The General’s Speech

On the 14th December, 1915, an Australian general made a stirring speech at the Melbourne Town Hall. The following extract is taken from the report in the Times:― “I believe that when the Day of Judgment comes―and I believe in a Day of Judgment―the man who has fought and died at Gallipoli — I do not care what he was, whether he was the biggest scoundrel that ever walked Australia, until he redeemed himself by dying, or not―I say when the Day of Judgment comes that man will be all right.”
This is all wrong and false. A man cannot redeem himself. “We are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ.” Every soldier may be saved if he believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, but he cannot save himself, “for by grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8, 9).