"SALVATION IS OF THE LORD!"
JONAH
2:9
"Salvation" is a
big word. It includes much more than a
believer's initial experience of grace in regeneration and conversion. It
includes everything required to bring fallen men from the pit of the damned
into the eternal presence of God's glory in heaven. And, from first to last, it
is the work of God's free grace alone.
Man does nothing. Man contributes nothing. Nothing is determined by or
dependent upon the will of man or the works of man. "Salvation is of the Lord!"
This is the essence of all
true doctrine. Today, sinners are called upon to walk an aisle, say a prayer,
or otherwise do something to obtain salvation. The prophet of God declares, "Stand still and see the salvation of
the Lord" (Ex. 14:13). "Salvation
is of the Lord" in its planning (Eph. 1:3-6; 2 Tim. 1:9; Rom.
8:28-30), in its purchase (Rom. 3:24-26; Gal. 3:l3; Heb. 9:12; 1 Pet. 1:18-20),
in its execution (John 3:8; Eph. 2:1-9) in its preservation (John 10:27-30;
Jer. 32:38-40), and in its completion (Phil. 1:6; Eph. 5:25-27; Jude 24-25).
In old eternity, the Lord
Jesus Christ assumed the responsibility of saving all God's elect as the Surety
of the everlasting covenant. When Christ agreed to save us, he became
responsible to save us (John 10:16-18). In his life of obedience unto God as a
man, our Savior worked out a perfect righteousness for us, which is imputed to
all who believe, making us worthy of God's acceptance (Rom. 5:l9; Col. 1:12).
When he died upon the cross, the Son of God fully satisfied the claims of
divine justice against us; and he made that satisfaction for a particular
people (1 John 4:9-10; Isa. 53:8; John 10:15, 26). Christ purchased for his
redeemed people all the rights and privileges of salvation and eternal life.
Then, having purchased
eternal salvation for his elect, the Lord Jesus Christ was exalted to the
throne of universal dominion, to sovereignly govern the universe for the
purpose of giving eternal life to his elect, redeemed people (John 17:2). And,
in the last day, the good Shepherd will present all the sheep entrusted to his
care, the covenant Surety will present all the elect people given into his hand
before the world began holy, unblameable, unreprovable and glorious before the
throne of the triune God (Heb. 2:13; Col. 1:21-22). Not one of God's elect
shall ever perish, because "Salvation
is of the Lord!"
Learn
this one thing, that "Salvation is
of the Lord," that God
alone planned it, God alone purchased it, God alone performs it, God alone
preserves it, God alone perfects it, and God alone shall have the praise for
it, and you will have learned more than most preachers, religious leaders, and
theologians ever learn. You will have learned that which no man can learn,
except he be taught of God.
Amen.
Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For
Today Radio Message #766
2734 Old Stanford Road -
Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net