The Power of God In Salvation # 3

The Power of God In Salvation # 3

4. The Power of God in Producing REPENTANCE

Man, without Christ, cannot repent, "Him has God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance" (Acts 5:31). Christ gave it as a "Prince," and, therefore, to none but His subjects, those who are in His kingdom, in whom He rules. Nothing can draw men to repentance, but the regenerating power of Christ, which He exercises at God's right hand. For the acts of repentance are: hatred of sin, sorrow for it, determination to forsake it, and earnest and constant endeavor after its death.

But sin is so transcendentally dear and delightful to a man out of Christ, that nothing but an infinite power can draw him to these acts mentioned. Sin is more precious to an unregenerate soul than anything else in Heaven or earth. It is dearer to him than liberty, for he gives himself up to it entirely, and becomes its servant and slave. It is dearer to him than health, strength, time, or riches, for he spends all these upon sin. It is dearer to him than his own soul. Shall a man lose his sins, or his soul? Ninety-nine out of a hundred vote for the latter, and lose their souls on that account. Sin is a man's self. Just as "I" is the central letter of "sin", so sin is the center, the moving power, the very life of self! Therefore did Christ say, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself" (Matt. 16:24). Men are "lovers of their own selves" (2 Tim. 3:2), which is the same as saying that their hearts are wedded to sin. Man "drinks iniquity like water" (Job 15:16). He cannot exist without it - he is ever thirsting for it - he must have his fill of it.

Now, since man so dotes on sin, what is going to turn his delight into sorrow, his love for it into loathing of it? Nothing but almighty power! Here, then, we may mark the folly of those who cherish the delusion that they can repent whenever they get ready to do so. Evangelical repentance is not at the beck and call of the creature. It is the gift of God, "If God perhaps will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth" (2 Tim. 2:25). Then, what insanity is it that persuades multitudes to defer the effort to repent until their deathbeds? Do they imagine that, when they are so weak that they can no longer turn their bodies - they will have strength to turn their souls from sin? Far sooner could they turn themselves back to perfect physical health! What praise, then, is due to God if He has wrought a saving repentance in us.

5. The Power of God in Working FAITH in His People.

Saving faith in Christ is not the simple matter that so many vainly imagine. Countless thousands supposed it is as easy to believe in the Lord Jesus as in Caesar or Napoleon - and the tragic thing is that hundreds of preachers are helping forward this lie. It is as easy to believe on Him as on them in a natural, historical, intellectual way - but not so in a spiritual and saving way. I may believe in all the heroes of the past - but such belief effects no change in my life! I may have unshaken confidence in the historicity of George Washington - but does my belief in him abate my love for the world and cause me to hate even the garment spotted by the flesh?

A supernatural and saving faith in Christ, alone purifies the life. Is such a faith easily attained? No, indeed! Listen to Christ Himself, "How can you believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that comes from God alone?" (John 5:44). And again, we read, "They could not believe" (John 12:39).

Faith in Christ is receiving Him as He is offered or presented to us by God in the Scriptures. Now, God presents Christ to us not only as Priest - but as King; not only as Saviour - but as "Prince."

Are men as willing for Christ to rule them - as to save them?

Do they pray as earnestly for purity - as for pardon?

Are they as anxious to be delivered from the power of sin - as they are from the fires of hell?

Do they desire holiness - as much as they do heaven?

Is the dominion of sin as dreadful to them - as its wages?

Does the filthiness of sin grieve them - as much as the guilt and damnation of it?

The man who divides what God has joined together when He offers Christ to us has not "received" Him at all. Faith is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8-9). It is wrought in the elect by "the operation of God" (Col. 2:12). To bring a sinner from unbelief to saving faith in Christ, is a miracle as great and as wondrous as was God's raising Christ from the dead (Eph. 1:19-20).

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 4)