How does God save sinners? Pay attention to the question I am asking. I do not ask - What can a man do to save himself? I do not ask - What is God's part in salvation? We recognize that "Salvation is of the Lord!" "He that is our God is the God of salvation." This one thing you must learn - SALVATION IS A WORK OF ALMIGHTY GOD. It is not the work of man. And it is not a co-operative effort between God and man. "Salvation", from start to finish, "is of the Lord." It cannot, in anyway, be attributed to man. Salvation is not accomplished by the works of men, the power of men, the will of men, or the decisions of men - "Salvation is of the Lord!" "It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy."
In Ephesians 2:8-9, the Apostle Paul tells us exactly how it is that God saves sinners. "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast." Look at those words. What is the Holy Spirit teaching us? SALVATION IS ACCOMPLISHED BY THE GRACE OF GOD. Grace is not a helpless sentiment, emotion, or passion with God. Grace is not a good, but ineffectual, desire in God to save men. Grace is the free, sovereign, irresistible act of God's power toward his elect, by which he accomplishes our salvation in Christ. Salvation is by grace alone. Grace planned it. Grace provided it. Grace performs it. Grace preserves it. And grace will perfect it. We do not in any way merit salvation. It is altogether by grace. Our election in Christ, our redemption by Christ, and our regeneration in Christ are all works of grace. Justification, sanctification, preservation, and glorification are all wonderful works of grace. Salvation is God's work. GOD SAVES MEN THROUGH FAITH. Faith receives what Christ has accomplished. Faith is not the instrument by which salvation is accomplished. It was accomplished by Christ alone. He satisfied the law. He brought in everlasting righteousness. He put away sin. He reconciled us to God. But faith is the means by which we receive salvation. By faith we receive all the blessings of grace, resting our souls upon Christ alone. And all who believe on Christ are saved by the grace of God in Christ. AND EVEN THIS FAITH IS NOT OF OURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD. True faith is not a human virtue. It is not a natural ability which lies dormant in the heart of man until he chooses to exercise it. True saving faith is a gift of God the Holy Spirit, created in the hearts of men by the preaching of the gospel. Our faith in Christ is the gift of the operation of God. And all of this, it must be repeated, is NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST. Neither the grace, nor the salvation, nor the faith can be attributed to man. Otherwise, men would have a grounds for boasting in the flesh. If man contributes anything toward his salvation, that salvation by which God is glorified, then God becomes debtor to man. And that cannot be! How does God save sinners? Salvation is accomplished by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ the Lord.
*