Realization of Hopeless Condition

But first of all, in entering into this experience, man must be brought to a realization of his hopeless condition; and this is accomplished “through the impartation of the grace of Christ.”COR 106.2

“Without the grace of Christ, the sinner is in a hopeless condition; nothing can be done for him; but through divine grace, supernatural power is imparted to the man, and works in mind and heart and character. It is through the impartation of the grace of Christ that sin is discerned in its hateful nature, and finally driven from the soul temple. It is through grace that we are brought into fellowship with Christ, to be associated with Him in the work of salvation.”-The Review and Herald, November 4, 1890.COR 106.3

“Without the grace of Christ, the sinner is in a hopeless condition; nothing can be done for him.” That is, the sinner cannot clear himself. Nor can any other sinner help him. The law which he has transgressed cannot pardon nor pass over his sin; nor can anything in this world be found which will furnish deliverance. But “through divine grace, supernatural power is imparted to the man, and works in mind and heart and character.” How illuminating and assuring is this word to the sinner! Through divine grace, through the great mercy and compassion of God, provision has been made for imparting “supernatural power” to the hopeless sinner.COR 106.4

But what is “supernatural power”? It is a power far above and beyond anything that resides in man. It is beyond anything that man can lay hold of in this world. It is that “all power ... in heaven and in earth” that Christ declared was given unto Him-that supernatural power by which all His miracles were wrought during His ministry on earth.COR 107.1

Concerning that “supernatural power,” the following statement by Dr. Philip Schaff is worthy of consideration:COR 107.2

“All His [Christ’s] miracles are but the natural manifestations of His person, and hence they were performed with the same ease with which we perform our ordinary daily works.... The supernatural and miraculous element in Christ, let it be borne in mind, was not a borrowed gift or an occasional manifestation.... An inward virtue dwelt in His person, and went forth from Him, so that even the fringe of His garment was healing to the touch through the medium of faith, which is the bond of union between Him and the soul.”-The Person of Christ, pp. 76, 77.COR 107.3

It is this same supernatural power which Christ imparts to man, that works in the mind, the heart, and the character.COR 107.4

Now mark the wonderful results, as stated in the further quotation from the Spirit of prophecy: “It is through the impartation of the grace of Christ that sin is discerned in its hateful nature, and finally driven from the soul temple. It is through grace that we are brought into fellowship with Christ, to be associated with Him in the work of salvation.” Thus we see that the “supernatural power” imparted to man through the grace of Christ, works in his mind and his heart, revealing to him the hateful nature of sin, and leading him to permit that corrupting thing to be driven from the soul temple.COR 107.5