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Selected Messages Book 1
wrought by the Holy Spirit upon the heart, convicting of sin, and
inviting to repentance.
Many are confused as to what constitutes the first steps in the
work of salvation. Repentance is thought to be a work the sinner must
do for himself in order that he may come to Christ. They think that
the sinner must procure for himself a fitness in order to obtain the
blessing of God’s grace. But while it is true that repentance must
precede forgiveness, for it is only the broken and contrite heart that is
acceptable to God, yet the sinner cannot bring himself to repentance, or
prepare himself to come to Christ. Except the sinner repent, he cannot
be forgiven; but the question to be decided is as to whether repentance
is the work of the sinner or the gift of Christ. Must the sinner wait
until he is filled with remorse for his sin before he can come to Christ?
The very first step to Christ is taken through the drawing of the Spirit
of God; as man responds to this drawing, he advances toward Christ
in order that he may repent.
The sinner is represented as a lost sheep, and a lost sheep never
returns to the fold unless he is sought after and brought back to the
fold by the shepherd. No man of himself can repent, and make himself
worthy of the blessing of justification. The Lord Jesus is constantly
seeking to impress the sinner’s mind and attract him to behold Himself,
the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world. We cannot
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take a step toward spiritual life save as Jesus draws and strengthens
the soul, and leads us to experience that repentance which needeth not
to be repented of.
When before the high priests and Sadducees, Peter clearly pre-
sented the fact that repentance is the gift of God. Speaking of Christ,
he said, “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and
a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins”
(
Acts 5:31
). Repentance is no less the gift of God than are pardon and
justification, and it cannot be experienced except as it is given to the
soul by Christ. If we are drawn to Christ, it is through His power and
virtue. The grace of contrition comes through Him, and from Him
comes justification.