3. How do we accept what Christ has gained for us? _By believing in Him as our Savior._ He believes in Christ who from his whole heart confesses: I know from the Word of God that Christ is _my_ Lord, that He has redeemed me from all _my_ sins, from death, and from the power of the devil. I know from the Word of God that _I_ am Christ's own, His child, that He is really _my_ Lord. For His sake all _my_ sins are forgiven. Through His suffering and death _I_ am free from death and damnation and have everlasting life. _What Christ has done He has done for me, a lost and condemned sinner._ In Him is my only hope. By faith we come to Christ. Faith is, as it were, the _hand_ with which we take everything that Christ has gained for us. 4. Believe in Jesus Christ and you will be saved, that is the only way to heaven and everlasting life. But we confess that _we cannot by our own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, or come to Him._ Alas! also this is most certainly true. We are lost and condemned sinners. The Scriptures tell us that all men are by nature _blind_ in these things. We do not understand the glorious message that in Christ alone is our salvation. We always try to save ourselves by our good works. If we are told about this salvation, we think it _foolishness._ "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto Him." 1 Cor. 2,14.--We have not the _strength_ to come to Jesus, our Savior. We are _dead_ in the sight of God. _"Ye were dead in trespasses and sins."_ Eph. 2,1. A dead person cannot do anything to bring himself to life again. Lazarus could not raise himself from the grave. So we cannot do anything to raise ourselves from our death in sins. _"No man can say that Jesus is the Lord_ [that is, believe in Him] _but by the Holy Ghost."_ 1 Cor. 12,3. And even if we could, we would not come to Jesus and believe in Him. We are by nature God's enemies. We do not want to be saved by Him. We cannot by our own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, or come to Him. _As far as we are concerned, we are lost._ 5. But God has had pity on us. He sent His Holy Ghost. The _Holy Ghost_ does what we cannot do. He brings us to Christ, He works in us true faith. True faith is God's work in us, the work of the Holy Ghost, _His work alone._ Not our works, but His _grace alone_ moves Him to do this work. _"By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast."_ Eph. 2,8.9. REMEMBER:-- 1. _Christ has done everything for my salvation. All now depends upon my coming to Jesus, my Lord and Savior._ 2. _I come to Jesus by believing in Him. True faith in Christ is not my own work. I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, or come to Him._ 3. _Saving faith in Christ is the work of the Holy Ghost alone. Not my works or my merits, but only His grace has moved Him to bring me to Christ and save me._