Nearly 2000 years ago, Jesus said, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:16) To the simple, unbiased, and unprejudiced mind, Jesus' statement is clear and easy to understand. It is as easy to understand a doctor's statement, "He who eats his food and digests it will live; but he who does not eat will die." All of us would know that unless we eat and digest, we will die. However, for those who have allied themselves with human creeds, and have been depraved with worldly wisdom, Jesus' simple statement becomes confusing and contradicting. Although the Bible ALWAYS places water baptism (in Jesus' name) before salvation, men have sought ways to undermine His authority and confuse the simplicity of our Lord's teaching.
For example, the Atheist would say, "He who believes and is baptized will NOT be saved." He rejects God's existence and the Bible's authority. Unbelievers believe there is no God; yet, to prove such a position, the unbeliever himself would have to be "God." For one to know that there is no God, he would have to be everywhere, see everything, and know everything! Jesus had the Atheist in mind when he said, "he who believes not shall be condemned," and again, "he who does not believe is condemned already." (John 3:18) Truly "the fool has said in his heart 'There is no God.' " (Proverbs 14:1)
UNIVERSALIST'S VIEW
The Universalist approaches the Scripture with the biased belief that God is a God of love only, and therefore, He can never condemn anyone. Universalists say, "He who believes NOT and is NOT baptized shall be saved." While such a faith accepts the actuality of God, it rejects His word and leaves, nonetheless, a corrupt and misguided picture of Deity. Warning: "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him, the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day." (John 12:48)
The Catholic comes along and teaches, "He who believes NOT and is baptized shall be saved." I say this as a former Catholic, who was sprinkled as a baby. Catholics baptize babies because of the erroneous belief that they inherit sin (Ezekiel 18:20); however, Bible baptism was NEVER administered to babies. Jesus taught that babies are safe (Luke 18:15-17). Notwithstanding, subjects of Bible baptism must first believe (see again Mark 16:16); but faith comes by hearing the word of the Lord (Romans 10:17). How can babies believe when they cannot understand the word of the Lord? Can they also confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus (Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:9, 10; Acts 8:37)? False doctrine causes people to believe unbelievable things.
The Baptist says, "He who believes and is NOT baptized shall be saved." But is that what Jesus said? Is it Deity's view? No amount of human manipulation will change the eternal truth in Mark 16:16. Beware of all these "NOTS." They are formulated by men, in the devil's "tale" to cheat you out of your soul.
JESUS' VIEW
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:15,16)