“MIGHTY TO SAVE”

"Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save." – Isaiah 63:1

In preaching the gospel of Christ, we proclaim to poor, helpless sinners an omnipotent Savior, a God who declares himself, “mighty to save.” An impotent savior is no Savior at all. Those who cry up a god who cannot save without the consent of man's free-will or the assistance of man's works, cry up a god who is nothing but the useless, idolatrous figment of man's perverted imagination. An impotent god is no God at all. An impotent god is as useless as a bucket without a bottom. If your god wants to save everyone, if your Jesus died to redeem everyone, if your spirit tries to save everyone, and some people go to hell anyway, in spite of all that your god has done to keep them out of that horrible pit, you need another God, you need a Savior who is God indeed, a God who is “mighty to save!”

We worship, trust, and preach an almighty, all- sufficient, effectual Savior. Our Savior is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. He is "mighty to save!" He does not merely provide salvation, offer salvation, or try to get sinners to be saved. He saves his people from their sins by his almighty, irresistible grace (Matt. 1:21; 11:27; John 17:2; Rom. 9:15-16). He cannot fail to do so (Isa. 42:4).

EVERY SINNER WHO WAS CHOSEN OF GOD IN ETERNAL ELECTION WAS GIVEN TO CHRIST BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN (John 6:39; 17:2). When Christ stood as the Surety of his elect in the covenant of grace, it became his responsibility to save those whom the Father trusted to his hands (John 10:16; Eph. 1:12).

IN THE FULNESS OF TIME THE LORD JESUS CHRIST DIED IN THE PLACE OF HIS ELECT (Isa.53:8; John 10:11,15). He died as our Substitute under the wrath of God, to redeem us from the curse of the law. And all for whom Christ died are infallibly redeemed (Gal.3:13; Heb.9:12).

THE SON OF GOD MAKES INTERCESSION IN HEAVEN FOR HIS ELECT, REDEEMED PEOPLE (John 17:9, 20). He does not pray for the world, because he did not come to save the world. The Lord Jesus makes intercession for his elect alone, because he came to save his elect alone.

ALL FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED AND MAKES INTERCESSION, AT GOD'S APPOINTED TIME ARE CALLED (John 10:3). By the effectual power of his Spirit, through the preaching of the gospel, Christ calls his people.

ALL WHO ARE CALLED BY THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST COME TO CHRIST (John 10:3-4,27). His people are made willing in the day of his power, and he causes them to come to him (Ps. 110:3; 65:4).

ALL WHO COME TO CHRIST BY FAITH ARE SAVED BY HIS GRACE (John 6:37). It is not possible for a sinner to come to Christ and not be saved.

AND ALL WHO ARE SAVED BY CHRIST ARE KEPT UNTO ETERNAL GLORY BY HIM (John 10:28). "They shall never perish,", because he who is God our Savior is "mighty to save!" Therefore, we give him all the praise, honor, and glory, singing with the saints of old, “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.”

Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For Today Radio Message #850

2734 Old Stanford Road - Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438

Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 859-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net