One Way of Salvation by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 20, 1913

One Way of Salvation

By F. M. W.

God has provided one means and one only whereby salvation may be obtained. That one means is through the Lord Jesus Christ. He himself declares: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” “I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no Saviour.”

In answer to the inquiry of the jailer, “What must I do to be saved?” the word was given, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” This acceptance of Christ becomes a transforming power in the heart and life. “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

In offering salvation to the human family God makes no class distinctions. The reason for this is that one great universal malady afflicts the human family. None is exempt or immune from its power. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” “There is none righteous, no, not one: . . . there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” This universal, all-pervading malady of sin requires a universal, all-pervading remedy. To every heart there is needed the application of cleansing power.

Every man needs a Saviour. No soul can fall back upon his wealth, his education, his social position, his royal blood, his godly parentage, or any other consideration whatsoever. “Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me.”

Man has nothing, absolutely nothing, to commend him to God's favor. He possesses a perverted nature, a sinful, corrupt heart, a mind at enmity with God, feet whose natural tendency is to run to evil and destruction. He has no power within himself. He can not create any environment which will change his inherent condition. He may seek by penances and fastings, by scourgings and floggings, by benefactions and beneficences, to obtain the precious boon of righteousness, but all this will not avail.

He can not train himself into holiness. He can not be born into the spiritual life, “of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man.”

There is one power and only one that can come in and take away the enmity of man's natural heart, and remove its corruption and defilement; that can give peace for unrest, cleansing for impurity, strength for weakness, wisdom for foolishness; that can change the current of his thoughts and purposes and motives; that can fill his mouth with blessing instead of cursing, and set his feet in the upward path to life: and that is the recreative power which comes through the acceptance by simple faith of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The life of the one who receives this power will not be fruitless. Good results will follow this union of man with his Saviour. Love will prompt the giving of the body to be burned, if need be, the bestowal of goods to feed the poor; and the service will not be as sounding brass or as a tinkling cymbal, but as a sweet savor, showing forth the excellences and virtues of the indwelling Christ. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

F. M. W.