[September 10th, 1876.]
So far as we know, the redemption of man, i.e., delivering him from the guilt and power of sin—is the greatest work in the history of the universe—the greatest as a manifestation of the glory of God.
It is greatest also as to the difficulties to be surmounted. These difficulties were objective and subjective, i.e., those outside of man and subject of redemption, and those arising from the natural state of man.
The objective—From the justice of God—from his holiness—from his benevolence.
The subjective—i.e., the destruction of the evil principle and the control of the good principle.
The Bible teaches concerning this,
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That it is a continuous process—not like justification.
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It is a difficult process. It is a work—it is a conflict—a race—a dying —a long and painful process. A man in a fever or in consumption is often months and months in dying. So the believer is not months but years and years in dying to sin; i.e., in becoming free from its influence, as those in their graves are dead to the world.
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This is our work. We must repent, and believe. It is we that must renounce the world, the flesh and the devil. No man wins a battle or a race without exertion, neither does he gain the victory over an enemy sitting still. He has his part to do in working out salvation, etc.
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It is a supernatural work.
This means, a. That it is not a process of moral culture. b. It is a work for which the power and ability comes from above. c. It is a work carried on by supernatural means, as taught in Eph. 6.
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It is by faith. We are sanctified by faith. How? a. By accepting Christ as reconciling us to God. b. By believing in the love of God. c. By deriving our strength from Him. d. By continually looking to Him.
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It is an absolutely necessary work.
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