"Ye cannot serve the Lord," said Joshua: "for He is a holy God; . . . He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins." Before there could be any permanent reformation the people must be led to feel their utter inability in themselves to render obedience to God. They had broken His law, it condemned them as transgressors, and it provided no way of escape. While they trusted in their own strength and righteousness, it was impossible for them to secure the pardon of their sins; they could not meet the claims of God's perfect law, and it was in vain that they pledged themselves to serve God. It was only by faith in Christ that they could secure pardon of sin and receive strength to obey God's law. They must cease to rely upon their own efforts for salvation, they must trust wholly in the merits of the promised Saviour, if they would be accepted of God.

I vil ikke kunne tjene Herren sagde Josua, thi han er en hellig Gud, som ikke vil tilgive Eders overtrædelser og synder. Der kunne ikke finde en varig reformation sted, før folket følte, at det var fuldstændig umuligt for dem at vise Gud lydighed i egen kraft. De havde krænket hans lov, den fordømte dem som overtrædere, og de kunne ikke blive reddet ved lovens hjælp. Så længe de stolede på deres egen kraft og retfærdighed, kunne de ikke få syndstilgivelse eller opfylde Guds fuldkomne lovs fordringer, og deres forsikringer om at ville tjene Gud var derfor intet værd. De kunne kun få syndstilgivelse og styrke til at adlyde Guds lov ved at tro på Kristus. De måtte holde op med at forlade sig på deres egne gode gerninger for at blive frelst. De måtte stole helt og fuldt på den forjættede frelsers fortjenester, hvis de ønskede, at Gud skulle antage dem.