581. I showed in the chapter on redemption that redemption and the passion on the cross were two distinct things and must on no account be confused; and that the Lord by both of them took to Himself the power of regenerating and saving human beings. The accepted belief of the present-day church, that the passion on the cross actually was the redemption, has given rise to serried ranks of horrid falsities, about God, faith, charity, and everything else which depends upon these three like links in a chain. As, for instance, the belief that God decided to damn the human race, but was willing to be recalled to mercy by imposing the damnation on the Son, or by the Son taking it upon Himself; and that only those are saved who are granted Christ's merit by foresight or by predestination. That fallacy also spawned this dogma of their faith, that those who are granted that faith are instantly regenerated without any co-operation on their part. In fact it is said that they are thus absolved of the damnation due by law, and are no longer subject to the law, but to grace, despite the fact that the Lord said that He took away not so much as a stroke of the law (Matt. 5:18, 19; Luke 16:17); and He commanded His disciples to preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:47; Mark 6:12). He also said: