A God Wrought Salvation
Isaiah 26:12
"Salvation is of the Lord!" No
matter what aspect of salvation is under consideration, Jonah's words are
applicable: "Salvation is of the Lord!" God the Father planned and
purposed the salvation of his elect before the world began (Eph. 1:3-6). God
the Son earned and purchased the salvation of all who were predestinated to the
adoption of sons by his holy life and vicarious death as their Representative
and Substitute (Eph. 1:7-12). God the Holy Spirit reveals God's salvation to
every chosen, redeemed sinner, and works it in them by his almighty,
irresistible grace (Eph. 1:13-14). In its planning, in its purchase, in its
performance, in its preservation, and in its perfection, "Salvation is of
the Lord!"
Every work that is in anyway associated
with salvation is, throughout the Bible, ascribed to God. Nothing is ever
ascribed to man but sin and unbelief. "Thou hast wrought all our works in
us!"
1. REGENERATION, the new birth, is God's
work (John 3:8; 6:63; James
2. CONVICTION, is
the work of God the Holy Spirit (John 16:8-14).
3. REPENTANCE is the gift of God (Acts
4. FAITH in Christ is something sinners
must exercise; yet they can do so only by the gift and operation of God the
Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:8; Col. 2:12).
5. SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING is the work and
gift of God's grace (John
6. PERSEVERANCE is the result of God's
preservation (Mal. 3:6; I Pet. 1:5).
7.
GOOD WORKS, which every believer is responsible to maintain, are the results of
God's grace (Eph. 2:8-10).
8. SPIRITUAL FRUIT is the produce of God
the Holy Spirit (Gal.
Ours is a God wrought salvation! If God
did not work all our works in us, we would all perish. But God, in his free and
sovereign grace, has done for us what we could never do for ourselves. We
gladly confess, "Salvation is of the Lord!" "Lord, thou hast
wrought all our works in us!"
Don Fortner