Page 153 - Racing Toward Judgement
P. 153
with that tender conscience and left it in a state of
gloom and fear. The marvelous effect of salvation is the
mysterious healing of the conscience.
Yes—without Christ, you are a rebel, and you don't
deserve pity: you have a will and can be held accounta-
ble for your own sin. There is no such thing as a "help-
less sinner." You are not responsible for the sin of
Adam and Eve; you are responsible for your own. The
Gospel is bad news to those who live for self and good
news only to those who surrender intelligently.
2. Now let's talk about how the wheels of your salva-
tion start in motion!
The disciples asked the Lord, "Who then can be
saved?" Jesus answered, "With men it is impossible, but
not with God: for with God all things are possible"
(Mark 10:26-27 ic.rv). Salvation is a cooperative ef-
fort. God initiates the action and man reacts. God can-
not do your part, and you cannot do God's part. No
man is convicted and converted accidentally. Never!
There are powerful unseen forces at work, striving with
your entire being. God uses these forces to induce us to
repent. First of all, the Holy Spirit fights for your soul,
striving and restraining, showing you how exceedingly
sinful sin actually is. The Word of God is a force pull-
ing on your heart, showing you the "goodness of God
that leads to repentance" (Romans 2:4).
When the message from God's Word gets through to
you, it hits you hard—like a hammer breaking a heart
of stone. It brings powerful Holy Ghost conviction upon
you and exposes all hidden sin in your life. God also uses
friends to lead you to Christ. A true friend will talk to
you about the wrath of God, the terror of hell, the joy
of Heaven, and the tender compassion of a loving Sa-
vior. God uses the Holy Spirit, the Holy Word, to change
your good intentions into an act of true repentance.
Do you think it is an accident that this message is
151
gloom and fear. The marvelous effect of salvation is the
mysterious healing of the conscience.
Yes—without Christ, you are a rebel, and you don't
deserve pity: you have a will and can be held accounta-
ble for your own sin. There is no such thing as a "help-
less sinner." You are not responsible for the sin of
Adam and Eve; you are responsible for your own. The
Gospel is bad news to those who live for self and good
news only to those who surrender intelligently.
2. Now let's talk about how the wheels of your salva-
tion start in motion!
The disciples asked the Lord, "Who then can be
saved?" Jesus answered, "With men it is impossible, but
not with God: for with God all things are possible"
(Mark 10:26-27 ic.rv). Salvation is a cooperative ef-
fort. God initiates the action and man reacts. God can-
not do your part, and you cannot do God's part. No
man is convicted and converted accidentally. Never!
There are powerful unseen forces at work, striving with
your entire being. God uses these forces to induce us to
repent. First of all, the Holy Spirit fights for your soul,
striving and restraining, showing you how exceedingly
sinful sin actually is. The Word of God is a force pull-
ing on your heart, showing you the "goodness of God
that leads to repentance" (Romans 2:4).
When the message from God's Word gets through to
you, it hits you hard—like a hammer breaking a heart
of stone. It brings powerful Holy Ghost conviction upon
you and exposes all hidden sin in your life. God also uses
friends to lead you to Christ. A true friend will talk to
you about the wrath of God, the terror of hell, the joy
of Heaven, and the tender compassion of a loving Sa-
vior. God uses the Holy Spirit, the Holy Word, to change
your good intentions into an act of true repentance.
Do you think it is an accident that this message is
151
