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distinctly told that he had 〃no part or lot in this matter。〃 （Acts
viii。 21。） Head…knowledge is no proof that we are joined to Christ。 The
devils know Christ well enough； but have no portion in Him。 God knows；
no doubt； who are His from all eternity。 But man knows nothing of
anyone's justification until he believes。 The grand question is； 〃Do we
believe？〃 It is written； 〃He that believeth not the Son shall not see
life； but the wrath of God abideth on him。〃 〃He that believeth not
shall be damned。〃 （John iii。 36； Mark xvi。 16。） If Bible words mean
anything； to be without faith is to be 〃without Christ。〃
（c） But I have yet one thing more to say。 A man is 〃without Christ〃
when the Holy Spirit's work cannot be seen in his life。 Who can avoid
seeing； if he uses his eyes； that myriads of professing Christians know
nothing of inward conversion of heart？ They will tell you that they
believe the Christian religion； they go to their places of worship with
tolerable regularity； they think it a proper thing to be married and
buried with all the ceremonies of the Church； they would be much
offended if their Christianity were doubted。 But where is the Holy
Ghost to be seen in their lives？ What are their hearts and affections
set upon？ Whose is the image and superscription that stands out in
their tastes； and habits； and ways？ Alas； there can only be one reply！
They know nothing experimentally of the renewing； sanctifying work of
the Holy Ghost。 They are yet dead to God。 And of all such； only one
account can be given。 They are 〃without Christ。〃
I am well aware； again； that few will admit this。 The vast majority
will tell you that it is extreme； and wild； and extravagant to require
so much in Christians； and to press on every one conversion。 They will
say that it is impossible to keep up the high standard which I have
just referred to； without going out of the world； and that we may
surely go to heaven without being such very great saints。 To all this I
can only reply； What saith the Scripture？ What saith the Lord？ It is
written； 〃Except a man be born again； he cannot see the kingdom of
God。〃〃Except ye be converted； and bee as little children； ye shall
not enter into the kingdom of heaven。〃〃He that saith he abideth in
Christ； ought himself also so to walk； even as He walked。〃〃If any man
have not the Spirit of Christ； he is none of His。〃 （John iii。 3； Matt。
xviii。 3； 1 John ii。 6； Rom。 viii。 9。） The Scripture cannot be broken。
If Bible words mean anything； to be without the Spirit is to be
〃without Christ。〃
I mend the three propositions I have just laid down to your serious
and prayerful consideration。 Mark well what they e to。 Examine them
carefully on every side。 In order to have a saving interest in Christ；
knowledge； faith； and the grace of the Holy Ghost are absolutely
needful。 He that is without them is 〃without Christ。〃
How painfully ignorant are many！ They know literally nothing about
religion。 Christ； and the Holy Ghost； and faith； and grace； and
conversion； and sanctification are mere 〃words and names〃 to them。 They
could not explain what they mean； if it were to save their lives。 And
can such ignorance as this take anyone to heaven？ Impossible！ Without
knowledge； 〃without Christ！〃
How painfully self…righteous are many！ They can talk placently about
having 〃done their duty；〃 and being 〃kind to everybody；〃 and having
always 〃kept to their Church；〃 and having 〃never been so very bad〃 as
someand therefore they seem to think they must go to heaven！ And as
to deep sense of sin and simple faith in Christ's blood and sacrifice；
these seem to have no place in their religion。 Their talk is all of
doing and never of believing。 And will such self…righteousness as this
land anyone in heaven？ Never！ Without faith； 〃without Christ！〃
How painfully ungodly are many！ They live in the habitual neglect of
God's Sabbath； God's Bible； God's ordinances； and God's sacraments。
They think nothing of doing things which God has flatly forbidden。 They
are constantly living in ways which are directly contrary to God's
mandments。 And can such ungodliness end in salvation？ Impossible！
Without the Holy Ghost； 〃without Christ！〃
I know well that at first sight these statements seem hard； and sharp；
and rough； and severe。 But after all； are they not God's truth as
revealed to us in Scripture？ If truth； ought they not to be made known？
If necessary to be known； ought they not to be plainly laid down？ If I
know anything of my own heart； I desire above all things to magnify the
riches of God's love to sinners。 I long to tell all mankind what a
wealth of mercy and loving…kindness there is laid up in God's heart for
all who will seek it。 But I cannot find anywhere that ignorant； and
unbelieving； and unconverted people have any part in Christ！ If I am
wrong； I shall be thankful to anyone who will show me a more excellent
way。 But till I am shown it； I must stand fast on the positions I have
already laid down。 I dare not forsake them； lest I be found guilty of
handling God's Word deceitfully。 I dare not be silent about them； lest
the blood of souls be required at my hands。 The man without knowledge；
without faith； and without the Holy Ghost； is a man 〃without Christ！〃
II。 Let me now turn to another point which I wish to consider。 What is
the actual condition of a man 〃without Christ〃？
This is a branch of our present subject that demands very special
attention。 Thankful indeed should I be if I could exhibit it in its
true colours。 I can easily imagine some reader saying to himself；
〃Well； suppose I am without Christ； where is the mighty harm？ I hope
God will be merciful。 I am no worse than many others。 I trust all will
be right at last。〃 Listen to me； and； by God's help； I will try to show
that you are sadly deceived。 〃Without Christ〃 all will not be right；
but all desperately wrong。
（a） For one thing； to be without Christ is to be without God。 The
Apostle St。 Paul told the Ephesians as much as this in plain words。 He
ends the famous sentence which begins； 〃Ye were without Christ；〃 by
saying； 〃Ye were without God in the world。〃 And who that thinks can
wonder？ That man can have very low ideas of God who does not conceive
Him a most pure； and holy； and glorious； and spiritual Being。 That man
must be very blind who does not see that human nature is corrupt； and
sinful； and defiled。 How then can such a worm as man draw near to God
with fort？ How can he look up to Him with confidence and not feel
afraid？ How can he speak to Him； have dealings with Him； look forward
to dwelling with Him； without dread and alarm？ There must be a Mediator
between God and man； and there is but One that can fill the office。
That One is Christ。
Who art thou that talkest of God's mercy and God's love separate from
and independent of Christ？ There is no such love and mercy recorded in