ON my way home one evening, I noticed that a building (called in this country a church) was brilliantly lighted up, Before I came to it a gentleman touched my arm, and said, "Will you come in to our service at the church?”
"No, thank you," I said.
"I can get you a seat close to the pulpit, if you will come in," said the gentleman.
"No, not to-night.”
"You had better come to-night," said he; "you may never have another opportunity.”
“No, thank you," I said; and I looked up to the Lord to have a word to say to this zealous one.
By this time we had arrived opposite the doors of the' church, and I noticed over the porch these words: "JESUS ONLY.”
I looked at the gentleman, and said, "I see you have 'Jesus only' outside your church, but have you 'Jesus only' inside?”
"Oh, come in," he repeated.
"But tell me, What is the way to be saved from the wrath to come?”
“You must believe in Jesus, enter the church, and lead an upright life.”
“Oh, then," I said, "it is not 'Jesus only.' I must enter the church, and lead an upright life besides. You see it is not 'Jesus only.'”
"No, no; not exactly," he replied.
And so we parted.
This passage came to my mind: "There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:1212Neither 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).) How sad it is, I thought, that they teach in that church that three things are necessary to salvation! We read nothing in the Scriptures about "entering the church," or "leading an upright life," as a means of salvation.
Every believer is a part of the true Church, "the Church of God," and should seek light from the Word of God as to what Christians he should associate with; but this not that he may be saved, but because he is saved. And surely, too, he should lead an upright life. But for salvation Jesus said, "He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24).)
“Jesus ONLY can impart
Peace of conscience, joy of heart;
"Jesus ONLY" can proclaim
Pardon through His blessed name.
“Jesus ONLY" can supply
Constant pleasure, lasting joy;
“JESUS ONLY" can remove
Every thought that makes us rove
“JESUS ONLY"; sweetest plea,
When the soul its state can see;
When its misery it can feel,
"JESUS ONLY" then can heals
“Jesus ONLY" every claim
We can make is in that Name;
Full salvation meets us there;
Elsewhere nothing but despair.