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Salvation or damnation depend upon faith and unbelief. No salvation but by faith. Nothing but damnation by unbelief. Faith is the principal saving grace, and unbelief the chief damning sin. No sin can damn without this, and this will damn without any other sin (John 3:18). Where there is not faith, the sentence of condemnation is in full force. Unbelief is the symptom of eternal death. There is nothing but death to be expected where this continues; no hope of eternal life for him who continues in unbelief. He is dead while he lives; in hell while on earth. This being so, it concerns us to know what it is to believe. Faith comprises —

1. Knowledge. If knowledge be not faith, yet there can be no faith without knowledge. Blind faith is good for nothing but to lead people into the ditch. That ignorance is the mother of devotion is one of the principles of the father of lies. Rather, it is the nurse of unbelief. The first step to conversion is to open the eyes, to scatter darkness (Acts 26:18). The first thing God produces in the soul, as in the natural creation, is light. The convert must have a competent knowledge of the mysteries of the gospel — a knowledge more distinct, more convincing, more affecting, than that which he had in the state of unbelief.

2. Assent. As to the principles of the doctrine of Christ, so especially to the following truths.

(1) That he needs a Saviour. Scripture declares this upon three grounds —

(a)  the sinfulness of a natural man;

(b)  his misery;

(c)  his inability to free himself from it.

(2) That Christ is the only all-sufficient Saviour.

3. Reliance upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Not to believe Him, but to believe on Him (Acts 19:4; Romans 9:33; Galatians 3:24; Ephesians 1:15; etc.)Not to give credit to, but to rely on Him. This is the essence, the formality of saving faith. There cannot be justifying faith without knowledge and assent, though there may he knowledge and assent without it; these are as the body to faith, this relying is the soul; without this, knowledge and assent are but a carcase. The devils and hypocrites may have more knowledge, and they may have as firm an assent, but this act is above their reach, and they never attain it.

(Bishop Horne.)

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KJV: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

WEB: He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned.