The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-12

shall be told thee was the reply. Ar
rived at Damascus. Anannias said to him,
why Earliest thou? Arise and be bap-
tised, calling on the name of the Lord
Third Example Acts 2:37,39. Here
three thousand ask, what shall we dor
Peter answers them by saying. Repent
and be baptised. every one of you. in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
SINS"
We have now three typical examples.
The same question is asked bnt different
answers given. Does the bible contradict
itself? Is the question answered "On the
spur of the moment" and to suit the ca,
price of the speaker? Or can they be har
mOnized and found consistent? Mr..
Wright then related an incident in his
early ministry. He had gone out into the
mountains of Kentucky to preach. He
asked the class>mate he was visiting,
How far is it to the church," Eight
miles, was the answer. They started on
horseback. Unaccustomed TO this, after
q time he asked, "How far?" -Four
miles" Still later, more anxlously, How
far?' Just over the hill yonder, say
half mile Now here is the same guess
ton asked by the same person of the
same man and every answer different yet
true. How SOP We were getting nearer
all the time. So in the examples given
| from the bible. The answer given was in
harmony with the circumstances. Note
this. The jailer was en- unbeiever and
his first duty was to believe. SO the
apostles preached the gospel to him and
his family. Believing their gospel and
penitenlly washing the stripes on the
apostles backs. he and all his are bap
tized the same hour Of the night. Here
are, |. faith, 2, penltance; 3. BAPTISM 4,
| remi ssion of sins.
Take the case on Pentecost. (Acts O. }
| Hearing Peters words they believe and
crying but are told to Repent and be
baptized for the remission of sins" Here
we have, 1, faith; ,, repentance; 3; bap-
tism; 4, remission of sins.
Take Paul's case, (Act 22) He see
the Lord and (1l believes. Then (2l, peni
tent, he goes into Damacus and is told tC
be (3) baptized, calling on the name Of
the Lord, (4) receiving pardon of sins.
Ia all cases of conversion after the Civ
ing of the great commission, these ele
ments are all found and in the order men
toned.
To answer the question asked l woult
say to the unbeliever, believe; to the be
lever. repent; TO The penitent believer, b
baptized, calling on the name of TIL
Lord. All steps are necessary. Begir
where you are, Obut go on until full obed
fence has been rendered. If | say "Onl
believe On the Lord Jesus" am untrue
to Bible teaching.
| If Christian man asks the question
say. add all the Christian graces ODE
God fully and you will be saved eter
nally
Ii from backslider comes this ques
ton say, as Paul said to Simon Act.
1913 "a Repent therefore of this tn
wickedness and pray God if perhaps tn
thought of thine heart may be forgiven
thee
| In all this there must be faith wit
all the heart" repentance, genuine an
deep; baptism, sincere and actual, calm
on the name of the Lord in prayer.
| To any inquirer, Mr.. Wright added
| urge a study of the Book of Acts. TAX
all the cases there recorded and ODE
fully every command and follow ever
example. Say of no command of Goo
1T is nou-essential. Ask what doe
God commando not What do me
deem needful" Surrender to His guit
ance, There and there alone is safety.