How Does The God
Of The Bible Save Sinners
Jonah 2:9
The essential
difference between false and true religion is this: All false religion makes
salvation to be ultimately dependent upon and determined by the worth, work, or
will of the sinner; whereas true religion declares, with Jonah, "Salvation
is of the Lord!" In its planning, in its purchase, in its performance, in
its preservation, and in its perfection, salvation is of the Lord. Here are
five ways revealed in the Scriptures by which the sovereign God saves sinners.
1. GOD SAVED HIS ELECT
BY HIS SOVEREIGN, ETERNAL PURPOSE OF GRACE IN CHRIST (II Tim. 1:9; Rom. 8:28-30). Election and predestination are
precious truths of God, full of comfort to needy sinners. Had there been no
election, none would be saved. Election is the infallible purpose of God to
save some of Adam's fallen race. And, in one sense, election is salvation. Is
this not what Paul teaches in these two passages? In the mind and purpose of
God all who shall be saved were saved from eternity!
2. GOD SAVED HIS ELECT
BY HIS SON'S SIN-ATONING BLOOD (Rom. 5:8-9). The Lord Jesus Christ has, by the
sacrifice of himself, forever justified all for whom
he died. He put away our sins, satisfied the justice of God for sin, and
obtained eternal redemption for us.
3. GOD SAVES SINNERS BY
THE ALMIGHTY, IRRESISTIBLE REGENERATING GRACE AND POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
(Rom. 9:16;
Eph. 2:1-5). To deny the irresistibility and efficacy of God's grace in
regeneration is to deny the total depravity and spiritual death of the sinner.
Regeneration is a resurrection from spiritual death. It is necessarily God's
work alone.
4. GOD SAVES SINNERS BY
HIS GRACIOUS GIFT OF FAITH IN CHRIST (Eph. 2:8-9). Our Lord said, to the woman
of ill-repute, "Thy faith hath saved thee" (Lk. 9:50). Be sure you understand this: God will
not save any apart from personal faith in Christ; and he will save all who
believe on Christ (Mk. 16:16). Faith is the proof and fruit of
election, redemption, and regeneration.
5. AND GOD WILL SAVE
HIS ELECT BY HIS SON'S SECOND COMING IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD (Rom. 13:11). When Christ comes our salvation will be
complete. In that glorious day we shall be perfectly conformed to our Redeemer,
in body, soul, and spirit!
Don Fortner