Part 1: The Christian’s Beginning
Chapter 1-Saving Faith
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16).
These are the words of Christ, the risen Christ, and are the last that
He uttered ere He left this earth. None more important were ever spoken
to the sons of men. They call for our most diligent attention. They are
of the greatest possible consequence, for in them are set forth the
terms of eternal happiness or misery: life and death, and the conditions
of both. Faith is the principal saving grace, and unbelief the chief
damning sin. The law which threatens death for every sin has already
passed sentence of condemnation upon all, because all have sinned. This
sentence is so peremptory that it admits of but one exception—all shall
be executed if they believe not.
The condition of life as made known by Christ in Mark 16:16,
is double: the principal one, faith; the accessory one, baptism; we
term it accessory because it is not absolutely necessary to life, as
faith is. Proof of this is found in the fact of the omission in the
second half of the verse: it is not "he that is not baptized shall be
damned," but "he that believeth not." Faith is so indispensable that,
though one be baptized, yet believeth not, he shall be damned. As we
have said above, the sinner is already condemned; the sword of Divine
justice is drawn even now, and waits only to strike the fatal blow.
Nothing can divert it but saving faith in Christ. My reader, continuance
in unbelief makes hell as certain as though you were already in it.
While you remain in unbelief, you have no hope and are "without God in
the world" (Eph. 2:12). Keep Reading...
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