[Biblemat] S) IS MARK 16:15,16 GENUINE SCRIPTURE? (2)

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is the second part
of this particular study.   Use to the glory of God.

IS MARK 16:15,16 GENUINE SCRIPTURE?  (2)

     Nothing New Or Doubtful In Mark 16: -- Mk. 16:9-20 con-
firms the same truth taught in other passages.  For instance,
let us observe the preaching don under the Great Commis-
sion to see if it is the same or different from Mk. 16.  Mk. 16 
affirms the resurrection of Christ, the gospel must go to all
men, faith in Jesus Christ is essential, baptism is essential,
salvation is received upon the conditions of faith and baptism, and the truth 
of the gospel was to be confirmed by
miracles.

     Let us observe the first preaching under the Great Comm-
ission as recorded in Acts 2.  Peter affirms the following things to be true. 
 Christ is raised (2:22-36).  The gospel is for
all men (vss. 38,39), "every one of you," "unto you, and to
your children, and to all that are afar off".  Faith in Jesus Christ is 
essential (vs. 36).  Baptism is essential (vs. 38).  Sal-
vation or "remission of sins" is received on the conditions of
faith and baptism (vs. 38).  The truth of the gospel preached
by Peter was confirmed by miracles (vss. 22,33,43).  The gos-
pel message and the miracles confirming it to be true are rec-
orded in Scripture.  We do not need a new message or a new
miracle, but we need to preach the gospel in its original puri-
ty, simplicity, and power. 

     There is nothing new or doubtful in Mk. 16.

     The Risen Savior Proclaimed By Mark!: -- If Mk. 16:9-20 is
rejected as fraudulent, Mark's account of Jesus ends on a note of gloom, 
doubt, and confusion.  In (vss. 1-8) the women
who came to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus were start-
led by the open door, the empty tomb, and the claim of an
angel that Jesus was risen.  They then fled from the tomb be-
wildered and trembling, "neither said they any thing to any
man; for they were afraid" (vs. 8).  Those who doubt Mk. 16:9-
20 leave us with an account of Jesus which ends with an un-
confirmed claim He was raised, and the women who followed
Him bewildered in fear.

     The end note in The New International Version says of 
Mark, "His Gospel probably ended at 16:8, or its original end-
ing has been lost."  Neither conclusion is possible.  If the orig-
ingal ending is lost, God's promise to preserve His Word has
failed (1 Pet. 1:24,25).  If Mark's account ended at 16:8, he left
the issue of the resurrection hanging in doubt.

     To the contrary, Mark proclaimed the risen Savior!  In Mk.
16:9-20, Mark shows that the questions and doubts of the dis-
ciples were resolved by overwhelming evidence of the resurr-
ection of Jesus Christ.  Then, Mark records our Lord giving 
these believing disciples the Great Commission:

     "And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel 
to every creature.  He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned."

     Mark ends by showing the power of the gospel at work in
a world darkened by sin, gibving the hope of salvation: "And
they went forth and preached every where, the Lord working
with them, and confirming the word with signs following."

     Under that same Great Commission, we proclaim the same
glad message today.  The world must know the Savior has
come!  yes, Mk. 16:15,16 is genuine Scripture, proclaiming
the hope of the world!   ----- Ron Halbrook in Truth Magazine,
Vol. 51, No. 2, Feb. 2007.
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