THE POWER BY WHICH WE BELIEVE

Paul said that we "believe according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead." In our salvation, as in the resurrection of Christ, life is brought out of death by nothing short of Divine power. What can we say of those who think that salvation is accomplished by the freewill of man, and is due to the superiority of one man's disposition over another's? When we see dead men rising to life by their own power, then we may expect to see men who are dead in trespasses and sin turning to Christ by their own free-will!

The power by which dead sinners are given eternal life in Christ proceeds from the Holy Spirit. This power of God in salvation is irresistible. All the soldiers of Rome and all the high priests of Israel could not keep Christ in the tomb. Death itself could not hold the body of Christ in its grip. Even so, it is by irresistible power, the effectual power of Divine grace, that dead sinners are raised to the newness of life and given faith in Christ. No sin, no corruption, no demons in hell, nor sinners upon the earth can stay the hand of God's grace when he intends to save a man. If God omnipotently says, "Thou shalt," no man can say, "I will not." It is absurd for anyone to suppose that the will of man is stronger than the will of Almighty God!

This power of God is not only irresistible, it is also glorious. It brings honor to God and reveals the glory of his saving mercy. According to the indisputable right of his sovereign power he has mercy on whom he will have mercy. And this power of God by which we are saved is everlasting. Those who are born-again by irresistible power are kept and preserved unto everlasting glory by that same almighty power. The power of God which saves will not allow one saved sinner to perish in the end: