Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

October 5– Evening

by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“The one who believes and is baptized will be saved.”

—Mark 16:16

A certain preacher asked a group of people how a person is saved. An old man replied, “We will be saved if we repent, forsake our sins, and turn to God.” “Yes,” said a middle-aged woman, “and with a true heart, too.” “Indeed,” said a third person, “and with prayer”; “and,” added a fourth, “we must be diligent, too, keeping the commandments.” Each one there added his or her two cents, feeling that a very decent creed had been made up, and then they listened for the preacher’s approval.  But, instead, they had aroused his deepest pity.

The fleshly mind always maps out for itself a way in which self can put forth effort and become great, but the Lord’s way is quite the reverse. Believing and being baptized are no matters of merit to be gloried in– they are so simple that boasting is excluded. Free grace is always received with empty hands.

Dear friend, is it possible that you are not saved? If so, what is the reason? Do you think this description of salvation is unclear? How can that be when God has made it clear and certain? Do you think it is too easy? Then, why don’t you do it? Its ease leaves those without excuse who neglect it.

To believe is simply to trust, to depend, to rely upon Christ Jesus alone. To be baptized is to submit to the ordinance which our Lord fulfilled at the river Jordan, to which those saved on the day of Pentecost submitted, and to that which the Philippian jailer received the very night of his conversion. The outward sign of baptism does not save but declares our trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

Friend, do you believe in Jesus? Then, dismiss your fears, and you will be saved. If you still do not believe, then remember there is but one door, and, if you will not enter by it, you will die in your sins. [M&E]