In a debate with an elder with the "Church of Christ" (aka "Campbellite"), my father told me of how the elder said "if I told you that this sack of potatoes requires one dollar AND fifty cents you will not get it with only a dollar. Therefore, when the text says you will be saved if you believe And are baptized, you will not get it with faith alone."
In response, let me say these things. I do not believe that the latter verses of Mark 16 were originally written by Mark but added later.
Second, in response to the example given above, let us suppose that the same person later told you that you could have the sack of potatoes for one dollar. Are there not many passages that say it is by faith alone? Why would I say one dollar sometimes and say one dollar and fifty cents another time?
"Whoever believes and lives in Kansas, will be saved, but whoever does not believe is condemned." How would a statement like this require that someone live in Kansas to be saved? A person who says this would most likely be talking IN Kansas. He would basically be saying "To all you Kansans out there who believe, you are saved!" So too is Mark saying "To all of you who have been baptized (a professing part of the church) if you have truly believed you will be saved." This verse in Mark is probably a later addition, but even if it is, it does not add any requirement to salvation. Jesus didnt give the command to be baptized til after His resurrection (Matt 28:19) Any baptism before this wouldve been John's baptism. So it would seem this verse is directed to those who have already been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the church. It almost has the ring of warning to those who are a visible member of the church that baptism WITHOUT belief is useless and will not save you.
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