Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 120, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 May 1916 — Questions of Man Replies by God [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Questions of Man Replies by God

By REV. B. B. SUTCLIFFE

Extension Department Moody Bible -- Institute of Chicago

TEXT—Only believe.—Mark 5:36. Suppose a minister is preaching on the word “believe.” A member of the

audience suddenly begins to ask question and the minister answers in words from the Scripture. Tie., first question is: Whom Am i to Believe? "If we receive the witness of man the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of Godi which he hath testified of his son,” I John 5:6. It isj not the church.

nor the minister, nor any company! of men the sinner is to believe, bntl it is God himself as be speaks con-i cerning his son. There might possibly l be Borne 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 I to Believe? God’s own answer to this la "be that believeth not God hath made hlm> k liar; because he believeth not the ( record that God gave his son. And; this i* the record that God hath given j to us eternal life, and this life is in, his Bon,” I John 5:10, 11. That record is the gospel concerning God’s son,, Jesus Christ, who was delivered for our offenses, who died for our sinoi according to the Scriptures, who his; own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, and who was raised from I the dead the third day according to thei Scriptures. This is what God declares; concerning his son, and this is what' the sinner must believe in order to* have God’s gift of eternal life. I am, to believe, on the authority of God’si own testimony, that Christ died sor 1 my sins and that he rose from the dead and ever liveth to make interces. slon for me. The questioner asks a third ques» tion, viz: . Why Am I to Believe? Because God commands it "AnA this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of bis son, Jesus Christ,” I John 3:23. Again, because a refusal to believe is the same< as calling God a liar —“he that believeth not God hath made him a liar,” I John 5:10. Again because it is the 1 only way to please God —“for without faith it is impossible to please him,” Heb. 11:6. Again because the refusal to believe seals one’s own doom. “He that believeth shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be damned,” Mk. 16:16.

Still another question is asked, viz: God’s 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, be says, “Today if ye will hear his voice harden not your heart,” Heb. 3:7. We are continually warned not to procrastinate, “Boast not thyself of tomorrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth,” Prov. 27:1. "Not today” has brought many a soul to cry “To 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,” Mk. 13:24, 25. Not tomorrow, but today is your day of salvation. Another question is then asked, viz: May I Believe aa I am? God answers this by saying, “Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out,” John 6:37. “To him that worketh not but belleveth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousness,” Rom. 4:5. 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 I Be Saved If I 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 suggested practically the same question and the reply was then and still is, “Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved,” Acts 4:12. “He that believeth not shall be damned,” Mk. 16:16. There Is none saved except through faith for “By grace are y« saved through faith,” Eph. 2:8. One last question is asked, viz: Can I Be Lost if I Do Believe? And to this God answers, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou phalt be saved,” Acts 16:3L “He that believeth on the son is not cohdamned,” John 3:18. “He that beiteveth hath everlasting life and shall not come into Judgment, but is passed from death unto life," John 6:24. If any believing soul is lost God’s word will be found to be untrue and God olmself a false witness. 4 ?