So long as men are ignorant of
the Lord Jesus Christ they cannot be saved. It is not enough that men and women
be sincere. They must know Christ as he is revealed in Holy Scripture, or they
will perish in unbelief. Our Lord himself declares, "This is life eternal,
that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast
sent" (John 17:3). In order to have true, saving faith in Christ a man
must have a true gospel knowledge of Christ. GOSPEL KNOWLEDGE IS ESSENTIAL
TO SAVING FAITH (
True faith
knows, acknowledges, and trusts the Lord Jesus Christ in THE SUPREME DIGNITY
OF HIS PERSON. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the infinite, incomprehensible,
eternal Gods who is moved by nothing and touched by nothing. He is also God
incarnates God in our nature, bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, the man
who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, because he was tempted in
all points like as we are, yet without sin.
Faith knows,
embraces, and trusts Christ, receiving THE SALVATION DONE BY HIS PERFORMANCE.
Faith does not, in anyway, accomplish salvation. Our salvation was accomplished
entirely by the work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faith, trusting Christ, simply
receives what he has done as our Substitute. We receive his righteousness, the
righteousness which he performed for us, by faith. We receive redemption and
the forgiveness of sins, that which he purchased by his precious blood, by
faith.
Saving faith
knows Christ as Lord and bows to him in THE SOVEREIGN DOMINION OF HIS
POSITION. Faith submits to the sovereign rule of the sovereign Christ,
willingly. Faith does not rebel against sovereignty, it rejoices it.
True faith knows
Christ and rests in THE SURE DELIVERANCE OF HIS POWER. He cannot fail.
He is able to save to the uttermost all who come to God by him. All power is in
the hands of him who is our Savior. Therefore our hearts safely trust him.