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From: BookWorm ~~"/
Date: 24 Oct 1999
Time: 07:48:00
Remote Name: 206.97.116.78
Saved By Grace
Read: Romans 3:21-28
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us. --Titus 3:5
Pastor and author H. A. Ironside told about a new convert who gave his testimony during a church service. With joy in his heart, the man related how he had been delivered from a life of sin. He gave the Lord all the glory, making it clear that he had done nothing to earn salvation.
The person leading the service didn't fully appreciate the truth that salvation is by grace through faith alone, apart from works. So he responded, "You seem to indicate that God did everything when He saved you. Didn't you do your part before God did His?" The new Christian jumped to his feet and said, "Oh, yes, I did. For more than 30 years I ran away from God as fast as my sins could carry me. That was my part. But God took out after me and ran me down. That was His part."
We are saved by grace, and by grace alone (Rom. 3:24). We can do nothing to earn it (v.28). Our redemption is a gift from God. Our part is to acknowledge our sinfulness and inability to save ourselves. We must place our trust in Jesus, believing that He died on the cross for our sins.
God has provided salvation for you--that's His part. Receiving it by faith--that's yours. Have you done your part? --RWD
Naught have I gotten but what I received,
Grace has bestowed it since I have believed;
Boasting excluded, pride I abase--
I'm only a sinner saved by grace! --Gray
Salvation is what we receive, not what we achieve.