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

“ Then drew near unto H im all the publicans and sinners for to hear H im. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.” -L UKE 15:1-2 [KJV] While the self-righteous Pharisees and Scribes withdrew from the Lord Jesus Christ and then harshly criticized Him; many publicans and sinners drew near to hear Him. What a blessing from the Lord to have a willingness to draw near to Him [JOHN 6:44 ] and then to have ears to actually hear a word from Him [ACTS 10:33 ] . His words are words of life [JOHN 5:24 ] . His words are words of salvation [ROMANS 1:16 & HEBREWS 4:12 ] . The worst thing the Pharisees and scribes said of the Lord, “This man recieveth sinners, and eateth with them” is the best thing any sinner could hear. It is not sin that keeps a man from hearing the good news of the gospel of Christ, it is his presumed righteousness he is going about to establish by his religious deeds [ROMANS 10:1-

1. God's faithfulness performed what His grace promised. Grace drew the covenant - faithfulness keeps it. Grace called us - faithfulness will not cast us off. 2. All who are elect are vessels of grace; all who are regenerate are patterns of grace; all who are saved are monuments of grace; all the work of Heaven is to sing the loud praises of grace. 3. The goodness of God satisfies our emptiness, the mercy of God satisfies our sinfulness, and the grace of God satisfies our unworthiness. -Gospel report by preacher Wm. Mason

“By the grace of God I am what I am” -I CORINTHIANS 15:10 [KJV] The very expression ‘the grace of God’ implies and denotes that the sinner's condition is desperate to the last degree, and that God may justly leave him to perish; yes, it is a wonder of wonders that he is not already in Hell! God is sovereign in the exercise of His grace. This of necessity, for grace is favor shown to the undeserving, yes, to the Hell-deserving . Grace is the antithesis of justice. Justice demands the impartial enforcement of law. Justice requires that each shall receive his legitimate due, neither more nor less. Justice bestows no favors and is no respecter of persons. Justice, as such, shows no pity and knows no mercy. But after justice has been fully satisfied, sovereign grace flows forth. Grace has been defined as the unmerited favor of God. If unmerited, then none can claim it as their inalienable right. If grace is unearned and undeserved, then none are entitled t