“Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” How direct, how pointed, how personal is the Lord’s appeal to the heart in these words. Not, do we, or they, but “dost thou?” The answer too, must be direct and personal. A Yes, or a No. Hesitation, indecision, silence, means no, so far, at least as man is concerned. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10). The righteousness which is by faith of Jesus Christ is for God; the confession of the mouth is for man. Christ is preached for the simplest to believe on Him with the heart, and to confess Him with the mouth. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Here confession is put first; not because it is the more important, for without the heart it would be good for nothing, but because it leads both angels and me to celebrate the praise of Jesus. How often the evangelist turns away with a heavy heart from closed lips – from sullen silence, which alas, too often bespeak an inward fighting against the truth; but how bright His praise, when with a beaming countenance Jesus is confessed as Saviour and Lord.
Again, dear reader, we would press as a parting word, this deeply solemn question, “Dost thou,” for thyself, of thyself, “believe on the Son of God?” Thy eternal interest – the joys of heaven, or the miseries of hell, hang on your yes or no. You must answer for yourself, and answer to the Saviour. Surely there is wondrous love in this appeal. The blessed Saviour, as it were, looks straight in your face, stands before you, reveals Himself to you, and says, “Dost thou believe on Me? Wilt thou believe in thine heart on Me? Wilt thou take up thy cross and follow Me?”
What then, dear reader, will you say, or have you said? Can you adopt the language of the man to whom Christ had given sight? “Lord, I believe;” and so saying, fell at His feet, and worshipped Him?
The Lord in mercy, grant that this may be your happy place, your blessed portion, your eternal joy. How simple it all is! Only believe and praise the Lord; and still praise Him. But you know the direful consequences of unbelief – no Saviour, no salvation, no heaven, no happiness, but banishment from the presence of God and the Lamb, from the holy and the good; and doomed to dwell in the depths of despair, within the barred gates of hell forever and forever. May the Holy Spirit now lead you from the heart to say, “Lord I believe;” and worship Jesus as Saviour and Lord (John 9:3838And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. (John 9:38)):