worshippers of the false goddess Diana。 But all this he passes over
pletely。 He seems to think that this would only partially describe
their state。 So he draws a picture； of which the very first feature is
the expression before us： 〃At that time ye were without Christ。〃
（Ephes。 ii。 12。） Now what does the expression mean？
（a） A man is 〃without Christ〃 when he has no head…knowledge of Him。
Millions； no doubt； are in this condition。 They know not who Christ
isnor what He has donenor what He taughtnor why He was
crucifiednor where He is nownor what He is to mankind。 In short；
they are entirely ignorant of Him。 The heathen； of course； who never
yet heard the Gospel e first under this description。 But unhappily
they do not stand alone。 There are thousands of people living in
England at this very day who have hardly any clearer ideas about Christ
than the very heathen。 Ask them what they know about Jesus Christ； and
you will be astounded at the gross darkness which covers their minds。
Visit them on their deathbeds and you will find that they can tell you
no more about Christ than about Mahomet。 Thousands are in this state in
country parishes； and thousands in towns。 And about all such persons
but one account can be given。 They are 〃without Christ。〃
I am aware that some modern divines do not take the view which I have
just stated。 They tell us that all mankind have a part and interest in
Christ； whether they know Him or not。 They say that all men and women；
however ignorant while they live； shall be taken by Christ's mercy to
heaven when they die！ Such views； I firmly believe； cannot be
reconciled with God's Word。 It is written； 〃This is life eternal； that
they might know Thee the only true God； and Jesus Christ； whom Thou
hast sent。〃 （John xvii。 3。） It is one of the marks of the wicked； on
whom God shall take vengeance at the last day； that they 〃know not
God。〃 （2 Thess。 i。 8。） An unknown Christ is no Saviour。 What shall be
the state of the heathen after death？how shall the savage； who never
heard the Gospel； be judged？in what manner will God deal with the
helplessly ignorant and uneducated？all these are questions which we
may safely let alone。 We may rest assured that 〃the Judge of all the
earth will do right。〃 （Gen。 xviii。 25。） But we must not fly in the face
of Scripture。 If Bible words mean anything； to be ignorant of Christ is
to be 〃without Christ。〃
（b） But this is not all。 A man is 〃without Christ〃 when he has no
heart…faith in Him as his Saviour。 It is quite possible to know all
about Christ； and yet not to put our trust in Him。 There are multitudes
who know every article of the Belief； and can tell you glibly that
Christ was 〃born of the Virgin Mary； suffered under Pontius Pilate； was
crucified； dead； and buried。〃 They learned it at school。 They have it
sticking fast in their memories。 But they make no practical use of
their knowledge。 They put their trust in something which is not
〃Christ。〃 They hope to go to heaven because they are moral and
well…conductedbecause they say their prayers and go to
Churchbecause they have been baptized and go to the Lord's Table。 But
as to a lively faith in God's mercy through Christa real； intelligent
confidence in Christ's blood and righteousness and intercessionthese
are things of which they know nothing at all。 And of all such persons I
can see but one true account。 They are 〃without Christ。〃
I am aware that many do not admit the truth of what I have just said。
Some tell us that all baptized people are members of Christ by virtue
of their baptism。 Others tell us that where there is a head…knowledge；
we have no right to question a person's interest in Christ。 To these
views I have only one plain answer。 The Bible forbids us to say that
any man is joined to Christ until he believes。 Baptism is no proof that
we are joined to Christ。 Simon Magus was baptized； and yet was
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