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So Costly—and Yet Free, August 15
By the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto
justification of life.
Romans 5:18
.
Money cannot buy it, intellect cannot grasp it, power cannot command it; but
to all who will accept it, God’s glorious grace is freely given. But men may feel
their need, and, renouncing all self-dependence, accept salvation as a gift. Those
who enter heaven will not scale its walls by their own righteousness, nor will its
gates be opened to them for costly offerings of gold or silver, but they will gain
an entrance to the many mansions of the Father’s house through the merits of the
cross of Christ.
For sinful men, the highest consolation, the greatest cause of rejoicing, is that
Heaven has given Jesus to be the sinner’s Saviour.... He offered to go over the
ground where Adam stumbled and fell; to meet the tempter on the field of battle,
and conquer him in man’s behalf. Behold Him in the wilderness of temptation.
Forty days and forty nights He fasted, enduring the fiercest assaults of the powers
of darkness. He trod the “winepress alone; and of the people there was none with”
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Him (
Isaiah 63:3
). It was not for Himself, but that He might break the chain that
held the human race in slavery to Satan.
As Christ in His humanity sought strength from His Father, that He might
be enabled to endure trial and temptation, so are we to do. We are to follow the
example of the sinless Son of God. Daily we need help and grace and power from
the Source of all power. We are to cast our helpless souls upon the One who is
ready to help us in every time of need. Too often we forget the Lord. Self gives
way to impulse, and we lose the victories that we should gain.
If we are overcome let us not delay to repent, and to accept the pardon that
will place us on vantage ground. If we repent and believe, the cleansing power
from God will be ours. His saving grace is freely offered. His pardon is given to
all who will receive it.... Over every sinner that repents the angels of God rejoice
with songs of joy. Not one sinner need be lost. Full and free is the gift of saving
grace.
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