Saved By Grace

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SAVED BY GRACE

By George W. Sinquefield

(Eph 2:8 KJV) "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

(Eph 2:9 KJV) "Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Paul was a great preacher of the Grace of God. The word "Grace" appears one hundred and one (101) times in his preaching, teaching and writing. He tells us what Grace had done for him.

(1 Cor 15:9 KJV) "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God."

(1 Cor 15:10 KJV) "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."

An old shoemaker was once visited by a preacher who expressed pity for him because he filled such a "menial" position. The man gently rebuked the pastor by pointing to a motto over his workbench that read, "A shoemaker by the grace of God." We, too, must say with Paul "I am what I am by the Grace of God."

When a woman tried to assassinate Queen Elizabeth, everybody in all the world knew that woman would be beheaded. But she knelt at the feet of Queen Elizabeth and said, "I know that my life will be spared." Queen Elizabeth looked down at her and said, "Why, why do you think that your life will be spared?" She said, "Because, Your Grace, you are a merciful queen." The queen took her by the hand and lifted her to her feet and said, "Yes, by my grace your life will be spared."

We have been saved by Jesus Christ; have been spared eternal punishment in the fires of hell by the wonderful, marvelous Grace of God..

What is Grace?

C. I. Schofield said, "Grace means unmerited, unrecompensed favor." John Calvin said, "Grace is the pure liberality of God."

Charles Hadden Spurgeon gives a wonderful definition of Grace when he says, "Grace is something in God which is at the heart of all His redeeming activities. It is God reaching down to touch and grasp all of our insignificance and our poverty."

Another has said, "Grace is the alphabet out of which God writes my pardon. Grace is the whole cloth from which God cuts my garment of righteousness. Grace is the mighty river down which the ships of God's eternal unquenchable love are sailing, freighted with all the blessing of the Almighty."

The most common definition of Grace which we use often is, "Grace is the unmerited favor of God freely bestowed on undeserving sinners." Grace means the attitude of God's heart -- one of loving compassion. Grace means the activity of God's hands always full of blessings which are freely bestowed upon undeserving sinners." Grace means all that God is, all that God has and all that God does for a world lost in sin.

I. Grace is God's Way of Salvation.

"For by Grace are you saved." It is the one and only way to become a child of God and have a home in Heaven. When you add anything to Grace as a way of salvation, -- religion, works, baptism, church membership -- you have departed from the New Testament.

Bailey E. Smith in his book, "Nothing But The Blood" shares this with us. He boarded a plane and was seated by two celebrities -- men who were well known and making a lot of money. They were seated across from each other and they began to talk. He told them about his ministry as pastor and they told him about their work. Later these two got into an argument. Bailey said, "I never heard such crude and bitter language." When the plane landed, Bailey fell on his knees, put his hand on one of their knees and said, "I overheard your conversation and I want to tell you there is a better life for you. You don't have to be bitter and use vile language. You can be full of love and joy. Jesus can give you the greatest life."

One of them said, "Now Bailey, we're going to do this (Get right with God) but I want to tell you now that we are going to do it our own way." Bailey said, "No, you can only do it God's way. You cannot do it your way."

Jesus said, "I am the way and no man comes to the Father except by me."

(Prov 14:12 KJV) "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

Many are following ways which seem right, ways they think will get them to Heaven, but they are ways that lead to death. Let me mention several of these ways.

The Religious Way

Nicodemus was a very religious man. Jesus said that he had to experience the New Birth if he expected to be saved.

(John 3:1 KJV) "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:"

(John 3:2 KJV) "The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him."

(John 3:3 KJV) "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

(John 3:4 KJV) "Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"

(John 3:5 KJV) "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

(John 3:6 KJV) "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

(John 3:7 KJV) "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."

The rich young ruler thought being religious was sufficient but Jesus told him otherwise.

(Mark 10:17 KJV) "And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"

(Mark 10:18 KJV) "And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God."

(Mark 10:19 KJV) "Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother."

(Mark 10:20 KJV) "And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth."

(Mark 10:21 KJV) "Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me."

(Mark 10:22 KJV) "And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions."

(Mark 10:23 KJV) "And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!"

(Mark 10:24 KJV) "And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!"

(Mark 10:25 KJV) "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

(Mark 10:26 KJV) "And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?"

(Mark 10:27 KJV) "And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."

The Pharisees were the religious leaders and very religious. Listen to what Jesus said.

(Mat 5:20 KJV) "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Listen as Paul, a very religious man, speaks to us.

(Phil 3:4 KJV) "Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:"

(Phil 3:5 KJV) "Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;"

(Phil 3:6 KJV) "Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless."

(Phil 3:7 KJV) "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ."

(Phil 3:8 KJV) "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,"

(Phil 3:9 KJV) "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:"

The Reformation Way

By reformation we mean laying aside bad habits, clearing up one's life from the outside.

(Mat 12:43 KJV) "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none."

(Mat 12:44 KJV) "Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished."

(Mat 12:45 KJV) "Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation."

A man talked to his friend about his drinking problem. He urged him to turn away from alcohol -- to quit his drinking. He said, "I didn't help him because I never led him to the cross."

The Imitation Way

Some say you have to imitate the life of Christ in order to be saved. A man said to a preacher, "I don't like your preaching. I don't care for the cross. I think it would be far better to preach Jesus as the example." The preacher asked, "Would you be willing to follow Him if I preach Him as the example?" the man assured the preacher that it was his desire to follow in the steps of Jesus. The preacher said, "Then let us start with the first step. The Bible says Jesus did no sin -- that he lived a perfect life. Can you take that step?" "No," he admitted, "I do sin. I acknowledge it." "Well then," said the preacher, "Your first need of Christ is not an example but a Savior."

The Way Of The Law

By "Way of the Law," we mean following the Old Testament law -- obeying the Ten Commandments. I was in a revival and the pastor and I visited a woman who was lost. She said she believed you had to obey the Ten Commandments in order to be saved. She said she could obey all of them except one. I asked her which one was that and she said she couldn't love her neighbor as herself. I told her she was looking at two preachers who had the same problem. We showed from the Bible how one is saved -- told her she needed to repent and accept Jesus as her Savior. Her mind was closed. She refused to listen to truth and when we left, she said, "I still believe you have to obey the Commandments in order to be saved."

(Rom 3:20 KJV) "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

(Rom 3:21 KJV) "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;"

(Rom 3:22 KJV) "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:"

(Rom 3:28 KJV) "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

The Devil is a liar and will lead you in the wrong way -- the way to death and destruction if you listen to him.

(2 Cor 4:3 KJV) "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:"

(2 Cor 4:4 KJV) "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

II. Not Of Works

Man cannot earn his salvation by works -"Not of works, lest any man should boast."

A great many people believe they can be saved by their works. Others believe that salvation may be attained by Grace plus works. Man everywhere needs to have his eyes opened to the truth of God's word that salvation is by Grace and Grace alone.

You can order various "do-it-yourself" courses from magazines and catalogs. The publicity for these courses stresses that you do not need any outside help in order to become an expert at playing the piano, painting, or speaking a foreign language. This appeals to many. Multitudes are attracted to a "do-it-yourself" Christianity. If you work hard enough you will be accepted by God. This is nothing but a lie. We are saved by God's Grace and not by our works.

If man could be saved by works, the death of Jesus was a mistake but Jesus has made it clear that He came and died in order that we might have life and this life can come only through Him.

Dr. Hershel Hobbs on the Baptist Hour, October 13, 1968, said this:

Rather than your salvation resulting from your works, it is wholly a work of God. "We are his workmanship," not ours. The word "workmanship" renders a word meaning something that is made, and it is made by God. You, therefore, as a Christian are the product, not the producer. You might as well say that a piece of metal made itself into a fine watch or that a piece of wood made itself into a piece of furniture, as to say that you in any sense made or helped to make yourself into a Christian. Your only part in the process is your faith. You permit God to do it.

How does God do this? You are "created in Christ Jesus." Paul said, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature" or "creation" (II Cor. 5:17). In the Bible the word "create" is always used of God, never of man. Man may make or fashion, but only God creates. To create means to bring matter into existence which did not previously exist. Or as we say, "Create out of nothing." You did not exist as a Christian. Lost and undone in sin, you were nothing in God's sight. He created you as a saved person, as a child of God.

I read the following somewhere and it is worth passing on to you.

"Without a single exception, man-made or demon inspired religions require good works of some sort as a basis of salvation. But the Word of God continually insists that salvation cannot be obtained in this way, but must come through the finished work wrought in the death of the Son of God upon the cross. All false religions give man the preeminence, but the plan of salvation revealed in the Scriptures gives Jesus the preeminence in this as in all things."

(2 Tim 1:8 KJV) "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;"

(2 Tim 1:9 KJV) "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,"

We will all freely admit that salvation is worth working for. To have our sins forgiven, to be born into God's family through the work of the Holly Spirit, to have everlasting life and are sure of a home in Heaven, to have God as our Father, yes, a thousand times yes, it is worth working for.

One has said, "It is worth a man going around the world on his hands and knees, climbing its mountains, crossing its rivers, going through all manner of hardships in order to attain it. But we do not get it that way."

After a series of meetings had finished, the evangelist Billy Sunday was helping the workmen take down the tent. A young man who had been in the meeting the night before came up to Mr. Sunday and asked him earnestly, "What must I do to be saved?"

Sunday said, "You're too late," and kept on working.

"Don't say that," exclaimed the young man, "for I desire salvation; I would do anything or go anywhere to obtain it."

"I can't help it," Sunday replied. "You're too late; for you salvation was completed many years ago by Jesus Christ, and it's a finished work. All you can do is simply accept it. You have done nothing and can do nothing to merit salvation. It is free to all who will receive it."

George C. Stebbins in his gospel song:

Not saved are we by trying
From self can come no aid.
'Tis on the blood relying
Once for our ransom paid.
'Tis looking unto Jesus
The Holy One and Just,
'Tis His great work that saves us
It is not try but trust.
'Twas vain for Israel bitten
By serpents on their way,
To look to their own doing'
That awful plague to stay.
The only means for healing
When humbled in the dust;
Was of the Lord's revealing,
It was not try but trust.
No deeds of ours are needed
To make Christ's merits more,
No frames of mind or feelings
Can add to His great store.
'Tis simply to receive Him
The Holy One and Just,
'Tis only to believe Him
It is not try, but trust.
Oh, how it gives my soul a thrill
To know I'm saved by grace,
For by my works I would not see
My blessed Master's face! -- Anon.

It is like a preacher who visited a very sick member of his church. His member was in the throes of death, he was soon to go out to meet the Lord. As he lay on his bed, with his weak and trembling hands he was going through some motions The preacher said, "Dear brother, what are you doing? May I ask what does this mean?" The man said, "I'm gathering all my good deeds and all my good works that I've ever done and I'm throwing them away. For when I go out into His presence, I want to go out depending not upon my works but upon the grace of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." God help us all to follow this man and depend, not on our works but upon Jesus and Jesus only for salvation.

D. L. Moody said, "Many of you have been kept out of the kingdom of God by your good works." The only work that will get us to Heaven is the finished work of Christ on the cross.

A chaplain was addressing the soldiers in his company one day. He said to them, "There are two possibilities following death. Heaven and hell. If you would like to know your destination I will be happy to give you a little test - the results of which will be your answer." They answered in unison, "Okay. Give us the test." They found some pencils and paper and the chaplain told them to number off ten spaces. Each question would count ten points. Question number one was, "Have you always loved God above all else and not put anything else before Him?" Each soldier was to grade himself on a scale from one to ten. "Have you ever misused God's name or made light of Him?" There were other questions about family, God and conduct as the chaplain went through the Ten Commandments. When the test was completed, he asked the men to tally up their scores. One thought that he had scored quite well and had given himself a 75. He recalled in school that was considered passing. Eventually, one of the men asked the chaplain, "What's a passing score for this test, anyway?" The chaplain answered, "100 points." The men shook their heads. "What's the use of trying? No one could be that perfect. We're all doomed." The chaplain smiled and said, "I've got good news. There was a man who walked this earth and took this test and scored a 100 points. His name is Jesus. He went on to say that the purpose of the test was not to score 100 but to indicate our need of help. Jesus scored 100 points and we can substitute His test score for our own. We are accepted because of what He has done.

The first good work you will ever perform and the only work that will save your soul is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

(John 6:28 KJV) "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?"

(John 6:29 KJV) "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."

III. Salvation Is God's Gift

"The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord." A gift involves no price, no merit, no worthiness and no obligation on the part of the giver.

If I had a gold watch which was valued at one thousand dollars and I tell you that you can buy it for five dollars. You pay me the five dollars and you get the watch. You could never say the watch was a gift even though you paid so little for it. You bought it. Just suppose you deserved the watch and I gave it to you. You could never call it a gift -- you deserved it. Now no one deserves salvation. We all deserve to go to hell. You tell me that I am obligated to give you the watch and I give it to you -- you could never call it a gift. God is not obligated to give salvation to anyone. He does it out of love and compassion.

IV. Faith Is God's Gift

For by Grace are ye saved through faith and that (that faith by which we are saved) is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. The faith with which we appropriate the Grace of God is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God.

The lost are dead in sins and the Holy Spirit does His work of conviction. He convinces the lost of his lostness and of his need of salvation. He gives us the capacity to understand that we are lost and Christ is the Savior and He gives us the will and the mind to receive Jesus as Savior.

V. Salvation By Grace Excludes All Boasting

((Eph 2:8 KJV) "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

(Eph 2:9 KJV) "Not of works, lest any man should boast."

D. L. Moody once said, "It is well that a man cannot save himself for if a man could only work his way into Heaven you would never hear the last of it. Why, if a man happens to get a little ahead of his fellows and scrapes a few thousand dollars together, you will hear him boast of being a self-made man. I've heard so much of this sort of talk that I am sick of the whole business and I am glad that through all eternity in Heaven we will never hear anyone bragging that he worked his way to get there."

We, as Christians, must always remember that we were bought with a price, that price being the blood of Jesus shed on the cross.

(1 Cor 6:19 KJV) "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

(1 Cor 6:20 KJV) "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

(1 Pet 1:18 KJV) "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;"

(1 Pet 1:19 KJV) "But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"

In Heaven we'll sing a new song, praising Jesus for what He has done for us.

(Rev 5:9 KJV) "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;"

God loves the world. Every soul is precious to Him. He wants to and will save anyone who'll come to Him.

(2 Pet 3:9 KJV) "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

God has extended His love and Grace to every person.

"For the Grace of God which bringeth salvation hath appeared unto men."

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."

Consider with me two men of different characters -- Paul and the repentant thief on the cross.

Paul was very anxious to keep the law. He was rigid. He dotted every "i" and crossed every "t". He referred to himself as "A Hebrew of the Hebrews" and " A Pharisee of the Pharisees." When he was saved he became the most loyal Christian who ever lived. He served the Lord gladly regardless of the price he had to pay. He suffered much for his Lord. He was stoned, beaten, threatened, ship wrecked, and eventually martyred for the Lord. Every day with his hands, he labored for the Lord. His feet carried him hundreds of miles preaching the gospel. He wrote a large portion of the New Testament.

The other man was the repentant thief on the cross who asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom. This man never kept the law. He rebelled against the law. He was a criminal against the law. He never served Christ, never used his hands, feet and tongue for the Lord.

One man tried never to break the law. The other never tried to keep it. One after he was saved, used his life for Christ. the other, after he was saved, never did one thing for the Lord. Yet, both of these men went to Heaven. Why? It was because of the marvelous, wonderful, matchless Grace of God.

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me."

John Newton wrote this great hymn -- "Amazing Grace" He died at 82. Before his death he said, "My memory is nearly gone but I remember two things. I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior."

We supply the sinner and God in His Grace, supplies the Savior and salvation.

Would you supply the sinner? Turn to Him today --Now!