Distinguishing Grace
I Corinthians 4:7
"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?" The
Spirit of God, who inspired Paul to raise those three questions, means for us
to understand that grace alone distinguishes God's elect from the reprobate
sons and daughters of Adam.
IN ELECTION God chose some and passed by
others, not because he foresaw that some would choose him and others would not,
but because he loved some and did not love others (Jer. 31:3; Rom.
IN REDEMPTION Christ made atonement for
God's elect and made no provision whatever for others. He secured our
salvation, obtained eternal redemption for us, and delivered us from the curse
of the law (Heb.
IN REGENERATION the Spirit of God saves
some and passes by others (John 3:8). He regenerates and calls all who were
chosen by the Father and redeemed by the Son, and preserves them in everlasting
life unto heavenly glory.
IN JUDGMENT that which shall distinguish
the saved from the damned shall be the fact that God has removed our sins from
us, imputed the righteous works of Christ to us, and imparted the holy nature
of Christ to us (Jer.50:20;John 5:28-29; Rev.22:11). When we bow before our God
in the perfection of heavenly glory we will glorify him alone for our entire
salvation; and those who know the grace of God give him all the glory now.
Don Fortner