The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-07-28

h a S d saliva
tion, 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
.,emission 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
shat if any man had whereof he might
trust in the flesh, he more" In the
second place Cornelius was a very re-
ligious 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
a man given to much prayer. But his
piety, reverence, prayer or even his
repentance 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"
4, Jts does sag most distinctly that "who-
lsoever 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 q good life, but he could ex-
ercise faith in Christ, and this was suf-
ficient for his salvation. Nfcodemus
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 in
Christ. When Paul speaks to the
brutal Roman jailer of Philippi he says
nothing of reformation of life, but tells
him simply to "believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved"
When Philip finds Nathaniel engaging
In prayer, he does not tell him to pray
harder or longer. but brings him to
Christ. The Holy Spirit declares in
Romans 4 IS, ''but to him that worketh
not, but believeth on him that justi-
fieth the ungodly, his faith is counted
for Righteousness" The Gospel Of
John has been written "that we might
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the
Son of God, and that believing we
might have life in his name" While
faith in Christ is absolutely neces-
sary for salvation, it Is entirely suffi-
cient.
Faith in Christ Open to All.
Our text does not pick out any par
ticular class which may have faith In
Christ, but 1t uses the widest word
possible and says, whatsoever believ'
eth In him shall receive remission OF
sins" This wide word is used
throughout all of Scripture. Isaiah
says, "Ho, every one that thirsteth.'
John 3:16 declares, '"That God so loved
the world that he gave his only he
gotten Son, that whatsoever believstf
in him should not perish, but have ever
lasting life" Romans 1 :16 declares
| that the Gospel of Christ sis the power
Of God unto salvation to everyone tina
believeth." And the Bible closes will
the broad invitation for whatsoever will
! to come. No one is shut out. Faith il
| Christ is the simplest thing in thu
| world. It is absolutely necessary, bu
| wholly sufficient for salvation.