"Salvation is of the LORD." -Jonah 2:9

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force .” -M ATTHEW 11:12 [KJV] Many view this verse as saying that men by the sheer force of their own power, goodness, and/or will can gain salvation and enter the kingdom of heaven. This is far from the truth of this verse and the whole of Scripture. This verse speaks of the desperation God the Holy Spirit brings God‘s elect to in conviction. It is when we as sinners are brought to the end of all hope, to the point that we see no other hope but the grace of God in Christ: no hope of forgiveness but by His blood and no hope of justification but by His righteousness imputed . When the Holy Spirit reveals to us our sin, impotence, and depravity, we in desperation by God given faith lay hold upon Christ, and we cannot and will not let go of Him. This is not forcing Christ to save us, but it is the force of conviction that causes us to cling

"We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak." - II C ORINTHIANS 4:13 [KJV] There is a distinction to be made between faith and the spirit of faith. The spirit of faith is faith in exercise. Faith sometimes is like a day in which there is no wind blowing. It is so calm, that there scarcely appears to be any air stirring to move a leaf. But after a time a gentle breeze comes and blows over the earth. Thus it is with faith and the spirit of faith. Faith in repose is like the calm air of a summer's day, when there is nothing moving or stirring; faith acting, faith in exercise, is like the same air in the gentle breeze which makes itself sensibly felt. If God has given me faith, that faith is never lost out of my breast. If once a believer, I always am a believer; for if I could cease to believe, I should cease to be a child of God; I should lose salvation out of my

“ My heart shall rejoice in T hy salvation.”   - P SALM 13: 5 [KJV] This is the message of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, salvation is of the Lord, His doing, His faithfulness and His sacrifice; therefore His people do rejoice in Him at all times (Phil. 3:7-9; 2 Tim. 1:9) . 1). He is the Author of salvation , before there was a sinner there was a Saviour; before Adam fell in sin; Christ stood as the everlasting Surety, Saviour and Sacrifice for all our sin (Heb. 7:22; 13:20; 1 John 1:7; Rev. 13:8) . 2). He is the Accomplisher of our salvation , He bought us with His own blood (Acts 20:28; Heb. 1:3) ; freely justifies us by His grace (Rom. 3:24) and gives us a perfect justifying righteousness through His faithfulness (Rom. 4:6-8; Gal 2:16) . 3). He is the Applier of salvation , He will have mercy on whom He will (Matt. 11:25; Rom. 9:13-16; Phil. 1:6) . 4). He is the Administer of salvation , we are kept by His will and power, none can perish for whom