1. 16.) it is important to discover wherein! lies its power. Is it the power of; uth to convince? It possesses this, but what if the. will resists?
\Is it the power of love and charm!
possesses this also, but what if, the heart refuses? Is it the power] of grace to change? It possesses: this too, but what if the soul re-/ \jects? There is a power in the Gospel prior to and inclusive of all these in the fact that in the Gospel lis revealed "the righteousness of God" (Verse 17), which is intend-! ed to cover our sin-stained past, to equip a needy present and' to' guarantee an unknown future. Herein lies the power of the Gospel of Christ as it comes face to face with the deepest needs of man.
TII.—Tar Score or tap Gosret.
The Gospel is God's power for the salvation of everyone, Jew and Gentile. No limit was intended at the outset and no limit has-been discovered through the centuries. In all ages and countries, missionary work has proved the univer salify of the Christian religion.
IV.—Laaitation or tue Gosren.
And yet notwithstanding the universal scope there is a clear and rigid limit to the Gospel, for it is only the divine power to everyone "that believeth." Thus while it is sufficient for all, it is only efficient: for those who are willing to receive it. Faith is thus insisted on and emphasized because it is the only and adequate response of man to God. It means both resting on the Divine word and also receiving the Divine grace. Faith is trust, the committal of a person to a Person for past, present and future. It is therefore far more than a mere intellectual acceptance of truth. As Dr. J. H. Jowett has put it, belief accepts the map; faith takes the journey; belief regards the bridge as safe; faith makes the crossing. Faith in man really answers to grace in God; our trust to His trustworthiness; our faith to His faithfulness.
V.—Tue Insptration oF THR
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.