Man’s Contribution to Salvation

While reading my Bible and reflecting on salvation this morning, Jose Garcia Villa (a critic, artist, and National Artist of the Philippines for literature in 1973) jogged my memory. I particularly remembered his poem “The Emperor's New Sonnet.”

This is a famous experimental poem that alludes to the children’s storybook "The Emperor's New Clothes" by Hans Christian Andersen. It is a satire on the poor quality of Philippine poetry; it challenges readers' perceptions of literature. It was Villa’s way of forcing readers to question what makes a poem and to think critically beyond superficial appearances. 

If you are familiar with this storybook, then Villa’s intent is clear as day. 

The poem has a title, but the page is totally blank, zero words. It is to make the reader confront the void where text should be. 

In a deeper context, what is man’s contribution to salvation? 

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV