Psalm 73:25-28

Contending for the Truth

Contending for the truth against the errors of modern religion is the duty of God’s servants. I hope our spirit is one of genuine love to all the chosen of God; but, today’s rule of charity, which requires us to keep silent on certain points in order to avoid controversy, I utterly despise.

It is treason to the Lord Jesus to be silent on any point where He has spoken and the honor of His gospel is concerned. It is easy on the flesh to deal in generalities, to denounce hyper-this or hyper-that, and to claim to be a friend to all; but, it is required of the loyal servant of King Jesus to maintain His crown-rights and to stand up for His gospel of glory and grace.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1987)

SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST –NOT OUR WORKS

God’s Word tells saved sinners “by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8).

Consider what is here taught.

To be “saved” is to be delivered from sins and their consequences and punishment. The saved are forgiven from their sins, and receive eternal life and heavenly bliss.

To be saved “by grace” is to be saved by God’s unmerited favor. God’s salvation cannot be earned or deserved.

To be saved “through faith” is to be saved through believing God’s gospel and trusting in Jesus Christ and the work He did for the salvation of sinners through His perfect life and shed blood.
This faith is “not of yourselves”. You do not naturally have this faith. You cannot produce this faith. In and of yourself, you are faithless.

This faith is “the gift of God”. Faith is God’s gift to the sinners He will save. He graciously gives even the faith with which they believe Jesus Christ’s gospel and trust in Him unto salvation.
This salvation is “not of works”. God’s grace and our works are mutually exclusive. Christ’s works satisfy God, our works do not. Saving faith is in Christ, not in our works.

Therefore, the salvation of sinners is by grace through faith in Christ, not of our works – “lest anyone should boast”. They who boast of some work they did in order to be saved deny grace, faith, and Christ.

Sinner, here is good news to you if you desire salvation. God requires no work from you in order to be saved. For the salvation of sinners is by God’s grace alone, through God-given faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone, totally apart from our works.

Pastor Daniel Parks

THE EFFECTS OF TRUE PREACHING
Acts 26:16-18

God has ordained the salvation of His elect (Rom. 8:29-30). But remember, that He has also ordained the means to call them out (1 Cor. 1:21). I would not exalt the messenger, but I would exalt the means and make much of the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul and any other man sent to preach the gospel are only earthen vessels (2 Cor. 4:7). God uses the word preached by sinful creatures to the salvation of His sheep (Rom. 10:14-17). Paul also describes to Agrippa the effects of true preaching to the elect of God, "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me" (Acts 26:18). Here is a plain description of the work of grace in us through the gospel being preached. Notice these things:

1). God opens the blind eye! All men are spiritually blind to the truth and dead in sin. God must command that spiritual sight be given so we can see the truth as it is revealed in the Word (John 3:3; Eph. 2:1; James 1:18).

2). God turns us from darkness unto light! Men love darkness rather than the light (John 3:19). Through the Word preached God commands the Light to shine in us, which turns us from self to Christ (2 Cor.4:6).

3). God grants to us the just forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace through Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:7; 1 John 1:7).

4). God gives unto us an eternal and rich inheritance! By His almighty grace He has chosen and adopted us into His family making us heirs of God and joint heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:15-17; 1 Peter 1:1-3).