In an old book (1) I came across a most interesting comment by “Charles Spurgeon (Baptist)”, in an
article he wrote entitled, “Prayer Meeting Address to the Newly Converted.” Spurgeon was, in general,
emphasizing as to conversion, “Do begin so that you may not have to begin over again.” (p.
242). Later, Spurgeon added this most clearly stated comment about conversion:
“One of the first things you have to do in starting for heaven is to confess your
faith. Need I remind you of that word, ‘With the heart man believeth unto righteousness,
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation?’ The whole Gospel-
God forbid that any minister should only preach half of it--the whole Gospel
is this, ‘Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved.’ The two things are put together. People
say to me, ‘Cannot we be saved without baptism?’ I answer, ‘Form your own opinion
about that, but as far as the text puts it the two are joined, and I dare not at
my peril leave anything out.’” (p.243)
With these two biblical quotes so clearly given by Spurgeon from Romans 10:9, 10 and Mark 16:
15,16, I thought you might want to show this to your Baptist friends, asking them what they thought
of Spurgeon's comment about “the whole Gospel”?
I also think of another sermon I have by Charles Spurgeon (2), about Judgment Day, which
he closes in these words:
“Now ye can scoff and jeer; there will be no scoffing and jeering then; you will be
shrieking, howling, wailing for mercy but-
‘There are no acts of pardon passed
In the cold grave to which we haste;
But darkness, death, and long despair,
Reign in eternal silence there!’
O my hearers! The wrath to come! The wrath to come! The wrath to come! Who
among you can dwell with devouring fire? Who among you can dwell with everlasting
burning? Can you, sir? Can you? Can you abide the flame forever? ‘Oh, no,’
sayest thou, ‘What can I do to be saved?’ Hear thou what Christ has to say:
‘Believe thou on the Lord, Jesus, and thou shalt be saved.’ ‘He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved; he that believeth not, shall be damned.’ ‘Come, let us reason
together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as wool;
though they be red like crimson, they shall be whiter than snow.’ (p. 3505)!
And Jesus adds, “Take heed what you hear” (Mark 4:24 AS)!
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(1) Joseph Sanderson, ed., The Pulpit Treasury, Vol.1, August, 1883, No. 4, pp. 242-44.
(2) David J. Brewer, ed., The World’s Best Orations, Vol. 10, Ferd. P. Kaiser, St. Louis, 1901,: Sermon
Title: “Everlasting Oxidization,.” pp. 3500-05