All Of Grace And Grace Alone        

Romans 11:6

 

The salvation of God's elect is all of grace and by grace alone. When I speak of salvation, I mean the whole work of grace, all that is revealed in the Scriptures and experienced in the soul concerning the bringing of lost and ruined sinners from the dungheap of fallen humanity to the enjoyment of heavenly glory in the presence of God. That salvation is all of grace and is accomplished by grace alone!

 

This is the universal testimony of Holy Scripture Eph. 1:3-14; II Tim. 1:9). No aspect of salvation is ever, even once, ascribed to the will, worth, or work of the sinner. Neither repentance, faith, nor conversion, justification, regeneration, nor sanctification, election, redemption, nor perseverance, growth in grace, peace with God, nor the rewards of heavenly glory are ascribed to man in any degree. These are all the gifts and works of grace. The salvation of God's elect was planned by God the Father in eternity. It was purchased by God the Son at Calvary, And it is performed in their souls in time by God the Holy Spirit.

 

We know that salvation is all of grace and by grace alone because this is what we have experienced in our souls (Eph. 2:1-6). We were helplessly lost sinners, dead in trespasses and in sin, going astray from God. But God intervened to save us. He stopped us in our mad rush for hell. He gave us life and faith in Christ. The heartfelt confession of every saved sinner is, "By the grace of God I am what I am."

 

And we know that salvation is by grace alone because our salvation in Christ is a present reality (Col. 2:10). Every believer is perfectly saved right now (I Cor. 1:30). And our salvation is immutably secure right now (Rom. 11:29}.  Our standing before God can never change. If salvation were, in any measure, dependent human merit and human works, if it were not altogether by grace alone, then it could not be perfect and it could not be secure while we are in this world.  But, blessed be God, he does not deal with us after our sins, nor reward us according to our iniquities! He deals with us in grace! He rewards us according to the exceeding, abundant riches of his grace in Christ. When I stand before God's throne, dressed in beauty not my own, I will sing this heartfelt song, "I am saved by grace alone!"

 

 

Don Fortner