I read of a certain preacher years ago, as he was registering in a St. Louis hotel, noticed on the register the name Robert G. Ingersoll, (who did not believe in God). He asked for Mr. Ingersoll's room number and rushed up to see him. Upon arriving, he quizzed Mr. Ingersoll: "I wrote you for a debate several months ago, why did you not answer my letter?" Mr. Ingersoll replied, "I did not answer your challenge, because I know you do not believe the Bible any more than I do."
The preacher was insulted at his faith being questioned, and asked for proof. Mr. Ingersoll picked up his Bible and turned to Mark 16:16 and read, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved."
Then he asked the preacher, "Do you believe one must be baptized to be saved?" After some time, the preacher finally answered, "No." Mr. Ingersoll then said triumphantly, "You see? I knew you did not believe the Bible. Why should we debate?"
Those who claim to believe and love Jesus but who will not believe and obey his word are mislead. "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say" (Luke 6:46).
To say one can be saved without being baptized, is to give plain evidence that one does not truly believe the Bible.
There is much proof for this. We read in II Tim. 2:10, that salvation is "in Christ Jesus." That being true, so long as one is out of Christ, he is not saved. The Bible plainly tells us how one enters Christ. "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal.3:27; Rom.6:3).
Men who say there are many faiths and that one is just as good as another do not truly believe the Bible. "There is ONE body, and ONE Spirit, even as you are called in ONE hope of your calling; ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of all, who is above all,and through all, and in you all." (Eph.4:4-6). The word faith here refers to the system of faith, the gospel, and this gospel contains only one plan of salvation. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: No man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6; Matt.7:13,14,21). Those who say that a sinner is saved by faith only do not believe the Bible. "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only" (James 2:24). Some teach that salvation by faith only is a "most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort."
Those who say that sinners do not have to obey Christ (but only believe) would not have grounds to challenge Mr. Ingersoll on his grounds of infidelity. The Bible plainly declares that Christ is the author of eternal salvation to all those who OBEY Him (Heb.5:8-9). To deny that one must obey to be saved is to deny the Bible; and thus declare that one does not believe the Bible. Please read, Matt.7:21; Luke 6:46; II Thes. 1:7-9; I Pet. 1:22-23; Gal.1:6-9.
"If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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