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Rom. 16:26 “HE THAT COMETH”-- “Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that cometh.. .“ (Heb. 11:6). The need for faith to save is generally accepted and understood, but coming is part of faith. Even with faith we can’t get to God without coming, or obeying God’s commands. “POWER TO BECOME” -- “As many as received him, to them gave the power to become.. .“ (John 1:12). Receiving Christ is not enough. We must then “become sons”. He gives us power to become sons in the Holy Spirit’s revelation of the conditions he requires. The effect of the power is complete in our obedience. “THAT YE BELIEVE” -- “This is the work of God..’ (John 5:29). There is no conflict or contrast between faith and work--God’s work. Jesus said faith is a work. When we believe in Christ, we perform a work of God and thus are saved by works as well as faith. “REPENTANCE SHOULD BE PREACHED. ..‘ (Luke 24:47) -- John the Baptist preached repentance as did Jesus. He commanded the apostles to preach it as well as others. The very essence of the gospel is to change lives as well as to save souls. Peter said, “Repent and turn” (Acts 3:19). Paul said, “Godly sorrow worketh repentance” (II Cor. 7:10). So the sorrowful heart works toward a change of life--repentance. WE ARE BAPTIZED into the body (I Cor. 12:13), into Christ (Gal. 3:26), where we are reconciled to God (Eph. 2:16), and saved (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; I Pet. 3:21). Frank Driver
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