The Distinguishing Grace
Of God
“For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that
thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as
if thou hadst not received it?” -- 1 Corinthians 4:7
The only difference between the believer and the unbeliever, between
the righteous and the wicked, between the seed of Christ and the seed of the
serpent, is the difference which grace has made. This we must acknowledge.
"By the grace of God I am what I am!" God's grace is always
particular, distinctive, and distinguishing. Those who are saved are
distinguished from those who are lost by five acts of grace.
Election
The first distinguishing act of God's grace is his eternal election.
If you can, with the eye of faith, trace every spiritual blessing that you now
enjoy, and those which you hope to enjoy, back to the place of their original
source, the place of their origin would be spelled "ELECTION" (Eph. 1:3-4; 2 Thess. 2:13;
Jer. 1:4; 31:3).
Redemption
The second act of grace by which God has distinguished his elect from
the rest of mankind is effectual redemption. By his precious blood, poured out
unto death upon the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ has effectually ransomed God's
elect from the hands of divine justice, by satisfying the claims of justice
against us (Isa. 53:8-11; Gal. 3:13; Heb. 9:12).
Providence
The third act of grace by which the Lord God has distinguished his
people, the people of his love, whom he loves with an everlasting love, from
the rest of the world is his adorable providence. Our God governs all the
affairs of this world. And he has governed all the affairs and circumstances of
our lives to bring us to the place where we now are, and to eternal glory in
Christ (Matt. 10:29-31; Rom. 8:28).
Regeneration
The fourth act of grace by which God’s elect are distinguished from all
other men is the Holy Spirit’s sovereign, irresistible work of grace in
regeneration and effectual calling. The only thing that makes you different
from any other being on this planet, if you are born again, is the fact that
God has saved you. He gave you life and faith in Christ by the irresistible
power of his omnipotent grace (Eph. 2:1-10).
Preservation
The fifth act of grace by which God distinguishes his elect from the
unbelieving is his merciful preservation. The only thing that keeps us in grace
is grace itself. The only thing that holds us to Christ is Christ himself (Jer.
32:38-40).
AMEN.