Salvation by Grace

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 13, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 18.

Salvation by Grace

WHAT but the power of God can bring a sinner—destitute of all desire to please God—into that condition where it is his meat and his drink—his only great desire—to do the will of God? Is not this what Christ means when he says: "No man can come unto me except the Father which sent me draw him?" Being "carnal" (natural), "at enmity against God, not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be," what part of the work in his conversion and salvation does the sinner perform? If he repents, by what means is it done? If he believes, whence the power to do so, seeing he, in his natural condition of mind, is at enmity against God? Saving repentance and faith spring not up spontaneously in the natural heart. They are sown there by the Holy Spirit, and by it brought forth as means in the salvation of the sinner. So it is emphatically true that "by grace ye are saved"—"by grace I am what I am." Wonderful work of God! Wonderful salvation!—World's Crisis.