ation by character? Peter's message to
this man of irreproachable character was, "To him give all the
prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth on him
shall receive remission of sins."--Acts 10:43. Why is it necessary for
this man of character to believe on Christ in order to be saved?
Because, though of unusual character, he had sinned, "for all have
sinned" (Rom. 3:23); and sin once committed can only be atoned for by
blood, "apart from shedding of blood there is no remission" (Heb.
9:22), and there is no blood of atonement in a noble character.

Over against this case is that of the Philippian jailor, a man of
hardened character; for he took two helpless, bleeding preachers who
had been beaten by a mob, and "thrust them into the inner prison, and
made their feet fast in the stocks" (Acts 16:24), and left them with
their backs bloody and gave them no supper. When the earthquake came
and the doors were opened, the hardened jailor started to commit
suicide. Paul having called to him and prevented the suicide, the
jailor "came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas and brought
them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"--Acts 16:30. If
ever a man should be told of salvation by character, here was the
opportunity, that he might at once begin the tremendous and all but
hopeless task of changing, so late in life, a hardened character into
one that would enable him to merit Heaven. Instead, they said,
"Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved."--Acts 16:31. How
similar the answer to the instructions of Peter to Cornelius, and yet
how widely different the characters of the two men! Why this
similarity? Because God has but one way of salvation, and that is
irrespective of character. "He gathereth together _the outcasts_ of
Israel" (Ps. 147:2), the God of Jacob.

While the Saviour saves without character, and irrespective of
character, God the Father does not leave them without character, but
develops in them the right kind of a character. The man redeemed,
saved, without character, does not remain without character. "And such
_were_ some of you" (1 Cor. 6:11), but they did not remain such
characters,--but "sanctified, called to be saints."--1 Cor. 1:2.
_God's plan with men_, then, is to save irrespective of character, and
then develop in the redeemed, saved man a character that shall "be
found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus
Christ."--1 Peter 1:7.

Thre