HOW DOES GRACE SAVE?

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 (Eph. 2:1-5). Salvation by grace excludes all boasting on the part of man (Rom. 9:16; Eph. 2:8-9; I Cor. 4:7). Salvation by grace gives all praise, honor, and glory to God for what he has done (Eph. 1:6, 12, 14). 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. But how does grace save?

Grace does not save us by overlooking our sins and pretending that they do not exist (Ezek. 18:20), by enabling us to keep the law of God (Gal. 3:21), or by giving us religious ceremonies to observe (Gal. 5:2), and good works to perform (II Tim. 1:9).

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), by making Christ and his sin-atoning death precious to our hearts (I Pet. 2:7).

3. Grace saves us by keeping and preserving us unto eternal glory (I Pet. 1:15). That which grace begins, grace will complete (Phil. 1:6). Grace will not be frustrated. Grace can never fail!

Donald S. Fortner, Pastor

GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH OF DANVILLE

2734 Old Stanford Road

Danville, Kentucky 40422

236-8235