through purity of heart. Full salvation through faith in Christ covers the com-
ney that starts with the individual lost in sin, who discovers a new identity when found by
God's saving work. Th
the "image of God." We become radically transformed from death to life.
ingly inconceivable? The answer is straight-
forward. It is an acquaintance process
guided by the Holy Spirit. We progress from
living in sin and knowing nothing about
God to a sanctified relationship with God
in holiness.
marriage. There is a point in time when
we know nothing of Jesus and God's grace.
Then we learn something about Christ.
The more we learn, the closer we come to
the possibility of faith. This often happens
through the witness or example of others
already acquainted with God. They are God's
means of grace. They may share the Word
of God, invite us to a Bible study, pray with
and for us or share their spiritual journey.
The sacred process of becoming acquainted
with God begins. Our spiritual journey
progresses by God's preparing grace at work
through others. John Wesley called it "preve-
and loves us. We see Him most clearly in the
life, suffering, death and resurrection of
Jesus. When we see God in the face of Christ
we see our own sin. The contrast is powerful.
It arouses our guilt and remorse. The good