Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

"He that believeth on my son Jesus shall be saved; and he that
believeth not shall be damned." This is God's ultimate design; this
purpose he will never change; and this he has fully declared in the
everlasting gospel. This is the grand decree of reprobation and election.
He who will not believe till he receives what he calls a reason for it,
is never likely to get his soul saved. The highest, the most sovereign
reason that can be given for believing, is, that God has commanded it.
God has a right to be believed on his own word alone; and it is
impious, when we are convinced that it is his word, to demand a sign or
pledge for its fulfilment.
Is not faith the gift of God? Yes, as to the grace by which it is
produced; but the grace or power to believe, and the act of believing, are
two different things. Without the grace or power to believe no man ever
did or can believe; but with that power the act of faith is a man's own.
God never believes for any man, no more than he repents for him; the
penitent, through this grace enabling him, believes for himself: nor does
he believe necessarily or impulsively when he has that power; the power
to believe may be present long before it is exercised, else, why the solemn
warnings with which we meet everywhere in the word of God, and
threatenings against those who do not believe? Is not this a proof that
such persons have the power, but do not use it? They believe not, and
therefore are not established. This, therefore, is the true state of the case;
God gives the power; man uses the power thus given, and brings glory to
God: without the power no man can believe; with it, any man may.
Christ never says, "Believe now for a salvation which thou now
needest, and I will give it to thee in some future time." That salvation
which is expected through works or sufferings must of necessity be
future, as there must be time to work or suffer in; but the salvation which
is by faith must be for the present moment; for this simple reason, it is by
faith, that God may be manifested and honoured; and not by works or by
sufferings, lest any man should boast. To say that, though it is of faith, yet