Chapter 200—For All Who Believe
God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through
sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:13
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In this text the two agencies in the work of salvation are revealed—the
divine influence, and the strong, living faith of those who follow Christ. It is
through the sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth that we become
laborers together with God. Christ waits for the cooperation of His church....
The blood of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the divine Word, are ours. The
object of all this provision of heaven is before us—the salvation of the souls
for whom Christ died; and it depends upon us to lay hold on the promises
God has given, and become laborers together with Him. Divine and human
agencies must cooperate in the work....
Christ crucified for our sins; Christ risen from the dead; Christ ascended
on high as our intercessor—this is the science of salvation that we need to
learn and to teach.
It is God’s purpose that His people shall be a sanctified, purified, holy
people, communicating light to all around them. It is His purpose that, by
exemplifying the truth in their lives, they shall be a praise in the earth. The
grace of Christ is sufficient to bring this about.
There is no limit to the usefulness of one who, putting self aside, makes
room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart and lives a life wholly
consecrated to God. All who consecrate body, soul, and spirit to His service
will be constantly receiving a new endowment of physical, mental, and
spiritual power. The inexhaustible supplies of heaven are at their command.
Christ gives them the breath of His own Spirit, the life of His own life.
The Holy Spirit puts forth its highest energies to work in mind and heart.
Through the grace given us we may achieve victories that because of our own
erroneous and preconceived opinions, our defects of character, our smallness
of faith, have seemed impossible.
To everyone who offers himself to the Lord for service, withholding
nothing, is given power for the attainment of measureless results.
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