their own good works, but only through God's loving kindness in Christ Jesus; for it is impossible for a sinful man to win salvation for himself by his own merits and good works. Hence it is written in the holy Scriptures: 'What ¹ saith the scripture? And ² Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.' One who truly believes in the Lord Jesus Christ is by that faith saved. He does good works after that, not in order thereby to obtain salvation, but because, having received salvation, he loves God and longs to walk worthy of his holy calling. Love and gratitude are more efficacious for good than fear of punishment and longing for reward. Salvation cannot be purchased from God, for it is priceless; if anyone would obtain it he must accept it as a gift, as it is written: 'The ² wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.' Hence it is written: ' By ⁴ the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight . . . . But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that

believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, by his blood, to shew his righteousness . . .that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus.' Accordingly in another passage it is written concerning those who truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ: 'By ¹ grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, that no man should glory.'

Therefore whoever with all his heart believes in the Lord Jesus Christ and accepts him as the only Saviour and Mediator, that man's sins are forgiven through and on account of his faith alone. This man is thus delivered from sin, from God's wrath against sin, and from the fear of hell, the thought of which previously filled his heart with terror and his soul with unrest. He is now filled with the consciousness of God's approval and acceptance; and the knowledge that he has done nothing to deserve this grace, mercy, and love, and that salvation is God's free gift in Christ, renders him truly grateful to his heavenly Father. He now enters into participation in the spiritual experience of David, and can say with him:—

Like ² as a father pitieth his children,
So the Lord pitieth them that fear him.