“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” | Philippians 2: 13
Everything concerning a sinner’s salvation is of God.
Nothing is of us.
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1: 6)
We don’t begin the work of salvation, He does.
We don’t perform the work of salvation, He does.
“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19: 30)
We don’t finish the work of salvation, He does.
“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” (Hebrews 1: 3)
We don’t call on Him, He calls us.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19: 10)
We don’t seek Him, He seeks us.
“And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.” (Luke 15: 3-6)
We don’t find Him, He finds us.
“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1: 6)
We don’t accept Him, He accepts us.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Ephesians 2: 8)
We don’t produce our own faith to believe on Him, He puts His own faith in us and causes us to believe on Him.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” (Titus 3: 5)
We don’t earn any perfection of our own, He earned it for us.
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4: 10)
It’s not that we loved Him, but that He loved us.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1: 3-5)
We don’t keep ourselves in His love, He keeps us there.
“But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” (Jonah 2: 9)
Salvation is totally of the Lord.
~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker
Click here to listen to the message “Lord, Don’t Leave Me To Myself!” (36:17 minutes)
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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.
Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: Special | Previous post date: 21 February, 2021