The grace of God that bringeth salvation

By Milt Poulos

  The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men (Titus 2:11) ........but few will take notice because so pitifully few have any concern for their souls. Although the salvation of God's chosen has been predestinated, He is  righteous and will not allow sinners a reason to accuse Him of hiding His gospel from them. In the hardness of their hearts,many refuse to repent, acknowledge their sinful nature and lifestyle. They do not cry out to God and have no desire to seek Christ for salvation from and forgiveness of sin.

      There will be no excuse on Judgement Day and no accusation against God will stand. God the Holy Spirit has knocked on the hearts of men, warning them of their eternal danger. "the work of the law written in their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness..." (Rom 2:15). Yet they disregard these warnings and bury their guilt in to the lusts and pleasures of this world, not knowing or caring about the consequences. But God in order to show His sovereignty in election, will have mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardens. (Rom 9:18). He actually glorifies Himself as a righteous God by proving the wickedness of men shown by their refusal of His grace. He allows many to perish eternally in Hell for their sins as proof that apart from His drawing, no man will come to Christ. John 6:44.  Men will reject Jesus, because, apart from a new birth, they are of their father the devil and his lusts they will do. John 8:44. It is the grace of God that is applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit that brings men from the dead and awakens them to the needs of their souls. He never lets them rest until they see themselves as ruined sinners.  Then by His leading, He points the way to trust in the once and for all sufficient blood sacrifice of the Lord Jesus for the remission of their sins. In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. Zech 13:1. Thereby they are justified in God's eyes as if they have never sinned and receive forgiveness of sins for Christ's sake. It is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John 1:29

      Apart from receiving the grace of God, many enter the way to heaven from some other way than the narrow way which only those who possess grace can find and enter. Matt 7:13,14. Without the Holy Spirit to sustain them in the way, they will soon depart from it and go back to their old life. 2 Peter 2:22.  They departed having trusted in their own rigteousness to come to God apart from Christ's righteousness that is by faith. In their unsaved natures they cannot continue, rather their powerful lusts will draw them back into the world. But only the elect of God will endure to the end and be saved. 2 Peter 2:9.  It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to keep in check the depravity of the flesh and warn and convict the true believer of the dangers of falling away and of having cold hearts towards Christ. These warnings are by the grace of God which "teaches us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;" Titus 2:12.

      Some people may respond to the call of the gospel with gladness but soon fall away. Though they seemed to have begun good, the root of grace planted by God was not in them. Jesus said of them that  they "have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the world's sake,immediately they are offended" Mark 4:16,17. Others, described in the same passage of holy scripture, who respond are soon overcome by worldly cares, worries and riches of this life. But those who by  grace  have been planted on "good ground" receive the gospel with a faith that is real and proven by the good works that result because of it. Mark 4:20. No man will live the new life in Christ apart from first being "planted together in the likeness of his death". And "like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life." Rom 6:4,5.

      All those who overcome by the saving grace of our God, have taken seriously the peril of their soul and its spiritual condition and have not rested until they have found their all in all in the Lover of their souls, the Lord Jesus and say, "I sought him whom my soul loveth: I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go...I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine." Song of Sol. 3:1,4;6:3

      Reader, have you found the Lord Jesus? Is He precious to your soul?  Make sure you have experienced the grace of God that you have His Spirit. Make sure you have been saved from your sins by Jesus Christ. Examine yourself to see if you are in the faith...once delivered to the saints,(2 Cor 13:5; Jude3) trusting Christ alone, hopeless in your ability and worth. Amen

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