Mar 16:18 | KingComments | STEP | The command given by the Lord is very general, without any limitation. It is no longer the gospel of the kingdom only for Israel. The command to go means making a purposeful journey for which we must rise from our personal comforts. The task is to proclaim the gospel as a herald, to speak it, and not just to show it as a “silent witness” through the way of life. They must preach the gospel so that people may come to faith. Those who come to faith must be baptized. Those who believe and are baptized no longer have a share in the judgment that comes over the world. That does not mean that someone who believes but has not been baptized is not saved. Faith and baptism belong together in the way of faith a converted person goes through the world. It has to do with his stay on earth. This is also evident from the end of the verse. It does not say: He who has not believed and has not been baptized will be condemned. The judgment only comes on someone who has not believed. Baptism is an outward matter, an outward confession, which shows what has happened to someone inwardly. Faith and baptism belong together ( ). The Lord attaches certain signs to the preaching. If these signs are there, they are not done by the preachers, but by those who believe! Nor are there any conditions attached to them, for example a special ‘spirit baptism’. Nor does it say that it is to be prayed for, nor does it say that it will happen everywhere, by everyone, and at all times. If it did, it would mean that there are not many believers today, because by far the majority of believers do not perform these signs. Even in Corinth, where there were several of these gifts, not all gifts were exercised by all believers. There it is also stated, for example, what the speaking with new tongues or the gift of speaking in languages is given for and how to use it. The first sign done by those who believe is to be seen in their power over evil spirits. The second sign, the tongues or languages, means that the offer of grace crosses the borders of Israel and addresses the whole world. The proof that these signs have happened can be found in the book of Acts ( ). Only of drinking something deadly we find no example in Acts. However, it is remarkable that these signs in Acts are only done by the apostles ( ). Nowhere in Acts do we read that the believers in Jerusalem, Samaria, Philippi, Corinth, Ephesus, Thessalonica and so on were marked by the signs Mark mentions here. Why do not those signs follow them? Because these signs are not given to all believers to do. That doesn’t mean that God doesn’t or can’t do these wonders anymore. But that is something other than declaring them to be of general validity, as something which, even now, would be the part of all believers.

‏ Mark 16:18

The Missionary Command

The command given by the Lord is very general, without any limitation. It is no longer the gospel of the kingdom only for Israel. The command to go means making a purposeful journey for which we must rise from our personal comforts. The task is to proclaim the gospel as a herald, to speak it, and not just to show it as a “silent witness” through the way of life.

They must preach the gospel so that people may come to faith. Those who come to faith must be baptized. Those who believe and are baptized no longer have a share in the judgment that comes over the world. That does not mean that someone who believes but has not been baptized is not saved. Faith and baptism belong together in the way of faith a converted person goes through the world. It has to do with his stay on earth. This is also evident from the end of the verse. It does not say: He who has not believed and has not been baptized will be condemned. The judgment only comes on someone who has not believed. Baptism is an outward matter, an outward confession, which shows what has happened to someone inwardly. Faith and baptism belong together (Rom 10:9-10).

The Lord attaches certain signs to the preaching. If these signs are there, they are not done by the preachers, but by those who believe! Nor are there any conditions attached to them, for example a special ‘spirit baptism’. Nor does it say that it is to be prayed for, nor does it say that it will happen everywhere, by everyone, and at all times. If it did, it would mean that there are not many believers today, because by far the majority of believers do not perform these signs. Even in Corinth, where there were several of these gifts, not all gifts were exercised by all believers. There it is also stated, for example, what the speaking with new tongues or the gift of speaking in languages is given for and how to use it.

The first sign done by those who believe is to be seen in their power over evil spirits. The second sign, the tongues or languages, means that the offer of grace crosses the borders of Israel and addresses the whole world. The proof that these signs have happened can be found in the book of Acts (Acts 2:4 ; Acts 8:7 ; Acts 9:32-34 ; Acts 28:1-6). Only of drinking something deadly we find no example in Acts.

However, it is remarkable that these signs in Acts are only done by the apostles (Acts 5:12). Nowhere in Acts do we read that the believers in Jerusalem, Samaria, Philippi, Corinth, Ephesus, Thessalonica and so on were marked by the signs Mark mentions here. Why do not those signs follow them? Because these signs are not given to all believers to do.

That doesn’t mean that God doesn’t or can’t do these wonders anymore. But that is something other than declaring them to be of general validity, as something which, even now, would be the part of all believers.