Signs of the Times, Book 1 - Ellen G. White

obedience to the law of God. Hence they have no true conviction of sin, and
without this there can be no true conversion.
Luther searched the Scriptures with untiring interest and zeal, and at last
found therein the way of life clearly revealed. He learned that it is not to the
pope, but to Christ, that men are to look for pardon and justification. "There
is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be
saved." Christ is the only propitiation for sin; he is the complete and allsufficient
sacrifice, for the sins of the whole world, securing the pardon of all
who will believe on him as God hath appointed. Jesus himself declares, "I
am the door. By me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." Luther sees that
Christ Jesus came into the world, not to save people in their sins, but to save
them from their sins; that the one only way whereby the sinner can be saved
is by repentance toward God, because of the transgression of his law, and
faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, both for the pardon of sin and for grace to
lead a life of obedience.
Thus he was led to perceive the fallacy of the papal doctrine, that
salvation is obtained by punishments and penances, and that men must
through hell reach Heaven. He learned from the precious Bible that he who is
not cleansed from sin by Christ's atoning blood, can never be cleansed by the
fires of hell; that the doctrine of purgatory is but a cunning device of the
father of lies, and that the present life is the only period for probation granted
to man in which to prepare for the society of the pure and holy.
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