es; but the hopeless estimate God has placed upon human
nature at its best, and the logical necessity that man shall receive, as
a gift, all that he has, and be forever a debtor to the Divine
giver,--these things have always been rejected by self-sufficient and
Satan-inspired humanity. These terms are the only possible or reasonable
relations that could rightfully exist between fallen humanity and its
Creator. Here Satan has blinded the minds of the lost lest they should
believe, and he has made that which is reasonable and natural seem to be
unreasonable and unnatural. They are unable to abandon their
Satan-inspired sense of self-sufficiency and independence of God and
receive from Him, as a gift, every possession commendable in His sight.

The controversy between Satan-ruled man and God is one of method;
whether it shall be one of self-righteousness and character building:
or one of bestowed righteousness and character by the fruit of the
Spirit. Will man try to save himself: or humbly submit to being saved by
Another? Will he try to conform himself to what little he knows to be
good and true: or will he be transformed by the power of God into that
which is no less than the image of Christ? Will he present the sacrifice
of a sincere effort to be moral and religious: or accept the
God-provided sacrifice for all sin, in the shed blood of Christ? Will he
try to establish himself before God on the ground of his own works: or
rest in the finished work of Christ for him? Will he try to improve his
fallen nature: or partake of the Divine nature and become a Son of God
by the power of God, through faith in Christ Jesus?

One method, it may be seen, depends wholly upon self for its
realization; promises glory to man alone; and has its origin at that
unknown time when Satan proposed in his heart to become like the Most
High. The other method is dependent upon God alone, and, therefore,
demands an attitude of faith toward him for its realization. It issues
in glory to the Creator, Who alone is worthy to be praised. The latter,
in contrast with Satan's method, had its origin in the purpose of God,
which He purposed before the foundation of the world. Therein,
transcendent blessings are offered; stores of grace are unfolded; and
the omnipotent power of God is seen working for the transformation of
His human creatures. These two methods are confused only because they
seem to aim at the same general result. In reality their results,