Five Golden Links in God's Chain of Grace

The Bible is clearly emphatic that “salvation is by grace.” The Scriptures are replete with passages which inform us that it is by pure grace alone that unworthy sinners are saved. God saves no one in respect of his good morality or religious works. The basis of God’s salvation is His free sovereign grace. Paul, in II Timothy 1:9, tells us that God “. . . 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. “ Could words be plainer? Here we see that salvation by human effort, merit, good works, or religious deeds is negated while salvation by grace is affirmed. No man then can save himself or even contribute in any way to his salvation. It must be all of God in order to be all of grace. If it is all of grace, it is all of God. If it rests in any way upon man, it is neither all of grace nor all of God. If it is all of God and His grace, it cannot be in part of man and his works, not even in the slightest degree. Then we arc forced to agree with Jonah who said, “Salvation is of the Lord. “ (Jonah 2:9) Surely, this idea has an ego- destroying and man-debasing effect. That’s the way the Apostle Paul saw it also. Listen to his testimony as he says, “That no flesh should glory in his presence . . . He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (I Corinthians 1:29, 31) Sinners who are saved have not anything in and of themselves of which they can boast or take credit.