October 7, 2012Hardman
Call to Worship
I wandered in darkness, so blind and alone;
No purpose for living, no permanent home:
My interests all worldly, I, spiritu’lly dead,
No sense of my sin or of what lie ahead.
But God sent a preacher a story to tell,
How I was a sinner, deserving of hell;
He told of the Savior, who came from above,
To ransom poor sinners in free sov’reign love.
My soul was convicted, much troubled and tossed,
For without this Savior, I knew I was lost,
I wanted salvation but could not believe,
That God’s love for sinners was so full and free.
But God in His purpose chose me for His own,
My soul He pursued, would not leave me alone!
He showed me the Savior accursed on the tree,
To satisfy justice and justify me.
My soul is now resting, no longer alone,
I walk with my Savior, who sits on His throne,
My soul is now resting; my heart’s full of praise,
For Christ and salvation and free sov’reign grace.
By Pastor Maurice Montgomery
(Tune: ‘When I Survey’ Pg.118)
CHRIST ALONE - THE SINNER'S ONLY HOPE
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21
Our only hope of salvation is the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is in Christ alone, in Christ completely, and in Christ only. In fact, he is God's salvation. You cannot be saved without him; and you cannot be saved if you try to mix your own works, feelings, emotions, or experiences with faith in him. The Lord Jesus Christ is able to save you from the guilt of sin, the power of sin, and all the consequences of sin. He is all sufficient. His name is called "Jesus" because "he shall save his people from their sins". He is the only one who has power in himself to forgive sin. He is exalted "to give repentance and remission of sins" to the Israel of God.
The Lord God found a ransom for sinners in his own dear Son, and purposed to save his people by the sacrificial death of his Son as their Substitute from eternity. In the fullness of time, the Son of God became a man to accomplish the salvation of chosen sinners. "Being found in fashion as a man, he became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross". Thus, by the sacrifice of himself according to the will of God, the Lord Jesus Christ put away all the sins of his people, obtained eternal redemption for them, and established the only grounds upon which God can be both just and the Justifier of all who believe (Rom. 3:24-26).
There is no other possible way of salvation. God's own beloved Son would never have been crucified to redeem and save us if salvation could have been obtained in any other way. Indeed, the apostle Paul reasons that if we could have been saved in some other way “then Christ is dead in vain” (Gal. 2:21). Infinite wisdom found a way to save us. Infinite grace provided the great sacrifice. Infinite love brought the Son of God to lay down his life for his people. Why? Because there was no other way for God to both satisfy his justice in the punishment of sin and forgive his people of all their sins. Christ alone is and must be our 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). If you believe on Christ, you may be confident that your sins are forgiven by his blood and that God looks upon you as being perfectly
righteous. He has promised to save all who trust his dear Son . Indeed, if you now trust the Son of God, it is because you are already born of God and have everlasting life (John 3:36). - Pastor
SOVEREIGNTY, MEANS, THANKSGIVING
"But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" 2 Thess. 2:13.
There are three things here which deserve special attention.
First, the fact that we are expressly told that God's elect are "chosen to salvation." Language could not be more explicit. How summarily do these words dispose of the sophistries (arguments) and equivocations of all who would make election refer nothing but external privileges or rank in service! It is to "salvation" itself that God hath chosen us (John 15:16).
Second, we are warned here that election unto salvation does not disregard the use of appropriate means: salvation is reached through "sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." It is not true that because God has chosen a certain one to salvation that he will be saved willy nilly, whether he believes or not: nowhere do the scriptures so represent it. The same God who predestined the end, also appointed the means; the same God who "chose unto salvation", decreed that his purpose should, be realized through the work of the Spirit and belief of the truth (2Tim. 2:25; Titus 1:1).
Third, that God has chosen us unto salvation is a profound cause for fervent praise. Note how strongly the apostle expresses this, "we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation", etc. Instead of shrinking in horror from the doctrine of predestination, the believer, when he sees this blessed truth as it is unfolded in the Word, discovers a ground for gratitude and thanksgiving such as nothing else affords, save the unspeakable gift of the Redeemer himself (Eph. 1:3-6).
- A.W. Pink
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