in this wheelbarrow
across the Falls?” The crowd would fully agree.
Then he would ask: “So then which of you will get into the wheelbarrow?”
Belief means nothing if it is not followed up with
action. That’s at least part of the
reason Jesus instituted confession and baptism as part of the salvation
experience. It’s not that your public
expression or dunking in water saves you – it’s the belief that is demonstrated
in action. Believing ABOUT Jesus doesn’t
save us, it’s believing IN Jesus.
Mark’s language about belief is very strong – we’re either
IN or OUT based on our belief. But that
belief is not silent … it takes the form of action. It requires us to actually live like we
believe. It calls us to get in the
wheelbarrow and let Jesus drive. That
step of belief is far greater than just a private prayer, it calls for public
commitment.
And hear Mark clearly – he’s not trying to create a
theological argument here, he’s just simplifying it down to the nuts &
bolts, just like his whole gospel. Yes
or No, In or Out, Saved or Unsaved.
Simple – did you believe and did you take action on it. The greatest assurance of our salvation is
always found in living out our faith.
I agree with many of our ancestors – confession of sin and
baptism were never meant to be theological battlegrounds. Let’s just accept them as a gift God gave us
to act out our newfound belief and receive this indescribable grace we’ve been
given. And let’s not take over God’s position
as judge. Instead, we can keep it
simple.
If you believe and are baptized (take action), you will be
saved.
What a simple and incredibly easy solution to our eternal
problem! J
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