What Is It That Saves A Soul?

Ephesians 2:8

 

Multitudes of people perish in their sins and are lost forever in hell, because they are ignorant of the answer to this all important question. They thought that salvation came by religious heredity, by their good works, by baptism, by religious training, or by emotional experience. But, Paul tells us plainly, "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God."

            Salvation Is A Work Of Free And Almighty Grace. Our salvation was accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ. He loved us and chose us to be his own people. He lived upon the earth as our Representative, working out a perfect righteousness for us. He suffered and died as our Substitute at Calvary, satisfying the demands of offended justice in our place. He arose from the grave for our justification and ascended to glory as our triumphant King. He sat down in heaven, having finished the work of salvation. Christ Jesus did all of this for us voluntarily, because he was gracious.

            This Salvation Must Be Received By Faith. If you and I would enjoy the blessings or grace, salvation, and eternal life, we must come to Christ as guilty sinners by faith, relying upon him alone as our Savior.         Faith does not save us. But without faith there is no salvation. The promise is to them that believe. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved!"

            Salvation And Faith Is A Gift Of God. We do not have the power to believe according to our own freewill. Faith, which receives Christ's salvation, is the faith of the operation of God. It is the gift of God. Faith in Christ is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is the result of the new birth. It is not the cause of life, but it is the first evidence of life.

Don Fortner