WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Recently, I was asked this question, "What is the
difference between what you preach and what others are preaching?" That
question deserves an answer. Everyone who professes to preach the gospel claims
to believe that salvation is by grace. Primitive Baptist and Free-will
Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians, Pentecostals and Catholics claim to
believe in grace. We all know that grace is unmerited favor. Grace is God's
Riches At Christ's Expense.
Every preacher I know holds this doctrine. But, the Apostle Paul gives a much
broader and fuller explanation of the doctrine of grace. He says that it is God
"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling not according to
our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in
Christ Jesus before the world began" (II Tim. 1:9). This is what we
believe and preach about the doctrine of grace.
1. GOD IS THE AUTHOR OF SALVATION.
"He hath saved us and called us with an holy
calling." "Salvation is of the Lord." God purposed, planned, and
procured our salvation. God the Father planned it. God the Son purchased it.
And God the Holy Spirit applied it. Our salvation is the work of God alone!
2. GOD SAVES
3. WE CONTRIBUTED NOTHING TOWARD OUR SALVATION.
"Not according to our works." We did the running. He did the saving.
We did the sinning. He did the saving.
4. WE ARE "SAVED ACCORDING TO HIS OWN
PURPOSE." We did not purpose To be saved. But
God purposed to save us.
5. THIS GRACE OF
GOD WAS GIVEN TO US "IN CHRIST JESUS BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN".
Salvation is the gift of Christ, bestowed upon us in him in God's eternal
decree.
Of all mercies, pardoning mercy
is the most precious mercy. It is the mercy that makes all other mercies look
like mercies, taste like mercies, and work like mercies. He who is
pardoned from all sin in Christ cannot be miserable and he who is not pardoned
in Christ cannot be happy!