and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father"." We must not be "ashamed of the cross of Christ ";" for "if we deny Him, He will deny usb." "Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father." "Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess, before the angels of GOD; but he that denieth me before men, shall be denied before the angels of God"." "Whosoever shall be ashamed of me, and of my words of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He shall come in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels "." "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of GOD, GOD dwelleth in him, and he in GOD f." "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." But, although "repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ "," are essential requisites on the part of a Christian, since "without faith it is impossible to please GOD;" although by being "baptized into Jesus Christ we are baptized into His death;" although "with the mouth confession is made unto salvation'," yet these "principles of the doctrine of Christ m" will not of themselves suffice; for, if we repent, we must also "bring forth fruits meet for repentance";" if we have faith, we must "add to our faith virtue," for "faith without works is dead." If we have been baptized, we "should walk in newness of life," for, "whosoever is born of GOD doth not commit sin"." If we name "the name of Christ," we should "depart from iniquity," for " he that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liart;" "hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments"." If we profess to love Christ, we should keep His commandments, for He hath said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments"; "if any man love me, he will keep my words." If we honour Christ with our lips, our heart must not be far from Him, or in vain shall we worship Him. In vain shall we "preach Christ crucified," if by our misdeeds we "crucify the Son of GOD afresh, 99 Matt. iii. 8. Acts, xxvi. 20. 2 Peter, i. 5. P James, ii. 26. X and put Him to an open shame.” “What doth it profit, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him 9" "The tree is known by its fruit b." "Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fired." "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." mitteth sin is of the devils." seen GOD"." "He that com "He that doeth good is of GOD, but he that doeth evil hath not "Whoso doeth not righteousness is not of GOD." "Whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of GOD perfected; hereby know we that we are in Himk." "This is the love of GOD, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not grievous; for whatsoever is born of GOD overcometh the world, and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." "Whatsoever we ask we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His "Let sightTM" Christ" is the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him"." your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works "." "Awake to righteousness and sin not P." 66 Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven." "Know ye not, that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of GOD"?" "For the wrath of GOD is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness." “For, if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appeart?" Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven"." "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say w?" "Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” "He that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath doney." "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments";" for "he that doeth the will of GoD abideth for ever"." "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ"." The Lord shall "reward every man according to his works;" He "will render to every man according to his deeds: to them, who, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life; but, unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil." It is evident, then, that the mere avowal of our belief that Christ is the Son of God, and that He is the Saviour of the world, and the mere confession of our sins, amount to a denial of Him, if we do not obey the Gospel which He hath given us. For "this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil e." "For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandments delivered to them f;" "for if, after they have escaped the pollutions a 1 John, ii. 17. b2 Thess. i. 7, 8. Matt. xvi. 27. d Rom. ii. 6-9. f 2 Peter, ii. 21. |
