Sovereign Grace of God - Once Saved Always Saved?

SOVEREIGN GRACE OF GOD Concerning 'The Gospel' LORD JESUS CHRIST Grounded In Biblical Truth
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A couple of weeks ago I was speaking with a man who said: "Well, do you believe once saved always saved?" If I had not been looking right at him my first reaction would have been to laugh. The question sounded so ridiculous to me, but seeing that he was dead serious I realized how the same question sounded so different to us. When I hear the word ‘salvation’ I think about the work of God. I think of salvation, which God has purposed and planned, purchased and provided, and applied and works in an individual. If salvation is that which God has purposed, purchased and applied then surely: "Once saved always saved." is true although it can be stated in better terms. In Isa. 46:9-11 we read: "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it." Cyrus was the ravenous bird but the principle is that what God purposed to do through him would be done. Why? Because He is God and His purpose cannot be defeated. Is salvation the work of God? The bible says yes. "Salvation is of the Lord."

God purposed to save a people in such a way that He would reveal Himself to be a Just God and a Savior. To do this He came into this world: "made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." He substituted Himself in the place of the guilty and paid their sin debt. He satisfied the law’s demands on behalf of his people. So satisfied the law of God, the justice of God that it can demand no more; and He declared His satisfaction by raising Him from the dead.

To many people the term ‘salvation’ means a religious or an emotional experience. The question then: "Is every person who has a religious experience saved?" Of course not! It seems clear to me that many people believe in what is called decisional regeneration. That a person is called upon to make a decision and as a result of their decision they are born again. Our Lord taught sovereign regeneration not decisional. "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. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."

Now if you notice in verses 6 & 7 Paul speaks about a confidence that he had concerning all the saints in Christ Jesus which were at Phillipi. He had confidence in their salvation; that is, that in the "day of Jesus Christ" they would appear with Him in glory. Notice three things that Paul declares about this good work as He calls it.

The work that we are speaking of must be the work of God by its very nature. What are we talking about? Are we talking about white washing an individual? Are we talking about making the outside of the cup clean while leaving the inside dirty? Are we talking about a reformation? Are we talking about hanging good fruit on a tree, which remains bad? Are we talking about a religious ceremony? Are we talking about walking down a church aisle or repeating a prayer that someone must teach us?

No, a thousand times no! We are speaking of a transformation by means of a renewal. The word regeneration, resurrection, and creation are all used to describe this work. What do these words all suggest to us? Power and not just any power but almighty power. To create, to bring to life is not the work of man but of God. Ezekiel 37:1-10.

The condition of lost men necessitates that this be the work of God. What is the condition of man by nature? He is dead in trespasses and sins and not only does he not have the power equal to this work; he does not have the will, the desire. The first person that we read of in whom this work was begun at Phillipi was Lydia: Acts 16:14 "And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul."

This good work is the work of God and is ascribed to all three persons in the Godhead. The Father is said to draw souls to Christ. John 6:44 "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:" The Son is said to quicken whom He will. John 5:21 "For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will." The Holy Spirit is He who brings men to life. John 3:8 "so is every one that is born of the Spirit."

II. This Good Work Is the Work of Grace. If you notice in verse 7 the KJV says: "ye all are partakers of my grace." But the marginal reading is and I’m convinced this is right: "partakers with me of grace." Saints in Christ Jesus are partakers of God’s grace, not Paul’s. It was by grace that they were first chosen in Christ to be holy. Ephesians 1:3-6.

A.W. Pink reminds us of three principle characteristics of divine grace. First, it is eternal. Grace was planned before it was exercise, purposed before it was imparted: "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" (2 Tim.1: 19). Second, it is free, for none ever purchased it: "Being justified freely by his grace" (Rom.3: 24). Third, it is sovereign, because God exercises it toward and bestows it upon whom He pleases: "Even so might grace reign" (Rom.5: 21). If grace reigns, then it is on the throne, and the occupant of the throne is sovereign. Hence, "the throne of grace" (Heb.4: 16).

Grace is manifested by Jesus Christ. John 1:17 This does not mean that God had not been gracious to men before the Lord Jesus came into this world. It means that grace and truth were full revealed and perfectly exemplified when the Redeemer came to this earth, and died for his people upon the cross. Unmerited favor, that God would give His Son, that God would by no means clear the guilty!

A work begun: when light is let into the soul by the Spirit of God and it sees its lost state and need of the Savior. Just as in the old creation the first thing was light so in the new creation. When the soul looks to Christ and Him alone for salvation. When the fear of God, is put into the heart which is the beginning of wisdom it is begun. When love appears in the soul to God, Christ, His people, and His Word it is begun. In this life it will always be a work begun, but not finished and perfect. No one in this life has perfect love, perfect faith, and perfect knowledge and is free from indwelling sin.

A work performed. This word ‘Perform’ is made up of two words. One is the word that our Lord used on the cross: "It is finished." This word means to finish or bring it to an end. He has given to us living water, eternal life and declared that we should never perish.

Lincoln Wood Baptist Church
11803 Adel - Houston, Texas 77067
Pastor David F. Pledger - Telephone:281-440-0623