Is Faith Essential? by Editor

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jan 30, 1879

Is Faith Essential?

By Editor

The New York Independent contains the following item:—

"The Jewish Reformer wants some Christian editor to answer the question, 'Does Christianity teach that all men who do not believe that Christ was Messiah will be eternally damned?' The Independent says: 'No. God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him.' Acts 10:34, 35."

If the Independent is correct in its belief it has been most unfortunate in its selection of a text to prove it. Cornelius was instructed by an angel to send for Peter who would tell him what he ought to do. Peter did, indeed, tell him and his associates that the workers of righteousness in all nations are accepted with God; but he did not tell them that this acceptable righteousness could be wrought outside of faith in Christ. To the contrary, he said that "through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." And on their believing, "he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."

Further than this, Peter elsewhere said there is salvation in no other than Jesus, and that repentance and remission of sin is granted in his name. Paul said all men everywhere are commanded to repent. And Jesus said no man cometh to the Father but by himself. We should fear to trust to the theology of the Independent on this all-important point; we think it can only tend to confirm the Jews in their rejection of Jesus as the Christ.