Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-07-26

ton, he has spoken of the resur- |
rection of Christ which insures sal |
walton. and then he says that who
soever believeth on him shall receive
remission of SINS
Faith in Christ Necessary.
Cornelius was a very sincere man,
doing the very best he knew how, but
his sincerity was not sufficient. He
was something like Paul, who says
''that if any man had whereof he might
trust in the flesh, he more" In the
second place Cornelius was a very re-
Iigious man for he had conviction of
sin which led him to sorrow for his
sin A reading of the tenth chapter of
Acts would show he had great desire
TO know the way of salvation. He was
also, we are told, man of great piety,
which showed itself in great reverence
and much liberality in the way OF
aims giving. To crown it all he was
man given to much prayer But ms
piety reverence, prayer or even his
reDentance was not sufficient to give
him salvation. Sincerity of purpose
and Christianity are not synonymous;
religion and Christianity are not
SYNONYMOUS. None of these things
which are so much thought of as be-
ing necessary for salvation can ever
take the place of simple faith in Jesus
Christ The Bible does not say "who-
soever repenteth and is reverent and
prays and has desire to be saved, or
is sincere, shall find remission of sins.
1t does say most distinctly that 'who-
soever believeth in. him shall receive
remission of sins"
Faith in Christ Sufficient for Salvation.
The thief upon the cross could not
get down and undo what he had done,
nor make restitution of any kind, nor
could he come down from the cross
and live a good life, but he could ex-
ercise faith in Christ, and this was suf-
fcient for his salvation. Nicodemus
had everything which would recon-
mend him as worthy of salvation, but
his morality and rectitude of character
left him dead in trespasses and in sins
until he exercised simple faith II
Christ When Paul speaks to the
brutal Roman jailer OF Philippi ne says
nothing of reformation of life. but tells
him simply to "believe on the Lore
Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved
When Philip finds Nathaniel engaging
in PRAYER, he does not tell him to pra!
harder or longer, but brings him tt
Christ The Holy Spirit declares IL
Romans 4 IS. "but t. him that worketl
not. but believeth on him that just
fieth the ungodly, his faith is COUNTIES
for rirbteousness'' The Gospel o
John has been written ''that we Nigh
believe that Jesus is the Christ, tn
Son of God, and that believing w
might have life in his name" Wml
faith in Christ is absolutely neces
sary for salvation, it is entirely sun
cient
Faith in Christ Open to All.
Our text does not pick out any pal
ticular class which may have faltn 1
Christ. but it uses the widest wor
possible and says, whatsoever belie'
eth in him shall receive remission {
SINS This wide word is use
throughout all of Scripture. Isaia
says, "Ho. every one that thirsteth
John 8 :16 declares, THAT God so love
the world that he gave his only b.
in him should not perish, but have eve
lasting life" Romans :16 declare
that the Gospel of Christ as the powt
of God unto salvation to everyone tn.
belieyeth.' And the Bible closes wit
the broad invitation for whatsoever wi
to come. No one is shut out. Faith
Christ is the simplest thing in Il
world. 1t is absolutely necessary, b.
wholly sufficient for salvation.
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