IMPERATIVE CONFUSION? by steve finnell

Those who deny that water baptism is essential for salvation seem to never exhaust there examples of faulty reasoning.

Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. (NKJV)

Faulty reasoning of the "faith only" proponents explain that since Mark 16:16 does not say he who is not baptized will be condemned, then immersion in water is not required in order to be saved.

Verses of Scripture do not require that the consequences of ignoring an imperative statement be validated by being included in every verse. Common understanding of language is the only requirement.

If a doctor tells a person if they receive a liver transplant they will live, he does not need to tell that person if they refuse the transplant they will die. Imperatives are understood.

A BIBLICAL IMPERATIVE: Acts 16:25-34 ....30 And he brought them out and said"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"31 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." (NKJV)

Paul and Silas did not have to tell the jailer he would lost if he did not believe. Imperatives are understood.

Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ is an understood imperative in order to be saved.

Being baptized in water is an understood imperative in order to be saved.