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this method is the one possible way of salvation for men. And doubtless it is the best way of all
that God's infinite wisdom and love could devise; for, if there had been any better method, God
would certainly have chosen and appointed it instead. To suppose otherwise is to admit a doubt as to
God's perfect wisdom and His boundless goodness and mercy. Since then the Almighty and Absolute
Ruler of the universe has appointed Christ's sufferings and death on the cross as the one way in
which sinners can obtain salvation and remission of their sins (as is evident from the holy
Scriptures), it is absolutely certain that this is the best possible and the best conceivable way of
salvation which God's infinite wisdom could devise. Who, therefore, among His creatures will venture
to dispute the matter with his Creator, and to reject the appointed way of salvation?
It is quite possible that there may be much that is mysterious, much that man's limited intellect
cannot fully grasp, about the method of salvation revealed in the holy Scriptures. Therefore an
Apostle well says: 'O 1 the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of
God! how unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past tracing out! For who hath known the mind
of the Lord?' Yet every thoughtful and intelligent man is able, if for a time he reflects without
prejudice, to perceive at least this fact,
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that this way of salvation is in accordance with both justice and mercy and is worthy of God, the
holy and the merciful. This is not the case with the baseless theories of the philosophers which we
have already considered, nor with the ways of salvation taught by the religions of the heathen.
These latter are clearly opposed to God's justice and holiness, and they have no power to draw men
away from evil and bring them in heart and spirit nearer to God Most Holy. Nor can it be said that
the methods by which our Muslim brothers hope to obtain salvation accomplish this change of heart
and sanctification of life. But through the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, the requirements of
both mercy and justice are fully satisfied, and by faith in the Lamb of God, 1 who taketh
away the sin of the world, the true believers inmost heart and outward walk are purified and rightly
directed. For we learn from holy Scripture that God did not forgive men's sins until Jesus Christ
the righteous 2 had freely offered His own life as a ransom 3 for sinners, had
borne our sins in His own body on the tree, 4 and had made a full atonement for the sins
of the whole 5 world. In this way, therefore, the demands of divine justice are so
completely satisfied that, when God for Christ's sake forgives the sins of all those who truly
believe in Christ and accept the salvation gained for them by
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