What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
1Corinthians 4:7
Why, oh why do I (man) like to think that I have something, just a little something, to do with my salvation. Do I not realise that in thinking this way I am blaspheming? I had nothing, NOTHING, to do with my salvation. God has given me all things richly to enjoy. Everything created by God is good. Every good giving and every perfect gift comes down from the Father God.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9
In this passage, Paul means ‘you were poor’ and ‘without strength’. He means that I was totally impoverished, wholly weak. I could not lift a finger, nor raise a whisper to effect my salvation… in any way! I was a sinner, with no way of escape and I deserved nothing – certainly not mercy nor grace. Yet God not only loved me freely but through the act of grace He redeemed me. Did I deserve it? No way! Did I help the process along? Of course not! From the Cross flowed the grace of God.
Maybe there was something about my actions or attitude that moved God to grace? Eek! No! God can not be manipulated! It is sheer favour on His part. Only God could turn the heart of this sinner toward Himself. I didn’t deserve to be shown grace or favour. I could not obtain nor procure this grace… there was nothing I could do to warrant this grace – it flowed from God. It still flows from Him. No sin that that I commit lessens His grace from being poured out and any good works do not procure more grace from Him. It was grace. It is grace and it flows abundantly from the Father all the time.
God showed me His grace by giving me gifts; the gifts of repentance, faith and forgiveness. I didn’t find the Lord. He sought me and found me! I didn’t make my decision for Christ! How could I when I was dead in my sins? How could I convert from sinner to saint? Only by His grace. As Jeremiah said:
Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored!
Lamentations 5:21a
For by grace are you save through faith, not of works lest any many should boast. (Ephesians 2)
I am interested to read your post, Susan, in this day where so many do believe that they have in fact made a decision and somehow aided in their salvation. Whereas God says, “You have not chosedn me but I have have chosen you. ” (John 15:16) Ah, the foolish pride of man!
Hmm. But if no one can make a decision for Christ, why tell anyone about Him? Why teach your children about Him? If God just randomly chooses people, why witness? It doesn’t matter, does it?
In another post (about teaching kids) you say that faith is ‘caught’ more than ‘taught’. But here you say it’s neither caught nor taught – it either happens to you or it doesn’t.
So… ??? I’m confused.
Hi Anna B,
The scripture teaches that God uses the foolishness of preaching as a means to convert sinners. We only respond to this after the Holy Spirit has first opened our heart to receive it. As with Joshua, who said, choose this day whom you will serve but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. We make choices but only because God has graciously worked in our hearts and changed them from stone to flesh.
What I think is the difference is that the one teaching says man can somehow help God in salvation, the other says Salvation is by His Grace alone.
It is still the responsibility of Godly parents to train up their children and to teach them diligently the ways of the Lord. We must be careful though not to think we can somehow save them, or ourselves by this good work.
Sorry for butting in Susan, I saw the comment in my emails. Please give us your thoughts.
hi anna and ruby,
I’m out of town all day today (travelling interstate) but will be back at a computer tomorrow (currently in the car on my mobile phone). Just wanted to let you know that i will be back to join in the discussion and didn’t want you to think i was ignoring you.
Blessings
“Hmm. But if no one can make a decision for Christ, why tell anyone about Him? Why teach your children about Him? If God just randomly chooses people, why witness? It doesn’t matter, does it?”
Hi Anna B,
Apart from the sound reasoning in Ruby’s post, the answer is very simple: we are commanded to. 🙂
We are commanded to preach the gospel; we are commanded to teach our children. The efficacy of those two endeavours rests solely in the hands of the Lord, we are only commanded to do them, not to make them work.
(Ruby, Susan is quite used to us interrupting her and taking her turn – she’ll just think we’ve rubbed off on you 😀 )
Phew. That’s a relief 🙂