‘And he said to them, “You go into all the world and preach the Good News to every creature (or ‘the whole creation'). He who believes and is baptised will be saved, But he who disbelieves will be condemned.” '
The risen Jesus repeatedly told the disciples that they had a ‘worldwide' mission (Matthew 28:19; Luke 24:47). They would think mainly in terms of the Roman world. This was confirmation of His words in Mark 13:10. At this stage they would still be thinking in terms of winning Jews worldwide and making proselytes to Christian Judaism, and of baptism as it had been practised by John and themselves. It was only as things unfolded that their direct message to the Gentiles would be appreciated.
‘Preach the Good News to every creature.' This was the Good News of the Kingly Rule of God established through their risen Messiah (Mark 1:1; Mark 1:15). It was to be proclaimed to everyone and included repentance and remission of sins in His name (Mark 1:4; Luke 24:47). Note the continuity with the message of John the Baptiser in Luke 24:47 but given greater significance by connection with Jesus' name. Again the idea would be expanded as the Holy Spirit made clear the truth of the Gospel in fuller measure.
‘Every creature.' This means either ‘every person' or ‘the whole world'. Compare Colossians 1:23. They were to become new creatures as part of a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Romans 6:4).
‘He who believes and is baptised will be saved.' As men believe unto salvation they are to be baptised as a sign that they are partaking in the blessings of the Holy Spirit's outpouring, the fulfilment of the prophetic promises in the Old Testament (Isaiah 32:15-17; Isaiah 44:3-5; Joel 2:28-29). Baptism is assumed for every believer. But it is not the lack of baptism that condemns but the lack of belief. This baptism is to be ‘in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit' (Matthew 28:19). The result of belief and baptism is to be discipleship and obedience (Matthew 28:19-20).
The command to baptise, following belief, would remind the Apostles of how they had baptised in their early days with Jesus. It was the promise that the blessings promised by John the Baptiser would now become apparent on those who believed. The Holy Spirit would be poured out, the wheat would be gathered into the barn, fruitfulness would abound. But note that the belief comes first. Paul would stress that his concern was to proclaim the cross which was the power of God unto salvation to all who, believed, and was content to leave the baptising to others (1 Corinthian Mark 1:14-18). To him baptism was secondary to the saving experience. It was the preaching of the word of power that saved.
As the word spread among the Gentiles baptism would become even more significant for it would be seen by outsiders, and by the man himself, as cutting a man off from his old life and environment and religion and proclaiming to all that he was now Jesus' disciple, serving the living God, dead to his old life and living in newness of life (Romans 6:4).
The mention of baptism in this way may suggest that the baptising ministry had been continued by the disciples throughout the ministry of Jesus (John 3:22; John 4:1-2) although there is no hint of it in any of the Gospels. In support of this possibility is the fact that there is never a suggestion that pre-resurrection disciples be baptised.
‘He who believes not will be condemned.' There is an echo here of the ideas in John 3:18. They will be condemned because they refuse to come to the light. The assumption is that the true light has shone on them but they have rejected it.