THE GOD WHO REALLY SAVES!

“O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise Him, all ye people.  For His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth forever.  

Praise ye the LORD.  O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: because His mercy endureth forever.”  -Psalm 117:1–118:1 [KJV]  

 

-------O-------

 

 

CHRIST GLORIFIED 


 

 

The head that once was crowned with thorns 

Is crowned with glory now: 

A royal diadem adorns, 

The mighty Victor’s brow. 

 

The highest place that heav’n affords, 

Is His, is His by right; 

The King of kings and Lord of lords, 

And heaven’s eternal light. 

 

The joy of all who dwell above, 

The joy of all below; 

To whom He manifests His love, 

And grants His Name to know. 

 

We suffer with our Lord below, 

We reign with Him above; 

Our profit and our joy to know, 

The myst’ry of that love. 

 

The cross He bore is life and health, 

Though shame and death for Him; 

His people’s hope, His people’s wealth, 

Their everlasting theme. 

 

Tune: “Amazing Grace” CM Words by Thomas Kelly, 1820 A.D. 



-------O-------

 

 

 THE GOD WHO REALLY SAVES 

 

    

    Advocates of free will, works religion, say of their god, “He wants to save sinners, if only they will let him.”  Those poor, deceived souls who use such language obviously know nothing about the God of Whom it is written, “Whatsoever the LORD pleased that did He in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places” (Psalm 135:6).  The angel made this proclamation concerning the person and the work of the Incarnate Son of God to Joseph.  “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).  Let others declare that their savior wants to save; the angel said of Him Who is the true Savior, “He shall save.”  

 

The promoters of false religion say their lord desires the salvation of all men and is disappointed because more people don’t let him have his way.  The inspired prophet said, “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17).  The zealous soul-winner begs poor sinners, “won’t you open your heart’s door and let jesus save you?”  But, the people of God say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation” (Isaiah 25:9).  Those who have been born again of the Spirit, cry out like Jonah, “Salvation is of the LORD” (Jonah 2:9c). 

 

1.  Salvation is of the Lord in its purpose.  The Lord decreed the restoration of a remnant of Adam’s fallen race.  He graciously chose them unto salvation in Jesus Christ before the world began.  “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (II Thessalonians 2:13). 

 

2.  Salvation is of the Lord in its purchase.  “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (I Timothy 1:15).  It was by His substitutionary, sacrificial death that He satisfied justice and saved His people.  His resurrection attested to the accomplishment of His work of redemption.

  

3. Salvation is of the Lord in its power.  Men are dead in trespasses and in sins and must be quickened by the mighty Spirit and given the gifts of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.  “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5).  “Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power...” (Psalm 110:3). 

 

4. Salvation is of the Lord in its preservation.  Of His sheep the Shepherd said, “And I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand” (John 10:28).  

 

5. Salvation is of the Lord in its ultimate perfection.  Someday all of the elect of all ages will be gathered safely into everlasting glory for it is written of Christ that He will bring “many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10).  Every chosen, redeemed and quickened sinner will then bear witness that their salvation, from its origin to its consummation was to the “praise of the glory of God’s grace.”

 

-preacher Jim Byrd 

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