WHY DO YOU THINK YOU ARE SAVED?

Don Fortner

Is it because when you were a child, or even as an adult you decided to accept Jesus? Is it because some slick "soul winner" talked you into a profession of faith; because you walked down the church aisle; or because you repeated "the sinner's prayer" as someone else said it for you? You won't get mad at me if I tell you the truth, will you? No one has ever been saved by such things. If that is the salvation you have, you have missed God's salvation in Christ.

Salvation is God's work, not man's (Rom. 11:6; Eph. 2:8-9; II Tim. 1:9). Salvation comes to men and women by faith in Christ, but two things need to be clearly understood:

1. FAITH IN CHRIST IS THE GIFT OF GOD. It is not the result of man's freewill, but the result of God's free grace (Eph. 2:8; Col. 2:12). Faith is believing the record God gave concerning his Son. But no one can or will believe until he is born again (John 3:5-7). Faith is not the result of preacher manipulation, but of Holy Spirit regeneration (John 6:63). Faith is confidence in, reconciliation to, and submission to Jesus Christ as God, Savior and Lord. It is bowing to the rule of Christ!

2. FAITH IS NOT AN ACT OF LIFE, BUT THE BELIEVER'S WAY OF LIFE. “The just live by faith,” continually. Salvation is not a once for all experience, but a new life in Christ. The believer's hope of glory is not a decision he made for Christ, but Christ living in him (Col. 1:27). What is your hope?

Donald S. Fortner, Pastor

Grace Baptist Church Of Danville

2734 Old Stanford Road

Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438

Telephone 606-236-8235