Qualifying God's Word II

Mark 16:14-18
14) Afterward he appeared (externally, publicly) to the eleven as they sat and ate,
and upbraided (dressed down) them with their unbelief (faithlessness, disobedience, negative belief) and hardness of heart (destitution of spiritual perception), because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen .
15) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16) He that believeth (trust, relies and believes) and is baptized (cover wholly with water) shalled be saved (redeemed, pardon); but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Here in vs 14 Jesus appeared to the eleven in person and and scolded them for not believing what they had been told about His resurrection because of their lack of spiritual perception and hardness of heart.

In vs 15 and 16 He tells them to go to all the world and preach the good news to every creature and those that believe and are baptized will be saved and those who don't will be damned or lost for eternity.

17) And these signs (supernatural signification, miracle, wonder, indication) shall follow them that believe ( trust in, commit to God); In my name (Jesus name) shall they cast out devils (supernatural bad spirit); they shall speak (preach, tell, utter, boast, put forth, set discourse) new (refreshed, youthful) tongues (language naturally unaquired);
18) They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick (infirmed, sickly) and they shall recover.

Remember in vs 14 Jesus rebuked the disciples for their unbelief and hardness of heart, vs 15 and 16 He tells them to go to the whole world and preach the gospel.

In verses 17 and 18 Jesus is no longer telling His disciples what they should do but He is telling what those who believe their preaching will do, notice the first part of verse 17) "And these signs shall follow them that believe". It does not say these signs shall follow the desciples it says " them that believe".

There is no fence sitting:

Either you Trust Christ or you don't
Either you believe all of God's word or you don't
Either Obey God or you don't

Recieve the free gift of life given by God through His son Jesus on Calvary's cross.

Have you trusted Christ as your Savior if so, then you are a believer, recieve all that God has for you.

All remarks in quotations have been taken from the Strongs Hebrew/Greek concordance.