D.P. Williams on Salvation
Here's a wee extract from D.P. Williams (the first leader of the Apostolic Church) on soteriology:
The work on behalf of the sinner was committed to the Son. But the work of salvation in the heart has been left to the Holy Spirit with His gracious influence to end [sic.] of the sinner’s justification. The operations of salvation through the Son are external on behalf of the sinner, but the operation of the work of the Spirit is internal. Divine righteousness was the object of the operations of the Son, but the mind and the heart of man was the operation of the Spirit. The work of the former has been successfully accomplished without the consent of Mankind. It was covenanted between the first Person and the second; a covenant made in eternity. But the Holy Spirit, on the ground of the shed blood has been sent forth to make the Eternal Covenant and the atonement of Calvary effectual upon the heart of the sinner, and primarily, by the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit to convince and enlighten the mind in the Word of God... It is as essential for the ministry of the Holy Spirit to be effectually accomplished inwardly as it was for the Son to accomplish His ministry outwardly. Man is morally impotent to do anything toward his salvation. It is all given to the Holy Spirit.
What's he saying? Salvation belongs to our God! It was planned in the eternal counsels of the Triune God through the Covenant of Redemption (the 'covenant made in eternity') and provided in the Son through His Incarnation and Atonement. But God doesn't only plan and provide salvation, He also gives it to us, through the effectual work of the Spirit granting us faith through the proclamation of the Word. So, our loving Triune God doesn't just make salvation possible, He actually saves.