We can't look at Mark 16:16 without looking at Matthew 28:18-20 as well, in order to fully comprehend what our "great commission" is.
Whereas Mark might lead some to think that we have no need to water baptize, Matthew removes all doubt that we certainly do.
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.†28:18-20
Several things here...
One, we are to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is different than the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Just an observation to inject in there: the disciples water baptized in Jesus' name: they did not recite "in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit". Do note: it is written not as in the name
s of as in plural, but in the name of all three Persons and so the name of God to call upon to be saved is Jesus, and thus by the name of Jesus is one baptized.
Also: the disciples fulfilled that commandment at the Day of Pentecost when visiting Jews from all nations were there that day for them to make disciples out of.
Two, the act of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not something we "do". It is a work of the Spirit Himself.
No. There is no scripture that states that the Holy Spirit will send Himself. Jesus is the One that baptizes us with the Holy Spirit at salvation.
Sometimes the Spirit will come upon those prior to their water baptism, as in Acts 10:45-48:
"All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?†And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days."
It's important to note that even those these Gentile believers clearly had the baptism of the Holy Spirit, they were to be baptized with water as well.
But the point of water baptism was the remission of sins in order to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost: but now simply by believing in Jesus Christ can one receives the remission of sins and receive the promise of the Holy Ghost before water baptism: that means they are saved without water baptism.
Our instructions from our Lord is to baptize and the baptism we do...with our human hands...involves water. As the Ethiopian said to Philip, "Look, water! What prevents me from being baptized."
Being how he was an Ethiopian Jew and the church was starting out in reaching out to the Jews by the method of which John the Baptist had started from with the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins: one can see why the necessity of being no longer identified with God at the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, but by faith in Jesus Christ. Once the Temple fell: there was no more need for distinction for former Jews that were now believers to testify of their newfound faith in Christ.
I've said before, and it's pithy enough to repeat so I'll say it again....Unless one is planning to spend one's entire walk with God hanging from a cross, one needs to be baptized.
Jesus stated plenty of times how one is saved: by believing: and in all of those times: He did not continuously repeat water baptism to be going hand in hand in with that belief.
Doesn't matter. There are still plenty of instructions to us that we are to be water baptized.
And yet the purpose for water baptism has changed since believing in Jesus Christ is how one receives the remission of sins: this John the Baptist had prepared the way of the Lord of doing that which water baptism used to do.
I find great comfort in knowing that those who come to believe without the opportunity of being baptized by water can indeed be saved. The thief on the cross, a soldier in the battlefield, someone dying a swift untimely death, but still being snatched by the Spirit...our God is Awesome that way.
But, those are the exceptions...folks can indeed "be saved" without water baptism....this loving truth doesn't negate our commandment to be baptized by water.
Why would a Christian refuse to do this?
Believers can be water baptized. I am just saying it is not necessary to save them. To give grace to those that believe but could not be water baptized: and yet for those that can be but have not been yet: to suddenly remove that same grace as if implying what? That they are not saved yet?
Romans 4:
1What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
I just believe there is to be a warning against placing a work of water baptism as a means for salvation when we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
