Eternal Salvation
Romans 8:28-30
Salvation is a work of grace experienced
in time. Regeneration, faith, repentance, conversion, sanctification and
preservation are things which God's elect experience in this world. But
salvation began in eternity. Long, long before God began his work of grace in
us, he began his work of grace for us. If your thoughts about salvation are
limited to what you experience in time, you have a very limited and perverted
view of God's work. Salvation includes the past, the present and the future. I
have been saved. I am being saved. And I shall yet be saved.
If we would understand this wonderful
thing called "salvation", we must begin where God began, with the
eternal election of his people in Christ. To whom are we indebted for this, the
first of all spiritual blessings? Pride says, "To me."
Self-righteousness says, "To me." Free-will says, "To me."
But faith joins with God's Word and says, "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto
us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake"
(Psa. 115:1).
Is the election of grace based in anyway
upon something God "foresaw" the sinner would do? Hear the testimony
of the Apostle Paul: "There is a remnant," not all, but some; and
that remnant chosen by God shall be saved, "According to the election of
grace." What do those words mean? Paul tells us, "If by grace, then
it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace" (
God's election of some to salvation and
eternal life was a work of unconditional and eternal grace. Grace and
conditionality are two incompatible opposites. They cannot exist together, any more than two things can occupy the same place
at one time. If you slip works into the scheme of salvation, you push out grace
altogether. If you establish grace as the grounds of salvation, you must throw
out works altogether. Grace and works will not mix! Salvation begins with God's
eternal election. And God's election was a work of grace alone. Therefore God
alone shall have the praise, honor and glory for that eternal salvation which
is ours in Christ.
Don Fortner