Sovereign, Free, Unconditional Grace
Ephesians 2:8-9
Salvation is the free gift of God. It is
the work of the triune God alone. In the beginning, in the process and in the
end, salvation is by grace alone, and that grace comes to sinners only through
Christ, the one and only mediator between God and men. Our works have
absolutely nothing to do with the accomplishment, preservation, or consummation
of our salvation in Christ. "Salvation is of the LORD!"
Election, God's eternal choice of some to
salvation was free and unconditional (Eph. 1:3-4; II Thess.
Redemption, the ransom of God's elect from
the curse of the law was accomplished by Christ alone (Gal.
Regeneration, the spiritual resurrection
of dead sinners from death to life in Christ,is the
work of God the Holy Spirit (Eph.2:1-4;John 6:63). Faith in Christ does not
cause us to live. Faith is the fruit of regeneration.We believe because we have
been called. The new birth is not accomplished by the will of the sinner, but
by the will of God, the Savior (John
Preservation, the security of the believer's life in Christ, is the work
of God's free grace alone (Jer. 32:38-40; Eccles.
Glorification, the everlasting perfection
and bliss of God's saints in heaven, is the gift and work of grace alone,
purposed, purchased and prepared for God's elect (Eph.
Don Fortner