Salvation is of the LORD

Growing up I heard preachers talk about “the Plan of Salvation” then they would commence to tell sinners how to “get saved.” Salvation is not a “how to plan.” Salvation is of the LORD. It is not how to get saved but who saves, the LORD. The LORD purposed to save a people, Jesus Christ, God incarnate, died for those people and the Holy Spirit calls them by the gospel and regenerates them. It is all of the LORD from alpha to omega. If we are to build a house, let’s talk about the how to plan, if we are talking about salvation, let’s talk about the doing and dying and rising again of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor John Chapman

They Preached the Gospel of Grace

“But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they” (Acts 15:11).

The apostles and the early believers were despised by the religious Jews because of the gospel which they preached. It was not because they lived immoral lives, failed to do good works, nor because they were covetous or proud men. They were persecuted because the gospel of God’s grace, which they preached, was offensive to human pride.

They preached (as I trust we do also) that salvation, even for the most moral person on earth, is only possible because of the grace and mercy of God, given to us in Christ Jesus. These people of God knew nothing of free-will, decisionism, and giving God a chance. They knew only one way of salvation, that of God being gracious and showing sovereign mercy to sinners in Christ (1 Tim. :15).

The gospel of grace and glory does not appear OCCASIONALLY in their preaching and writings, nor was it a deeper truth of doctrine which they discussed PRIVATELY; it reigns, shines, and dominates all that they said, wrote, and did. It was the ONLY THING that they preached! To them, any word of human worthiness, works, or rights was totally wrong and counted for nothing in the matter of acceptance before God. They addressed all men (even themselves) as guilty, condemned, and justly perishing unless God is pleased to come in mercy and lift the beggar from his dunghill dwelling, sanctify and justify him through Christ Jesus, and accept him in the Beloved. “God be merciful to us, and bless us; and cause Thy face to shine upon us” (Ps. 67:1).

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1990)

THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST

"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls"(1 Peter 2:24-25).

In these words of Holy Scripture we have a clear description of the Lord Jesus Christ's blessed atonement for sin (1 John 4:10). He came not merely as an example but as God's Servant to accomplish our salvation (John 4:34; 17:4; 19:30). Here are at least six things taught from the above quoted scripture about the atonement.

1). His atonement was substitutionary, "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree." Our sovereign God has devised the wise means whereby He can be a just God and a Saviour (Isa. 45:21). Jesus Christ, the Son of God took our humanity to Himself that He might be an able and suitable sacrifice for the sin of His people (Rom.8:3). As the God-man He had no sin of His own, however God imputed to Christ Jesus all the sin of His covenant people. He is guilty of sin only by imputation (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18; Isa. 53:4-7).

2). His atonement was particular, "Who his own self bare our sins." Not all the sin of all men, not some of the sin of all men, but all of the sin of God's elect were laid on the Redeemer. This is what the scriptures plainly reveal. The Good Shepherd laid down His life for the sheep (John 10:15).

3). His atonement was effectual, "by whose stripes you were healed." Christ bearing our sin to the tree and on the cross He made an end of them (Heb.9:26; Heb.10:14-17). His blood cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

4). His atonement was satisfying, "that we, being dead to sins." Sin and its curse no longer has a claim on the believer (Rom. 8:1; Gal. 3:13; Rom. 6:6-11;). The death of Christ is the death of all our sin and its condemnation, satisfying to God's justice and to the sinners need (Isa. 53:10-11).

5). His atonement was justifying, "should live unto righteousness." The ultimate design of Christ's sacrifice is the glory of God. But that also includes bringing the sinner out of a state of condemnation in Adam (Rom.5:12) into a righteous state of justification in Christ by His blood and righteousness (Rom. 5:9; Rom. 3:24-26; 2 Cor. 5:21).