WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Recently, I was asked this question, "What is the difference between what you preach and what others are preaching?" That question deserves an answer. Everyone who professes to preach the gospel claims to believe that salvation is by grace. Primitive Baptist and Free-will Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians, Pentecostals and Catholics claim to believe in grace. We all know that grace is unmerited favor. Grace is God's Riches At Christ's Expense. Every preacher I know holds this doctrine. But, the Apostle Paul gives a much broader and fuller explanation of the doctrine of grace. He says that it is God "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" (II Tim. 1:9). This is what we believe and preach about the doctrine of grace.

1. GOD IS THE AUTHOR OF SALVATION. "He hath saved us and called us with an holy calling." "Salvation is of the Lord." God purposed, planned, and procured our salvation. God the Father planned it. God the Son purchased it. And God the Holy Spirit applied it. Our salvation is the work of God alone!

2. GOD SAVES SINNERS IN A WAY THAT RENDERS ALL THE GLORY TO HIMSELF. He will not share his glory with anyone. Salvation is designed to exalt the glory of his grace alone. It is all a completed work. "He hath saved us and called us." He saved us in purpose and by price. Then he called us.

3. WE CONTRIBUTED NOTHING TOWARD OUR SALVATION. "Not according to our works." We did the running. He did the saving. We did the sinning. He did the saving.

4. WE ARE "SAVED ACCORDING TO HIS OWN PURPOSE." We did not purpose To be saved. But God purposed to save us.

5. THIS GRACE OF GOD WAS GIVEN TO US "IN CHRIST JESUS BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN". Salvation is the gift of Christ, bestowed upon us in him in God's eternal decree.

Of all mercies, pardoning mercy is the most precious mercy. It is the mercy that makes all other mercies look like mercies, taste like mercies, and work like mercies. He who is pardoned from all sin in Christ cannot be miserable and he who is not pardoned in Christ cannot be happy!