November 22

Neither is there salvation in any other. - Acts 4:12.

HOW important it is for us to know what is our spiritual state! This knowledge is not only desirable, but it is absolutely necessary. Without this knowledge it would be impossible for us to see the beauty of the gospel, or ever to be sensible of the evil of sin or the excellency of purity, or to relish the privileges of the righteous. Yea, the gospel, without this knowledge, would be repulsive to us; it would be like offering alms to the wealthy, or pardon to the innocent. Nor need we be afraid of knowing what our condition is,-of knowing what we are and what we deserve; but we should be concerned to avail ourselves of this knowledge, that we may seek after the relief provided. It is indeed absolutely necessary for us to know how we must be saved, lest we should incur the guilt of the man who built his house upon the sand, instead of placing all our hopes upon that rock which God has laid in Zion.

Christ is the only ark in which we can be preserved; if we enter into this, we shall be saved. Some have vainly asked, Is there any other way? If there be, it is either secret or revealed: if secret, nothing can be known or said about it. The apostle here expressly declares, what all Scripture abundantly confirms, that there is salvation in none other than in Jesus. Hence we read, “Help was laid upon one that is mighty;” and no man cometh unto the Father but by Christ. “Other foundation can no man lay than is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Let us therefore turn away from every thing else, and look only and entirely to him. Let us look for all we hope to Him upon whom the Almighty has laid help, remembering the language of the apostle:-“To him that worketh not, but believeth on him who justifieth the ungodly, his faith shall be accounted unto him for righteousness:” as much as if he should have said, “Leave off building your edifice, which will not shield you from the storm of divine wrath, and flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before you in the gospel.” “Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? [that is, to bring Christ down from above:] or, Who shall descend into the deep? [that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.] But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart; that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation;” for the Scripture saith, “Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” There is salvation in none other than in one almighty Deliverer. He is the sinner’s Saviour, in whom we are blessed with “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.”