Question

Question 11:

Do you think that a person who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, while on their way to the baptistry, who is killed in an automobile accident, would not be saved?

Answer:

There is a biblical response to the basic question posed. However, the addition of the automobile accident can cloud our reason if we are not careful.

The basic question is simply: Will someone who has not been baptized, in order to have their sins remitted, be saved?

We will examine the additional variable of the automobile accident in just a moment.

Let's observe Jesus' words on this subject in Mark 16:16

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16

Question: According to the Lord in Mark 16:16, Who shall be saved? Who shall be damned?

Answer: It is a simple thing to be damned. Do not believe.

Answer: It is also a simple thing to be saved. Believe and be baptized.

Believing and being baptized are necessary for one to enter the saved relationship with Christ,

according to Christ. Mark 16:16 The scriptures are clear on this matter.

The Car accident.

But what about the person who is seeking the Lord, who wants to obey this command to be baptized? What about the car accident?!

If we believe God's word, we know this scenario will never, ever, happen. Here is why. There is a biblical example of people traveling to be baptized, who were guided by God, around an obstacle (protected), that would have stopped them from meeting there appointment to be baptized. Most do not realize that this truly happened; but the scriptures provide us with just such an example.

A Baptism in the Red Sea.

The biblical example I speak of is found in Exodus 13:17-18. As the children of Israel were escaping from the Egyptians, the Lord was leading them to their baptism. The Apostle Paul in 1Corinthians 10, teaches us that this (the Israelites passing through the Red Sea) indeed, was a baptism. Let's observe Paul's words.

1. Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2. And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

Let's examine Exodus 13 to see how God led His people away from danger so that they could get to the Red Sea (the baptistry of the Israelites).

17. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:
18. But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

Guarantees from Jesus.

Jesus provided some rock solid guarantees of which we should take advantage.

Jesus, in Matthew 6:33 instructed us to, first and foremost, seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. In chapter 7 of Matthew in verses 7&8, Jesus makes some guarantees concerning our seeking. Here are those guarantees.

7. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

God is not going to allow anything to stand in the way of doing His will. This would include His will that we be baptized to be saved (Mark 16:16). This, however, does not mean He is going to give us endless opportunities. Hebrews 3:7-8

Conclusion: God will lead us safely to do His will if we are seeking Him.

As the Lord protected the Israelites (600,000 men plus their families), from the Egyptian armies and the Philistine armies, as they were traveling to be baptized (Exodus 13); He will protect us also if we are on our way to obey God's instruction to be baptized.

This would apply to every one (Matthew 7:8) who is truly seeking Him.