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Malcolm Turner

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Malcolm Turner 3 min read
#Grace #Faith Alone #Soteriology
4 Articles
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Malcolm Turner
Malcolm Turner 3 min read
4 articles

Malcolm Turner recounts his spiritual journey from legalistic bondage to assurance in Christ's finished work, tracing how years of faith-plus-works Christianity—including rigorous law-keeping, church attendance, and good deeds—produced only pride, fear, and despair rather than spiritual growth. His transformation began in 2000 upon encountering sovereign grace theology through Don Fortner and other free grace preachers, leading him to embrace justification by grace alone through faith, the sufficiency of Christ's imputed righteousness, and the biblical distinction between dead religion and saving faith in Christ. Turner illustrates the doctrinal contrast between works-based righteousness and the assurance found in Romans 8:1, demonstrating how proper understanding of Christ's completed redemptive work replaces condemnation and self-effort with peace and acceptance before a holy God.

What does the Bible say about salvation by grace?

The Bible emphasizes that salvation is a gift of grace, independent of our works, as articulated in Ephesians 2:8-9.

The Bible explicitly teaches that salvation is by grace through faith, not as a result of works. Ephesians 2:8-9 declares that we are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from ourselves; it is the gift of God. This principle is fundamental to the doctrine of sovereign grace, which affirms that our salvation is entirely God's work and not contingent on our efforts or merit. This truth liberates believers from the burden of legalism and self-righteousness, encouraging a reliance on Christ's finished work for our standing before God.

Ephesians 2:8-9

How do we know that salvation is through faith alone?

Scripture consistently points to faith in Christ as the sole means of salvation, as seen in Romans 4:5.

The doctrine of justification by faith alone is central to Reformed theology and is supported by various scriptural passages. Romans 4:5 states that to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. This verse illustrates that it is faith, not works, that brings justification before God. Furthermore, throughout Paul's epistles, he emphasizes that our righteousness comes not from adhering to the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, confirming that our standing before God hinges entirely on our faith in Him rather than our own deeds.

Romans 4:5

Why is the doctrine of imputed righteousness important for Christians?

Imputed righteousness is vital because it assures believers that they are accepted by God solely based on Christ's work, not their own.

Imputed righteousness is a cornerstone of Reformed soteriology, emphasizing that Christ's righteousness is credited to believers. This doctrine secures our standing before a holy God, as affirmed in 2 Corinthians 5:21, which states that God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. This assurance frees believers from the fear of judgment and leads to a transformed life, grounded in gratitude and love for what Christ has accomplished. As believers understand that their acceptance is based entirely on Christ's righteousness, they are encouraged to live out their faith not in legalism, but in joyful obedience to their Savior.

2 Corinthians 5:21

    I first came to know the Lord Jesus Christ in 1989 but, for many years, I was plagued by a spirit of legalism, believing that even though salvation came through Jesus Christ, I had to work in order to make sure that I kept myself in a saved state. So, I got involved in out reach, tried hard to keep God's law, Keep the sabbath, go to Church twice on Sunday and attend the prayer meetings, read my bible, pray, do lots of Bible studies and correspondence courses etc. At first, I thought I was a really good person and that I was becoming a better Christian, indeed, I thought I was a better Christian than most who called themselves Christian and I became self righteous, proud, judgmental and very legal in my dealings with God and man. Then, in the year 2000, things began to change. 

    I began to see that no matter how much I done or how well I tried to live I felt I was really falling short of God's perfect standards of holiness and that, despite all of my supposed good works, I felt like a wretch. I tried to work even harder but the harder I worked, the worst I felt. I was in constant fear of God's judgment, lacked any assurance that I was saved and began suffering from chronic depression. None of the Churches I went to or none of those who called themselves, "Pastors" helped because they all held to faith + works. I was told that I must have some unconfessed sin in my life etc.

    Then one day, I was sent a copy of the New Focus Magazine and read an article by Pastor Don Fortner on salvation by grace alone and another on the purpose of God's law. I began reading books by Sovereign Grace authors and listening to Pastors such as Don Fortner, Henry Mahan, Chris Cunningham and other free grace preachers and that was the turning point for me. Since 2000, God has been working in my heart and dealing with me and showing me that Christ done all for me, that His finished work on the cross for me and His imputed righteousness was all I needed to make me fit to stand before a Holy God, to make me complete in Christ and to make me acceptable to God. I know that I am still a wretch but I know that I am a wretch saved by grace through the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, that my salvation is assured, not because of me but because of my Lord Jesus Christ and that when I go to heaven, Christ will say to me, come in good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord. What a big, big difference between religion and the true faith of Jesus Christ. To sum it up, religion will only lead to damnation but, oh, in Christ, there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit! Hallelujah what a Saviour!

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