Christianity, it might then be performed without any difficulty or self-denial. But to " believe on the Son of God" is, to believe, that he is the only, and the all-sufficient, Saviour of our ruined race. If we do not feel our need of him ; if we be not convinced that we can never obtain salvation by any works of our own ; if we do not make earnest application to him at a throne of grace ; and if we do not trust altogether in his blood and righteousness, we cannot believe aright. This, and nothing less than this, is the condition of our acceptance with God.]
Nor is there any other condition so suitable as
this —
[We may be ready to think that the performance of good works were a much fitter condition than faith. But if salvation were by works, no flesh living could be saved ; because no man ever has kept, or ever can keep, the whole law of God. Nor should we be at all more safe, if sincere obedience were the term of our acceptance ; because as no man has perfectly fulfilled the law, so no man has done all that he might have done ; in many instances we might have mortified our sinful dispositions more, and approved ourselves more diligent in the discharge of our duty. Besides, if we were saved by any works of our own, we should have whereof to glory, and might ascribe, even in heaven itself, the honour to ourselves. Whereas the appointment of salvation by faith secures happiness to the most unworthy, if really penitent; and necessitates all to give the glory of their salvation to God alone.]
The Baptist having thus made known the condition of our acceptance with God, proceeds to declare,
II. The state of those who comply with it —
About this, which might have been thought a du- bious point, no doubt whatever is expressed. The believer has,
1. A title to eternal life —
[There is not any title whatever to an earthly inheritance so secure as that which the believer has to heaven. He has the promise of Jehovah. He has a covenant sealed with Emmanuel's blood, and confirmed with the oath of God him- self— and, provided he can appeal to God respecting his un- feigned reliance on the Lord Jesus Christ, he may put in his claim even at the bar of judgment, and demand, if we may so speak, all the glory of heaven as his unalienable inheritance. God hath said, " He that believeth shall be saved ;" and if we only prove our performance of the condition, we need never doubt the fulfilment of God's promise.]