James is teaching in chapter 2 if faith alone or faith and works save!
James 2:14
What does it profit brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith(without works) save him?
James 2:14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Once again this is about a church voicing faith in God's Providence to the poor to get out of helping the poor. That is what is meant by what does it
profit the poor when the church refuse to lead by example by meeting their immediate needs.
It is not about faith in Jesus Christ for salvation but how that church's verbalizing their faith in God's Providence to the poor that will not profit the poor nor save the poor from the elements and starvation. In the eyes of the poor, the church's faith in God's providence is dead.
James referred to Abraham and Isaac as to what kind of faith he waa stalking about that requires works as leading by example.
Genesis 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said,
My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.
The name of the place is the moral lesson from real life about having Abraham's faith in Gd to provide for him to spare him from offering his son.
Mark 16:15-16 is water baptism not Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit baptism was promised, Luke 24:49,
Behold I send the PROMISE of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.
Never anywhere in the Bible is Holy Spirit baptism commanded.
And yet you just referred to the promise from the Father for when any one believes in Him. You do not see it as an automatic thing wen someone believes and thus is baptized and in contrast, it is only those who do not believe that are not saved.
Look at John 3:18 for how those who believe are saved without mentioning water baptism and those who do not believe were condemned already. The reason the baptism with the Holy Ghost is not mentioned here is because Jesus was answering Nicodemus question as to when and how one is born again of the Spirit which was to be after His ascension which is after His crucifixion for whenever any one that believes in him gets eternal life.
John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
So you are only assuming the baptism in Mark 16:16 is water baptism when it is really the baptism with the Holy Ghost as in born again.
Holy Spirit baptism is done to man directly by God, no other men baptize men with Holy Spirit baptism,
Acts 2:1-3
Right and the act that the Gentiles had received the remission of sins by believing in Jesus Christ and thus had received the baptism with the holy Ghost way before water baptism proves it is not necessary for salvation.
Acts 10:43
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
In Matthew 28:19 Jesus commands His disciples to do the baptizing. They(men) were commanded to baptize other men. That is only done with water baptism,
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19 is the great commission just as Mark 16:15-16 is the same commission of Jesus.
Thank you for sharing that but not all cross references mean the same thing as one can preach the gospel and those who hear can believe and be saved as born again without water baptism.
Paul himself deferred from water baptism as he emphasized the preaching of the cross and those believing in Him are saved as that is the power of God in salvation to save those that believe.
1 Corinthians 1:17
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words,
lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;
but unto us which are saved it is the power of God..... 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God,
it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Paul again emphasize how faith comes by hearing the gospel as believing in Him is how we are saved.
Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Jesus is the Savior for why having believed in Him is how God is pleased in having saved us.
Water baptism is for new believers in taking the first step in identifying as His disciples publicly. It is an ordinance as well as a commandment for new believers to follow as His disciple. His disciples are to teach them everything He has taught them after water baptizing them in His name per Matthew 28:18-20. May God cause the increase.
