Salvation: An Act of Grace, Reconciliation, and Conquest

This is a glorious statement on the need and nature of salvation.

The disastrous consequences of our false faith must be put right. Salvation must be an act of illumination, for we have exchanged the truth about God for a lie, worshipping idols instead of the true God. Salvation must be an act of liberation, for we are captive to the delusions of our false faith, and cannot save ourselves. Salvation must be an act of divine grace, God’s work from beginning to end, for the desires of our hearts are set against God—we do not even want to save ourselves. Salvation must be an act of reconciliation, for we are alienated from God and hostile to him. Finally, salvation must be an act of conquest, for we are oppressed by the devil, and need someone to win the victory for us (Jeffery, Ovey, Sach, Pierced for Our Transgression, 125)