What Every Child of God Confesses

Although nearly 80% of Americans consider themselves ‘Christians’ the divergence in what they believe about God, Christ and the Bible clearly indicates that there are many who are deceived and believe a lie because most attribute some part of their belief to their own will, as if salvation were a cooperative between God and them.

In Isaiah 26:12-13 we read: “LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. O LORD our God, other LORDs beside thee have had dominion over us; but by thee only will we make mention of thy name." Here are three statements that show that salvation is of the LORD from beginning to end. It is what every true child of God believes and confesses.

It is the LORD Who ordains peace for us: “LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us.” First, there is the peace that the LORD Jesus Christ has established between God the Father and those that He has chosen unto salvation, Isaiah 53:11. To know God and worship Him, He must first-of-all have had to establish peace between us and reconciled us to Himself in a manner that is consistent with His holy character. This He did in His work on the cross. This then produces the peace of God. When there is peace with God, everything else is at peace: outwardly and inwardly, Spiritually and endlessly. Even when everything appears to go against the believer, he can say, ‘It is well with my soul’.

It is the LORD Who sanctifies us: "Thou also hast wrought all our works in us." If the LORD has done all that is necessary in redeeming the believer, it is sure that He will in time work it in him. Notice the first sentence says: LORD, Thou wilt ordain peace FOR us. The second sentence says: thou also hast wrought all our works IN us. One is God's work of redemption and justification by Christ’s death. The other is God's work of sanctification by His Spirit, having sanctified His own at the cross. The believer's sanctification by the Spirit is the fruit of the work of Christ in redemption. God does not redeem sinners by Christ and then turn them back to the law for holy living. He works in the believer what He worked out by His life and death. "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."

It is the LORD Who enables us: “By Thee only will we make mention of Thy name.” God's people not only worship UNTO the LORD but BY Him. Any ability or strength is from Him, whether it is to repent and believe on Him, confess Him or serve Him. These are all by Grace alone. All the glory belongs to Him.