How Does Grace Save?
Ephesians 2:5
The universal testimony of Holy Scripture
is, "By grace ye are saved!" Salvation is by grace because sinners
need grace (Eph.2:1-4). Totally depraved, spiritually dead sinners must be
saved by grace, because they are totally incapable of saving themselves, or of
assisting in the salvation of their souls. Salvation by grace excludes all
boasting on the part of man (Eph. 2:8-9; I Cor. 4:7). "It is not of him
that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy."
Salvation by grace gives all the praise, honor, and glory to God for what he
has done (Eph. 1:6, 12, 14): to God the Father for election and predestination,
to God the Son for redemption and forgiveness, to God the Holy Spirit for regeneration
and preservation. Salvation by grace is a door of hope for helpless, guilty
sinners. If God required us to do something to be saved, none would ever be
saved. But, since the whole of salvation is by grace, there is hope for sinners
who are incapable of doing anything to please God. Salvation by grace is
salvation from sin (Matt.
Grace does not save us by overlooking our
sins and pretending that they do not exist (Ezek.
1. Grace
saves by imputing the sins of God's elect to Christ and punishing him for them
as our Substitute (Rom.3:24;II
Cor.5:21;Gal.3:13;Eph.1:7;I Pet.2:24). This upholds and satisfies the justice
of God.
2. Grace
saves us by giving us life and faith in Christ (Col. 2:12). Grace saves by
making Christ and his sin-atoning death precious to our hearts. The death of
Christ is of absolutely no benefit to any sinner until he believes the gospel.
"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned."
3. Grace
saves us by keeping and preserving us unto eternal glory (I Pet. 1:5).
"The gifts and callings of God are without repentance." That which
grace begins, grace will complete (Phil. 1:6). Grace will not be frustrated.
Grace can never fail!
Don Fortner