All
Of Grace And Grace Alone
"And if by grace, then is it no
more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is
it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."
-- Romans 11:6
The
salvation of God's elect is all of grace and by grace alone. When I speak of
salvation, I mean the whole work of grace, all that is revealed in the
Scriptures and experienced in the soul concerning the bringing of lost and
ruined sinners from the dungeon of fallen humanity to the enjoyment of heavenly
glory in the presence of God. That salvation is all of grace and is
accomplished by grace alone!
This
is the universal testimony of Holy Scripture. “By grace are ye saved”
(Eph. 1:3-14; 2:8-9; 2 Tim. 1:9). No aspect of salvation is ever, not even
once, ascribed to the will, worth, or work of the sinner. Neither repentance,
nor faith, nor conversion, nor justification, nor regeneration, nor
sanctification, nor election, nor redemption, nor perseverance, nor growth in
grace, nor peace with God, nor the rewards of heavenly glory are ascribed to
man in any degree. These are all the gifts and works of grace. The salvation of
God's elect was planned by God the Father in eternity. It was purchased by God
the Son at Calvary, And it is performed in our souls in time by God the Holy
Spirit.
We
know that salvation is all of grace and by grace alone because this is what we
have experienced in our souls (Eph. 2:1-6). We were helplessly lost sinners,
dead in trespasses and in sin, going astray from God. But God intervened to
save us. He stopped us in our mad rush for hell. He gave us life and faith in
Christ. The heartfelt confession of every saved sinner is, "By the
grace of God I am what I am." With the psalmist of old we sing with
joy, -- “Not unto us, O Lord, not
unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake!”
And
we know that salvation is by grace alone because our salvation in Christ is now
complete and perfect in him. It is a present reality (Col. 2:10). Every
believer is perfectly saved right now (1 Cor. 1:30). And our salvation is
immutably secure right now (Rom. 11:29}. Our standing before God can never
change. If salvation were, in any measure, dependent human merit and human
works, if it were not altogether by grace alone, then it could not be perfect
and it could not be secure while we are in this world. But, blessed be God, he
does not deal with us after our sins, nor reward us according to our
iniquities! He deals with us in grace! He rewards us according to the
exceeding, abundant riches of his grace in Christ. When I stand before God's
throne, dressed in beauty not my own, I will sing this heartfelt song, "I
am saved by grace alone!"
Grace Baptist Church of Danville
- Grace For Today Radio Message #894
2734 Old Stanford Road -
Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S.
Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 859-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net