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

The eternal purpose of the Lord in the salvation of sinners shall be fulfilled. “ I bring near My righteousness; it shall not be far off, and My salvation shall not tarry; and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel My glory” (Isaiah 46:13). Though the Lord’s chosen people are all unrighteous by nature ( see Romans 3:10), God determined He would bring forth righteousness for them through the perfect life, sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection of Christ Who is “ THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jeremiah 23:6). Note that the everlasting rescue of sinners from sin, Satan and the curse of the law is said by Jehovah to be “ My salvation.” Salvation is His to give or withhold, according to His sovereign will. “ Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth” (Romans 9:18). Pay attention also to the Lord’s pledge of the fulfillment of His decree of salvation: it “ shall not tarry.” “Tarry” means to delay, to hinder, to fall behind. From old eternit...

“ For IT IS GOD which worketh in you both to will and to do of H is good pleasure." -PHILIPPIANS 2:13 [KJV] When God has worked in a man "to will," and not only worked in him "to will," but also worked in him "to do;" when He has made him willing to flee from the wrath to come; willing to be saved by the atoning blood and justifying righteousness of Jesus; willing to be saved by sovereign grace as a sinner undone without hope, and glad to be saved in whatever way God is pleased to save him; willing to pass through the fire, to undergo affliction, and to walk in the strait and narrow path, willing to take up the cross and follow Jesus, willing to bear all the troubles which may come upon him, and all the slanders which may be heaped upon his name; when God has made him willing to be nothing, and to have nothing but as God makes him the one, and gives him the other: and besides working in him "to will," has worked in him "to do,...