Matt. 19:25-26
The disciples asked, "Who then can be saved?" Our Lord replied, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matt. 19:25-26). The first real difficulty in conversion is for a person to realize that he is a LOST SINNER. There are plenty of weak people, even sinful people; but only the Holy Spirit can produce a LOST SINNER who will cry, "O God, be merciful to me, THE SINNER."
The second difficulty in conversion is to teach that sinner THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. He must be taught of God (Jn. 6:44-45) that Christ's blood and righteousness enable God to be just and justify those who BELIEVE. The gospel of free grace and mercy comes to the helpless sinner without any return on his part. Salvation, eternal life, is THE GIFT OF GOD. Even our repentance, faith, works of faith, and labors of love are produced by His presence in us, not by any merit on our part.
The third difficulty in conversion is to bring a believing sinner TO REST all his days in the same love and grace that begat him. "As we have received Christ, we walk and rest in Him." We are chosen, called, and KEPT by His free grace.
"A sweet resting place is Jesus Christ to me, The fulness of grace, sovereign, rich, and free."
by Henry Mahan
