"It was possible for Adam, before the fall, to form a righteous character by obedience to God's law. But he failed to do this, and because of his sin our natures are fallen, and we cannot make ourselves righteous. Since we are sinful, unholy, we cannot perfectly obey a holy law. We have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God. But Christ has made a way of escape for us. He lived on earth amid trials and temptations such as we have to meet. He lived a sinless life. He died for us, and now he offers to take our sins and give us his righteousness. If you give yourself to him, and accept him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have been, for his sake you are accounted righteous. Christ's character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned.

"Det var muligt for Adam før faldet at udvikle en retfærdig karakter ved lydighed mod Guds lov. Men da han syndede mislykkedes dette for ham, og på grund af hans synd er vor natur fordærvet, så at vi ikke kan gøre os selv retfærdige. Fordi vi er syndige og vanhellige, kan vi ikke til fuldkommenhed adlyde en hellig lov. Selv har vi ingen retfærdighed, vi kan ikke opfylde Guds lovs fordringer. Men Kristus hat skaffet udvej for os. Han levede på jorden under de samme prøvelser og fristelser, som vi må møde. Han levede ef syndfrit liv. Han døde for os, og han tilbyder os nu at tage vore synder og give os retfærdighed. Hvis du overgiver dig til ham og antager ham som din Frelser, vil du for hans skyld blive tegnet for retfærdig, hvor syndigt dit liv end måtte have været. Kristi karakter sættes i stedet for din egen karakter, og Gud antager dig, som om du aldrig havde syndet.