Himself, and the consequence of believing, within four verses. It shows the immense importance of faith in the sinner's justi- fication. It is that one thing, without which eternal life cannot be had. — It shows the amazing graciousness of the Gospel, and its admirable suitableness to the wants of human nature. — A man may have been the worst of sinners, but if he will only " believe," he is at once pardoned. Last, but not least, it shows the need of clear, distinct views of the nature of saving faith, and the importance of keeping it entirely distinct from works or any kind, in the matter of justification. Faith, and faith only, gives an interest in Christ. The old sentence of Luther's day8 is perfectly true, — paradoxical and startling as it may sound, " The faith which justifies is not the faith which includes charity, but the faith which lays hold on Christ."
The expression, " is not condemned," is equivalent to saying, "he is pardoned, acquitted, justified, cleared from a-l guilt, delivered from the curse of a broken law, no longer counted a sinner, but reckoned perfectly righteous in the sight of God." The presentness of the phrase, if one may coin a word, should be specially noticed. It is not said, that the believer "shall not be condemned at the last day," but that " he is not condemned." The very moment a sinner believes on Christ, his iniquities are taken away, and he is counted righteous. " All that beUeve are justified from all things." (Acts xiii. 39.)
[ffe....helieveth not... condemned already.] This sentence means that the man who refuses to believe on Christ is in a state of condemnation before God, even while he lives. The curse of a broken law, which we all deserve, is upon him. His sins are upon his head. He is reckoned guilty and dead before God, and there is but a step between him and hell. Faith takes all a man's sins away. Unbelief keeps them all on him. Through faith a man is made an heir of heaven, though kept outside till he dies. Through unbelief a man is already a subject of the devil, though not yet entirely in his power, and within hell. The moment a man believes, all charges are completely wiped away from his name. So long as a man does not believe, his sins cover him over, and make him abominable before God, and the just wrath of God abides upon him.
Melancthon remarks that the sentence of God's condemnation, which was passed at the beginning, " Thou shalt surely die," remains in full force and unrepealed, against every one who does not believe on Christ. No new condemnation is needful. Every man or woman who does not believe, is under the curse, and condemned already.
[Because.. ..not believed.. ..name.... Son of God.] This sentence is justly thought to prove that no sin is so great, and so damning