J.A. Matteson
The most splendid awakening in a mans heart is the realization that he has been crucified with Christ, that he has been made right before God, not by merit, but by grace through faith. "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly" (Gal. 2:21). And a stumbling block indeed is the gospel of grace to the unregenerate mind. For if man lacks an understanding of God's plan of justification heaven will be closed to him. Should a man be trusting to any degree in anything or anyone other than in Christ alone, he does not yet understand the gospel, and if he does not understand the gospel he is still in his sin. The miracle of conversion is in the work of the Spirit, wherein the joyful dawning of justification occurs, not on the basis of the Law, but on account of Christ alone through the instrumentality of faith alone. As a flash of lightening the redeemed understand they are justified, for they believe, and that not of themselves, but through the Spirit they discern that the work of Christ and the faith to believe, is the gift of God. And in this they greatly rejoice giving all the praise and glory for their salvation to God alone.
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