FOUR
FACTS ABOUT SALVATION
Salvation is the gracious
deliverance of our souls from all evil. It is deliverance from sin, deliverance
from the curse of the law, deliverance from death, deliverance from the eternal
wrath of God in hell, and deliverance into the eternal bliss and glory of God's
presence in heaven. This salvation of our souls is the gracious act of God. It
comes to men through the merits of Christ's righteousness and shed blood. It is
a work performed in the heart by the power of God the Holy Spirit. And it is
received by faith. Salvation is not to be attributed to the works of man in any
measure whatsoever. This is what the Word of God says about our salvation. --
"By grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves (Neither the grace nor the salvation, nor the
faith is man's work.): it is the gift of God; not of works lest any man should
boast" (Eph. 2: 8-9). "God
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" (2 Tim. 1:9). Here are four facts about
salvation which are plainly revealed in the Word of God.
1.
SALVATION WAS PURPOSED BY
GOD FOR HIS ELECT IN ETERNITY.
The Lord our God sovereignly
purposed the salvation of his people in Christ before the world began. Before
angel loved angel, before man loved man, God's heart was set upon his people in
love and grace. Before the world began, before the sun, the moon, and the stars
gave forth light, before the heavens were made, before the foundations of the
earth were laid, when God dwelt alone in the glory and bliss of his sacred and
eternal Persons, he said of his elect, "I will be their God and they shall be my people." It was God's
eternal purpose of grace that determined whom he would save, when he would
save, and how he would save. His eternal love and infinite wisdom drew all the
details of salvation's eternal plan. He "predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to
himself, according to the good pleasure of his will" (Eph. 1:5).
2.
SALVATION PURCHASED FOR
GOD’S ELECT BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AT CALVARY.
The Lord Jesus Christ came
into this world, assuming our nature, so that he might redeem us to himself.
When he voluntarily laid down his life at Calvary as the Substitute for his
people, as the sacrificial atonement for our sins, he purchased us out from
under the curse and penalty of God's holy law. And he purchased for us all the
blessings of eternal salvation. Entering in once into the holy place with his
own blood as our Representative, the Lord Jesus Christ has obtained eternal
redemption for us and purchased in our name the eternal inheritance of the
heavenly glory.
3.
SALVATION IS PERFORMED IN
GOD’S ELECT ENTIRELY BY HIS GRACE.
When we were dead in
trespasses and in sins, God the Holy Spirit regenerated us by sovereign power,
giving us life in Christ. We could not and would not come to the Lord; but he
came to us. We had no repentance; but he gave us repentance. We had no faith; but
he gave us faith. In the day of his power he gave us life, revealed Christ in
our hearts, and made us willing to come to Christ, trusting him as Lord and
Savior. As it is written, "Blessed
is the man whom thou choosest and causest to approach unto thee” (Ps.
65:4).
4.
SALVATION IS PRESERVED BY
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.
We were chosen by grace,
redeemed by grace, saved by grace, and we shall be preserved unto eternal glory
by grace. Like a mighty preserver, we are sealed by God the Holy Spirit in
Christ until the resurrection day, when our salvation shall be perfect and
complete. Salvation is by grace alone. "Salvation is of the Lord!” AMEN.
Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For
Today Radio Message #840
2734 Old Stanford Road -
Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S.
Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 859-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net