A contradiction of Mark 16:16?
No..
(Mar 16:16) KJV: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Notice the later part of this verse. Being damned is conditioned on not believing. Not on 'not getting water baptised'
Often we can put a verse into it's opposite and think it is true. For eg.. 'He that believeth and is not baptised shall not be saved.'
The problem is.. this is false logic. Not everything put in opposite of a positive statement is true. Just compare Mark 16:16 with John 5:24, 6:40, 10:28, Romans 10:9-10. Where is the weight of scripture? What is it saying? Do you establish a doctrine of water baptism for salvation based on a few verses.. or the full weight of scripture?
Same goes for Acts 2:38
Act 2:38 KJV: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
This is ONE verse of a few that have baptism being put with remission (forgiveness) of sin.
Key question: Who is Peter talking to?
Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
What were they called to do first? Get water baptised?
No-- repent.. having a change of mind, heart from God.
The other part of this..is being baptised in the name of Jesus 'for' the remission of sin.
In English grammar.. you can be given something 'for' an illness.
So.. you get water baptism 'for' the fact of already having remission of sin. Now.. so you will say I am just interpreting this to match my own wishes.. but what does the full weight of scripture say about eternal salvation? How many verses.. again.. have not water baptism in them.. but are about receiving eternal life?
(Mar 16:16) KJV: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Notice the later part of this verse. Being damned is conditioned on not believing. Not on 'not getting water baptised'
This does not make sense for all it has to mention is he that believes not shall be damned, and does not have to mention water baptized, for if a person does not believe then of course they are not going to get water baptized.
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Jesus said water and the Spirit.
1Pe 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Chris.
Here it says water baptism does save us, and it is talking about water relating it to the flood where eight people were saved by water.
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.
Water baptism is being planted together in the likeness of Christ's death, and if we do that then we will also be in the likeness of His resurrection.
Water baptism is not to show to an outward faith, or to belong to a Church, but it is to identify with the death of Jesus in which He was buried.
You cannot cut out the middle man for we must identify with the man Christ Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection, by repenting of our sins, being water baptized, and receiving the Spirit.
Water baptism is part of the salvation plan of God.
1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.
They say oh but water baptism is a work, and we are not saved by works, but the Bible says it is the work of faith, for everything we do and think is a work.
It is a work to confess Christ, and to have faith.
Paul said Charity is greater than faith, and faith works by love.
Paul said if they do not have charity, love in action, works, then they are nothing, and they have erred from the faith, so Paul advocates works after a person receives the Spirit, and if no works of love then they have no faith.
Which James said if they do not have charity then their faith is dead, which a person is justified by works, and not faith alone.
John sad if they do not have charity then the love of God does not dwell in them.
So do not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed, works, and truth.
Paul, James, and John, all say the Christian is to have works or they have no faith for love is greater than faith.
We are not saved by works, but by faith, when we first confess Christ for that is all we can do, but when we receive the Spirit then we have to have works or our faith is void.
People say we are saved by only believing, and confessing Christ, but to confess Christ has certain behaviors, and deeds that go along with that, and if not then their confession does not count.
2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
1Co 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
1Co 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.
Those that name the name of Christ have to depart from iniquity because love does not think an evil thought, and does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth to abstain from sin by the Spirit, and love is the fulfilling of the law, and love is greater than faith.