IN answer to a question as to whether men can be saved except through faith in Christ, the Christian Union of December 16, 1886, page 26, says:—SITI January 20, 1887, page 39.1

“According to the Westminster Assembly’s Catechism a knowledge of Christ is necessary to salvation, and those who have never possessed that knowledge are certainly lost. But this opinion is now entertained by very few divines.”SITI January 20, 1887, page 39.2

So then it is “the Westminster Assembly’s Catechism” is it, that declares that “a knowledge of Christ is necessary to salvation”? We thought we had read in the Bible, of Christ, these words: “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. We thought that we had read in the Bible, that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” and that God hath set forth Christ “to be a propitiation thought faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” We thought that we had read in the word of God, that it is the righteousness of Christ alone that avails for the sinner, and that this righteousness is received by faith “even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference.” “To declare, I say, at this time His [Christ’s] righteousness; that he [God] might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:19-26. We have thought all these years that faith in Christ was necessary to salvation, and that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” And now the Christian Union informs us that it is the “Westminster Assembly’s Catechism” that says so. However, whether it be the Bible, or the catechism that says it, or whether both say it, the Union says that “this opinion is now entertained by very few divines.” Again says the Union:—SITI January 20, 1887, page 39.3

“Some hold that an opportunity will be given for such knowledge in another life; others hold that no such knowledge is necessary, and instance the case of Cornelius (Acts 10), the Judgment as described in Matthew 25, and such promises as Isaiah 55:7, and Romans 3:7-10.”SITI January 20, 1887, page 39.4

The case of Cornelius is not well taken in this connection, for to him such knowledge was most certainly necessary. So very necessary, indeed, that an angel was sent from Heaven on purpose to tell him how he could obtain the knowledge. The angel told him to send for Peter, and “he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.” He sent for him. Peter came, and Cornelius said, “Now therefore are we all here present before God.” Peter there preached to him and them “peace by Jesus Christ,” and “the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.” And then they were baptized. Acts 10:6, 33, 36, 43, 44, 48. The other passages referred to are turned just as much awry as this. Romans 3:7-10 reads: “For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” It seems that this is rather cold comfort to give to satisfy men that a knowledge of Christ is not necessary to salvation.SITI January 20, 1887, page 39.5

But more yet, the Union says:—SITI January 20, 1887, page 40.1

“There seems to us abundant scriptural authority for the latter opinion [that a knowledge of Christ is not necessary to salvation], and none for the doctrine that a knowledge of Christ is essential to salvation.”SITI January 20, 1887, page 40.2

No scriptural authority for the doctrine that a knowledge of Christ is essential to salvation! Then what in the world was ever the Scriptures given for? Why was the gospel ever preached to men? If this be so, then why did Christ die at all?SITI January 20, 1887, page 40.3

And the opinion that such knowledge is necessary, “is now entertained by very few divines.” How much further can infidelity go, and still wear the name “Christian,” and its advocates be called “divines”? “When the Son of man cometh shall he find faith on the earth?”SITI January 20, 1887, page 40.4

“That Sunday-Law Petition” The Signs of the Times 13, 3, p. 39.

“Who Has Declared Independence?” The Signs of the Times 13, 4, p. 55.