THE human family has sought many ways of salvation. By gods of their own creation, by great systems of human philosophies, by culture and education, by seeking to draw inspiration from their own counterfeit goodness, they have endeavored to obtain righteousness. And not content with seeking salvation for themselves in ways of their own appointing, they have endeavored not only to persuade, but to force, others to follow the same methods. We see great efforts put forth to make men righteous by legislation. All these human and man-made efforts have been utterly and absolutely unavailing, and have served to make none of their devotees one whit more holy.
Only One Way.
There is but one avenue by which man may obtain salvation, and that is in God's own appointed way. When sin entered this world and Adam and his posterity were brought under its thraldom, not one ray of light pierced the gloom and darkness of their despair. So far as man's own action and choice were concerned, the race was wholly given up to Satanic influence, and there was utterly no escape from the prison-house; but God, in His infinite mercy, provides a way of escape. A star of hope appears on the horizon. Jesus Christ offers Himself as a substitute to die in man's stead. He purposes to receive in His own holy person the penalty of the violated law. The substitute is accepted, and Jesus Christ appears as the Saviour of all men.
A Twofold Salvation.
The salvation He provides is twofold in its character: first, a release of the whole human family from the Adamic death, a death which comes from inheritance and nature upon every man. This release will come to the whole human family in the general resurrection of the last day, when all, irrespective of character, are raised from the dead; secondly, upon those who accept Him as their personal and individual Saviour, who take Him as their substitute, He bestows "abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness." These "shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:17.
And so by the power conferred upon Him as the Saviour of the human family, Jesus Christ says to all the world, "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." In recognition of this one salvation thru Jesus Christ alone, the apostle Peter declares, "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Jesus Christ is set forth as the one Saviour of the human family. His power to save lies in the fact that He is God. He saves the human family not in their sin, but from their sin. Said the angel to Mary, "Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins."
Creative Power in Salvation.
His power to save is the power of creation. The conversion of the child of God is but the manifestation of creative power. The psalmist prays, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me," and the apostle Paul declares that "we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works." From the exercise of this creative power, this union of the human with the divine, there results the new man: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." This new man possesses a new mind—the mind of Christ. Phil. 2:5. A new life, even the life of God, is bestowed upon him. Gal. 2:20.
How to Obtain Salvation.
How may the sinner obtain this salvation?—By complying with two simple conditions, asking and receiving. In this is manifest the love of God for His poor, weak children. If Heaven provided that salvation could be obtained only thru education, wealth, or influence, how few of earth's multitudes could come to God! The great unnumbered masses would be shut out from all hope in the life beyond. But God has made the conditions so simple that the poorest and the humblest and the most illiterate may come to Him equally with the mightiest and most learned of the human family. The conditions apply alike to the king on his throne and the serf in the field. The Lord in His tender mercy pleads with His people to come. He frames for us the very words we may employ in coming.
The Invitation.
He says, "O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto Him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously." To this appeal which the Lord puts in the mouth of the sinner, He Himself responds: "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for Mine anger is turned away from him." How could the great God be more gracious! How could He more signally multiply His mercies and magnify His love to the children of men! He holds out the cup of salvation, He offers it to every soul, and all He asks is that each will come and drink.
The Acceptance.
The repentant sinner accepts the invitation of God, and follows the good impulses of the Spirit of God upon his heart. Entirely unable to find salvation elsewhere, he throws himself upon the mercy of his Creator. He confesses his sin, he asks for pardon. By simple, childlike faith he believes that God hears his cry; this brings to him peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Says the apostle Paul, "Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;" and John says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This is the easy, simple way chosen of God by which we may come to Him. It is not by whippings and scourgings; it is not by any man-made methods of righteousness; but by simple, childlike asking and faith in receiving. Who that has not followed this simple way of escape which has been appointed for him will finally stand guiltless before God?
What Salvation Means.
This new life in Christ involves not only salvation in the eternal ages, but salvation in this life. It means salvation to-day. It means new plans and purposes working in the life, new motives as a basis of every action. It means being kept by the power of God; "strengthened with all might according to His glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness." We have little confidence in the highly vaunted but man-made salvation which boasts of holiness and perfection. True righteousness will lead no man to boast of his merit, and yet, notwithstanding this counterfeit which has justly disgusted all except its own votaries, God places before us a standard of righteousness and perfection to which He asks us to attain even in this life. He admonishes us, "Be ye holy; for I am holy." Thru His apostle He says, "My little children, these things write I unto you that ye sin not." God places before us a standard of absolute perfection. The perfect God could place none other standard before His children; yet while God does this, His infinite wisdom knows that His children will many times fall short of reaching His or even their own ideal, and so He adds to the exhortation given above, "And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
The Riches of His Grace.
It is in contemplation of this wonderful mercy that Paul exclaims, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out." And the apostle prays that we "may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and the length, the depth and the height, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge."
Dear reader, will you not accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your perfect Saviour, as One who will save you from sin now, and give to you everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God? He is merciful, He is gracious; He pleads with you to turn unto Him. Thru His grace He has made the way of escape from the meshes of sin so plain and simple that you can not miss the path or fail of success. "To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts."