The Hope of the Gospel

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George MacDonald. The Hope of the Gospel

SALVATION FROM SIN

THE REMISSION OF SINS

JESUS IN THE WORLD

JESUS AND HIS FELLOW TOWNSMEN

THE HEIRS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

SORROW THE PLEDGE OF JOY

GOD'S FAMILY

THE REWARD OF OBEDIENCE

THE YOKE OF JESUS

THE SALT AND THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

THE RIGHT HAND AND THE LEFT

THE HOPE OF THE UNIVERSE

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God and man must combine for salvation from sin, and the same word, here and elsewhere translated remission, seems to be employed in the New Testament for the share of either in the great deliverance.

But first let me say something concerning the word here and everywhere translated repentance. I would not even suggest a mistranslation; but the idea intended by the word has been so misunderstood and therefore mistaught, that it requires some consideration of the word itself to get at a right recognition of the moral fact it represents.

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The message of John to his countrymen, was then, and is yet, the one message to the world:—'Send away your sins, for the kingdom of heaven is near.' Some of us—I cannot say all, for I do not know—who have already repented, who have long ago begun to send away our sins, need fresh repentance every day—how many times a day, God only knows. We are so ready to get upon some path that seems to run parallel with the narrow way, and then take no note of its divergence! What is there for us when we discover that we are out of the way, but to bethink ourselves and turn? By those 'who need no repentance,' the Lord may have meant such as had repented perfectly, had sent away all their sins, and were now with him in his Father's house; also such as have never sinned, and such as no longer turn aside for any temptation.

We shall now, perhaps, be able to understand the relation of the Lord himself to the baptism of John.

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