Rather, “condemned.”

It is worthy of note that if any receive condemnation, it is because of disbelief. Baptism is not here referred to, one way or the other, for the inward reality of salvation far transcends in importance the outward token. Lack of baptism would simply be an outward token of an inward disbelief, which disbelief, of itself, is sufficient to bar a man from the blessings of salvation. Perhaps Jesus here foresaw that—as in the case of the thief on the cross—there would be instances in which truly converted men and women would be unable to receive the rite of baptism.

 Here are presented two requirements made of those who accept the gospel proclamation—faith in Jesus, and baptism. The first is the inward acceptance of the salvation so graciously provided by the vicarious death of the world’s Redeemer; the second is the outward token of an inward change of life (see on Rom. 6:3-6).