Salvation is a marvelous thing. It is no wonder the Apostle called it "so great salvation." Great in its origin, "Salvation is of the Lord." Great in its principle, "for by grace are ye saved." Great in its scope for the Bible teaches that God's people have been saved, are being saved and shall yet be saved. Great in its Person, Jesus Christ the Savior. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) When Simeon of old saw the child Jesus in the temple that day he exclaimed "mine eyes have seen thy salvation." When Christ spoke to Zaccheus concerning his going to his house he said "This day is salvation come to this house." It is true that men are not saved without the gospel. But the gospel is not salvation, it is the "power of God unto salvation" and the "gospel OF your salvation." Salvation is in the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a great work that He accomplishes to secure our salvation and for this we love the Worker. There is a principle of substitution by which He dies in our place and bears our sins in His own body on the tree and for this we love the Substitute. His righteousness is imputed to us and we are made the righteousness of God in Him and for this we love the Righteous One. We are freely justified from all things through His redemptive blood and for this we love the Justifier. He has redeemed us to God from the curse of sin and for this we love the Redeemer. In other words, it is so great a salvation because Christ is so great a Savior!

GS

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” 2Co 10:5

It is plain from this verse that the Spirit alone can take the gospel and accomplish this “casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.” The reason for this is that man by nature wants to exalt his own obedience to God for salvation. We must be brought by God’s Spirit to trust “the obedience of Christ.” This obedience Paul says in Philippians was His being “obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” It is His obedience that saves us and not our obedience to Him! “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Rom 5:19

GS

Few seem to realize the fearful implications which necessarily follow the principles they hold and advocate. To predicate an atonement which fails to atone, a redemption which does not redeem, a sacrifice which secures not the actual remission of sins is a horrible reflection upon all the attributes of God. To make the efficacy or success of the greatest of all God's works dependent upon the choice of fallen and depraved creatures is to magnify man at the cost of dethroning his Maker.

A.W. Pink

We dare not hope to be accepted with God because of anything that is in us by nature or may be infused into us by grace: we are accepted in the Beloved, and apart from Him we look not to be found accepted. Even what the Holy Ghost works in us does not furnish us with any merit which we can plead, for it is a gift of grace, and no part of our justifying righteousness. We rest upon Jesus Christ crucified (His imputed righteousness, atoning blood and Mediation alone), and not upon our faith, repentance or prayers.

C.H. Spurgeon

"Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth." (Psalm 110:3)

God's elect worship and serve Him with willing hearts. We willingly believe, willingly worship, willingly give, and willingly do what we can for the glory of God. It is God who, by effectual grace, makes us willing; but we are willing servants of the Most High God! Any worship, service, or gift offered to God that is not done with a willing heart is an abomination to Him.

Scott Richardson

The true believer has conflict with the religious world. The greatest enemies of Christ have always been those who boasted of their knowledge of God. It was in the synagogue that the death of Christ was plotted. It was in the cathedrals that the reformers were tried and burned. It is in the churches and seminaries that the gospel of grace is denied.

Henry Mahan

The more convinced we are of our utter helplessness before God due to our sinfulness, the more dearly we will appreciate His free grace to us in Christ Jesus. Let others boast of their supposed free will, their decision, and their choice; but as for this sinner, I know I was dead in sin when God raised me from a spiritual grave. I was lost but the Shepherd found me; I was filthy but He washed me in His blood and robed me in His righteousness. Therefore, "My soul shall make her boast in the Lord."

Jim Byrd

WHEN JESUS COMES!

When Jesus comes again to earth,

No man does know the hour,

With all the holy angels then,

In all His mighty pow’r!

Chorus:

When Jesus comes, when Jesus comes,

God speed the day when Jesus comes.

When we shall see Him face to face,

And praise Him for His wondrous grace.

When Jesus comes each eye shall see,

The One who men did pierce.

Then they shall hide their face from Him;

And fear His wrath so fierce.

When Jesus comes to claim His own,

They all as one will be;

And each will with the other sing,

Of mercy great and free!

When Jesus comes we’ll hear Him say,

“Come all my chosen race,”

Inherit now the kingdom new,

Prepared for you by grace!

Gary Shepard