Does the idol have to be removed before you can be saved?

[faceofbear]

Robert, it isn't a response to anything. It's a resting on what is already done. It'd be like if someone places 5 dollars in your pocket and you say, "well, I have to accept it, don't I?" If it's already in your pocket, how do you respond to what has been done? You just believe the 5 dollars is there. And in fact, you don't even think about it, you don't think "Okay, I have to believe or the 5 dollars won't be there." no. It's just there. The Gospel is true whether you believe it or not, but th Gospel is only good for those who believe, and is condemnation to those who don't. If you disbelieve the 5 dollars is there, the money is useless to you. So is the Gospel. It's not a work.

 

[faceofbear]

Ask him what it is he finds makes believing difficult to him. Is it unwillingness to be justified and saved? Is it unwillingness to be so saved by Jesus Christ, to the praise of God's grace in him, and to the voiding of all boasting in himself? This he will surely deny. Is it a distrust to the truth o the gospel record? This he dare not own. Is it a doubt of Christ's ability or good-will to save? This is to contradict the testimony of God in the gospel. Is it because he doubts of an interest in Christ and his redemption? You tell him that believing on Christ makes up the interest in him. If he say that he cannot believe on Jesus Christ, because of the difficulty of the acting this faith, and that a divine power is needful to draw it forth, which he finds not, you tell him that believing in Jesus Christ is no work, but a resting on Jesus Christ; and that this pretense is as unreasonable as that if a man wearied with a journey, and who is not able to go one step farther, should argue, "I am so tired that I am not able to lie down,"when indeed, he can neither stand nor go. The poor wearied sinner can never believe on Jesus Christ till he finds that he can do nothing for himself, and in his believing doth always apply himself to Christ for salvation, as a man hopeless and helpless in himself. And by such reasonings with him from the gospel, the Lord will (as he hath often done) convey faith, and joy, and peace, by believing.

Robert Trail
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