Chapter 305—Wages or Gift?
The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23
.
Man was originally endowed with noble powers and a well-balanced
mind. He was perfect in his being, and in harmony with God. His thoughts
were pure, his aims holy. But through disobedience, his powers were
perverted, and selfishness took the place of love. His nature became so
weakened through transgression that it was impossible for him, in his own
strength, to resist the power of evil. He was made captive by Satan, and
would have remained so forever had not God specially interposed. It was
the tempter’s purpose to thwart the divine plan in man’s creation, and fill the
earth with woe and desolation.
By nature we are alienated from God. The Holy Spirit describes our
condition in such words as these: “Dead in trespasses and sins;” “the whole
head is sick, and the whole heart faint;” “no soundness in it” (
Ephesians 2:1
;
Isaiah 1:5, 6
). We are held fast in the snare of Satan, “taken captive by him
at his will” (
2 Timothy 2:26
). God desires to heal us, to set us free. But since
this requires an entire transformation, a renewing of our whole nature, we
must yield ourselves wholly to Him.
The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The
yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, requires a struggle; but
the soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in holiness....
God does not force the will of His creatures. He cannot accept an homage
that is not willingly and intelligently given. A mere forced submission would
prevent all real development of mind or character; it would make man a mere
automaton. Such is not the purpose of the Creator. He desires that man,
the crowning work of His creative power, shall reach the highest possible
development. He sets before us the height of blessing to which He desires to
bring us through His grace. He invites us to give ourselves to Him, that He
may work His will in us. It remains for us to choose whether we will be set
free from the bondage of sin, to share the glorious liberty of the sons of God.
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