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~ Around the Wicket Gate ~
Almost Saved, But Altogether Lost
Here in Chapter 2, Spurgeon underscores the centrality of Jesus Christ as the sole means of salvation. He argues against the notion that human efforts or righteousness can contribute to one’s salvation, highlighting that only Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient. Through metaphors and analogies, he illustrates the folly of depending on anything other than Christ, urging readers to trust in him entirely for forgiveness and eternal life. Spurgeon concludes by emphasizing that faith unites believers with God and guarantees salvation, encouraging readers to cling to Christ as their only hope.
The following are select quotes from this chapter.
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It stands to reason that the darling of heaven would not have died to save us if we could have been rescued at less expense. Infinite grace provided the great sacrifice; infinite love submitted to death for our sake. How can we dream that there can be another way than the way which God has provided at such cost and set forth in Holy Scripture so simply and so urgently? Surely it is true that “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
When a person believes, there is a point of union between them and God, and that union guarantees blessing. Faith saves us because it makes us cling to Christ Jesus, who is one with God, and thus brings us into connection with God.
I am told that, years ago, above Niagara Falls, a boat was flipped over, and two men were being carried down by the current. People on the shore managed to float a rope out to them, and both men seized the rope. One of them held fast to it and was safely drawn to the bank; but the other, seeing a sizeable log floating by, unwisely let go of the rope and clung to the large piece of timber, for it was bigger and apparently better to cling to. Alas! The timber, with the man on it, went right over the vast abyss because there was no union between the wood and the shore. The size of the log was no benefit to him who grasped it; it needed a connection with the shore to produce safety.
Similarly, when a person trusts in their works, or in their prayers, or almsgivings, or in sacraments, or in anything of that sort, they will not be saved because there is no junction between them and God through Christ Jesus. But faith, though it may seem to be like a slender cord, is in the hand of the great God on the shore side; infinite power pulls in the connecting line, and thus pulls the person from destruction. Oh, the blessedness of faith, because it unites us to God by the Savior, whom he has appointed, even Jesus Christ! O reader, is there not common sense in this matter? Think it over, and may there soon be a rope of union between you and God through your faith in Christ Jesus!
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
