The salvation Christ purchased with His blood must be received directly from Him ("come unto me ") as a free gift of God's grace (Rom:3:24), "not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph:2:9). Acceptance of this gracious gift is by faith: "It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Cor:1:21). Believe what? The gospel. It is "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Rom:1:16) that "Christ died for our sins... was buried, and...rose again" (1 Cor:15:1-4). Sin's penalty could not be set aside. God's love cannot compromise His justice. Christ had to suffer the full punishment we deserved, so that God "might be the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Rom:3:26). This "gospel of God" has been declared "by his prophets in the holy scriptures" (Rom:1:1-2 ). It must either be accepted on God's terms or rejected. It cannot be changed.
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