Steps to Christ Chapter 2 - The Sinner’s Need of Christ

Main Themes:

• Humanity's Fall and its Consequences: The chapter emphasizes the stark contrast between humanity's original state of perfection and its current fallen condition due to sin. Sin has corrupted human nature, making it impossible to resist evil or find joy in holiness without divine intervention.
• The Necessity of Christ: The text stresses that only through Jesus Christ can humanity be reconciled with God. Christ bridges the chasm created by sin, providing the only way back to a relationship with the divine.
• The Transformative Power of Grace: White argues that external efforts like education and willpower are insufficient for true transformation. Only the grace of Christ can cleanse the heart and bring about the "new birth" necessary for entering God's kingdom.
• God's Unconditional Love and Provision: The chapter highlights God's immense love for humanity, demonstrated through Christ's sacrifice and the continuous efforts of heavenly beings to redeem the lost.

Key Ideas and Facts:

• Man's Original State: "Man was originally endowed with noble powers and a well-balanced mind. He was perfect in his being, and in harmony with God."
• The Impact of Sin: "But through disobedience, his powers were perverted, and selfishness took the place of love. His nature became so weakened through transgression that it was impossible for him, in his own strength, to resist the power of evil."
• Separation from God: "The sinner could not be happy in God’s presence; he would shrink from the companionship of holy beings... Heaven would be to him a place of torture."
• The Need for a New Birth: "The Saviour said, 'Except a man be born from above,' unless he shall receive a new heart, new desires, purposes, and motives, leading to a new life, 'he cannot see the kingdom of God.'"
• Christ as the Only Way: "Of Christ it is written, 'In Him was life; and the life was the light of men'—the only 'name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.'"
• Christ's Sacrifice Bridges the Gap: "With His own merits, Christ has bridged the gulf which sin had made, so that the ministering angels can hold communion with man."
• God's Yearning Love: "The heart of God yearns over His earthly children with a love stronger than death. In giving up His Son, He has poured out to us all heaven in one gift."
• Call to Action: "Let us place ourselves in right relation to Him who has loved us with amazing love. Let us avail ourselves of the means provided for us that we may be transformed into His likeness, and be restored to fellowship with the ministering angels, to harmony and communion with the Father and the Son."

Quotes of Note:

• "It is impossible for us, of ourselves, to escape from the pit of sin in which we are sunken."
• "There must be a power working from within, a new life from above, before men can be changed from sin to holiness. That power is Christ."
• "In vain are men’s dreams of progress, in vain all efforts for the uplifting of humanity, if they neglect the one Source of hope and help for the fallen race."