Mark 16:16 He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned. It may be asked how it can be just in God to condemn men forever for not believing the gospel. I answer: 1. God has a right to appoint His own terms of mercy. 2. Man has no claim on Him for heaven. 3. The sinner rejects the terms of salvation knowingly, deliberately, and perseveringly. 4. He has a special disregard and contempt for the gospel. 5. His unbelief is produced by the love of sin. 6. He shows by this that he has no love of God, and His law, and for eternity. 7. He slights the objects dearest to God, and most like Him. 8. He must, therefore, be miserable.He rejects God, and must go into eternity without a Father, etc. And he has no comfort in himself, and must die forever. There is no being in eternity but God that can make man happy; and without His favour the sinner must be wretched. (A. Barnes, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.WEB: He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned. |
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