Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1916-07-21

$$s$::$ &sS l John SO. 1t is
- =-=====s=a=.=zzesSe=AA not the church.
nor the minister, nor any company
Of men the sinner is to believe, but
| it is God himself as he speaks con-
corning his son. There might possibly
be some hesitation in believing what
man would say, but there can be no
hesitancy in accepting the testimony
of such a credible witness as God.
The sinner is asked to believe none
except the God of the Scriptures. Then
another question is Immediately
asked, viz:
What Am | to Believe?
Gods own answer to this is che
that believeth not God hath made him
u liar; because he believeth not the
record that God gave his son. And
this is the record that God hath given
to US eternal life, and this life is III
his son" John $40, II. That record
is the gospel concerning Gods son.
Jesus Christ, who was delivered for
our offenses, who died for our sins
according to the Scriptures, who his
own self bare our sins in his own body
on the tree, and who was raised from
the dead the third day according to the
Scriptures. This is what God declares
concerning his son, and this is what
the sinner must believe in order to
have Gods gift of eternal life. l am
to believe, on the authority Of Gods
own testimony, that Christ died for
my sins and that he rose from the
dead and ever liveth to make interces'
sion for me.
The questioner asks a third ques,
ton, viz:
Why Am to Believe?
Because God commands it. And
this is his commandment, that we
should believe on the name of his son,
Jesus Christ" John 1928. Again, be
cause a refusal to believe is the same
as calling God liar-'he that be.
lieveth not God hath made him liar"
I John $40. Again because it is the
| only way to please God-"for without
faith it is impossible to please him."
Heb. 11:6. Again because the refusal
| to believe seals ones own doom. HE
that believeth shall be saved and he
that believeth not shall be damned"
Nix. 1916.
Still another question is asked, viz:
Gods answer to this question is
very direct, for he says, "Now is the
accepted time, behold today is the day
of salvation" II Cor. 6:2. Again, he
says, To-day if We will hear his voice
harden not your heart" Heb. 81. We
are continually warned not to procras-
innate, Boast not myself of tomor-
row for thou knoWest not what day
may bring FORTH" Prov. 27:1. mot
| today" has brought many a soul to cry
ITO late" Many will seek to enter
in and shall not be able when once
the master of the house has risen up
and hath shut to the door," Nix. 1924,
25 Not tomorrow, but today is your
day of salvation.
Another question is then asked,
viz:
May Believe as ! am?
God answers this by saying, Him
that cometh unto me will in no wise
cast out" John 6:37 ITO him that
worketh not but believeth on him that
justifeth the ungodly his faith is count
ed for Righteousness" Rom. 40. Again
he says, "Whosoever will may come
and take of the water of life freely"
Rev. 22:17. The only class who can
! be saved is sinners. If one waits to
| become good before believing that,
one will never be saved. The sinner
| is to believe just as he is-good, bad
or indifferent.
But another question is asked:
Can | BE Saved If Don't Believe?
AS we listen God replies, without
faith it is impossible to please him."
Heb. 11:6. When Peter stood before
the leaders in Jerusalem they suggest.
| ed practically the same question and
the reply was then and still is, Meth
'er is there salvation in any other for
| there is none other name under heaven
1
given among men whereby we must
be saved" Acts 4:12. HE that be-
| lieveth not shall be damned" Nix.
| 1915. There is none saved except
through faith for by grace are We
saved through faith" Eph. 2:8.
One last question is asked, viz:
Can Be Lost If Do Believe?
And to this God answers, Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou
shalt be saved" Acts 1851. HE that
believeth on the son is not con-
| damned" John 3:1S. He that believ-
eth hath everlasting life and shall not
come into Judgment, but is passed
from death unto life" John SPA. If
any believing soul is lost Gods word
will be found to be untrue and God
| himself false witness.