All that man has lost through sin has been restored “through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy [undo] the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8. All this is accomplished for us, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.” Titus 3:5, 6.BEST April 20, 1896, page 114.1

And yet God does not make His plan of salvation effective for any individual without his co-operation. God has honoured man by bestowing upon him reasoning powers and the freedom of choice, and while man can by no means save himself, yet it is not God’s plan to save him contrary to his will. He says to him: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18. “He that will [willeth or chooseth] let him take of the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17, R. V.BEST April 20, 1896, page 114.2

In the beginning “God created man in His own image,” “in the likeness of God made He him.” But this image has been marred and well nigh obliterated by sin. Yet “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16), that thus through Him, “who is the image of the invisible God,” man might be “created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Ephesians 2:10), and restored to the image of God, by being “conformed to the image of His Son.” Romans 8:29. The wondrous provisions of God’s grace whereby “He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:26) have nothing less than this in view, that “as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” 1 Corinthians 15:49.BEST April 20, 1896, page 114.3

The agency employed by God to bring about this result is called “the gospel,” which is defined to be “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Romans 1:16. It is “the gospel of your salvation,” “the gospel of the grace of God,” “the gospel of peace,” the same gospel which was “preached before... unto Abraham” (Galatians 3:8), and afterwards to the children of Israel, “for unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them.” Hebrews 4:2. This gospel of Christ is God’s divine power to save believers, “for therein is the righteousness of God revealed.” Romans 1:17. The righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel; and for that reason the gospel “is the power of God unto salvation.” It is salvation from sin and restoration to a life of righteousness which are needed, and this experience is provided for us through the incarnation, the death, and the resurrection of Christ, who “was made in the likeness of men,” and “who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Romans 4:25. But this is the gospel; for we read: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel... by which also ye are saved.... For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.BEST April 20, 1896, page 114.4

The efficacy of the gospel is also presented in these words: “For Christ sent me not to baptise, but to preach the gospel; not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:17, 18. The gospel is the power of God to every one that believeth. A discourse concerning the cross is, to those who are saved, the power of God, because the cross of Christ-Christ the crucified Saviour dying for sin-is the central thought of the gospel. So also we read again: “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:23, 24.BEST April 20, 1896, page 114.5

From these scriptures it is evident that the efficacy of the gospel, its power to salvation, is found in the fact that it is “God’s joyful message... concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,” who is “The Lord our Righteousness.” Jeremiah 23:6. Thus it appears that the gospel becomes the power of God unto salvation because of the righteousness which is revealed in it, and that this righteousness is found only in Christ, and is inseparable from Him. This is “the hope of the gospel... which is Christ in you the hope of glory: whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” “And ye are complete in Him.”BEST April 20, 1896, page 114.6

March 16, 1896

April 27, 1896