Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help you my unbelief. I. THE NECESSITY OF A FULL BELIEF IN THE SAVIOUR. 1. It is necessary as the foundation of all our Christian privileges and blessings. Our Lord continually laid it down as the condition of bestowing His favour; His apostles insisted upon the same holy doctrine. 2. It is clear in the very nature of things: we can do nothing of ourselves, by any independent effort, for our own salvation; we are estranged from God without the means of reconciliation. II. OUR NATURAL INABILITY TO ATTAIN THAT BELIEF AND THE METHOD BY WHICH IT IS CERTAINLY ATTAINABLE. If it required nothing more than the assent of the understanding, it would be clearly within own reach; it implies a disposition to receive all the doctrines of revealed truth, a submission to the law and love of God. It is idle to beseech of God a living faith, when we have no intention to imbibe those principles, to form that character, which a true faith implies. Look at the case of this man: there were no earthly prejudices which he resolved to keep; no earthly hindrances which he desired to set up; all he wanted was further light in his understanding, and a complete conviction in his heart; hence he honestly prayed his prayer to Him, in whose hand was the bestowal of these blessings. III. THE EFFECT AND TRIUMPH OF IT, WHEN ATTAINED. It is the only means by which the enemies of our peace can be vanquished, and we prepared for our crown of rejoicing (1 John 5:4). (J. Slade, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.WEB: Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, "I believe. Help my unbelief!" |
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