Don Fortner's article, "Come to God," addresses the essential Reformed doctrine of salvation through Christ. The central argument emphasizes that salvation can only be obtained by coming to God through Jesus Christ, as supported by Hebrews 7:25, which states that Christ saves to the uttermost and makes intercession for believers. Fortner critiques modern evangelistic practices, asserting that coming to God is not a physical act or ritual but a profound spiritual act of the heart that requires faith and abandonment of both sin and self-righteousness. The article highlights biblical passages such as John 14:6 and Hebrews 10:20, which clarify that Christ is the sole mediator and means of reconciliation with God. The practical significance of this teaching lies in its call for believers to understand that genuine faith involves a continuous and sincere coming to God, grounded in the love and grace revealed in Scripture.
Key Quotes
“The Bible was not written to teach us history but to teach us grace.”
“Coming to God is not a physical act. It is a spiritual act of the heart.”
“Coming to God implies a sense of need.”
“Christ is the only Way to God.”
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. to the...: Or, evermore - Hebrews 7:25Come To God
The Bible alone, the Book of Holy Scripture, tells us what salvation is and how it may be obtained. The Scriptures alone are able to make us wise unto salvation. Only in the Bible do we read of God’s mercy, love, and grace toward fallen man. The Word of God alone shows us how that a holy God can both be just and the Justifier of the ungodly. Salvation is revealed only in the Scriptures; and salvation is the primary, essential doctrine of Holy Scripture.
The Bible was not written to teach us history, but to teach us grace. The Bible was not written to instruct us in philosophy, but to instruct us in divine truth. The Bible was not written to teach us morality, but to teach us the way of salvation and life in Christ. Salvation by Christ is the message of Holy Scripture.
One Way
In order to be saved we must come to God by Christ Jesus. “He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him.” Saving faith is described by many metaphors in the Word of God. Faith is looking to Christ. Faith is leaning on Christ. Faith is embracing Christ. Faith is receiving Christ. Faith is laying hold of Christ. Here, faith is coming to Christ and coming to God by Christ.
Coming
What is this coming to God? Please understand that coming to God is not a physical act. In this day of high-pressure evangelism, altar-call salvation, and decisional regeneration, I cannot stress this enough. Coming to God is not a physical act. It is a spiritual act.
No one has ever been saved by a physical act. You do not get saved by coming to church, but by coming to God. You do not get saved by coming to the front, or coming to an “altar”, or coming to a confessional booth, but by coming to God. You do not get saved by saying “the sinner’s prayer,” but by coming to God. You do not get saved by coming to baptism, but by coming to God. You do not get saved by coming to the Lord’s Supper, but by coming to God.
•Coming to God is a spiritual act of the heart. It is not coming to him now and then, but coming to him continually, sincerely, whole-heartedly. This deliberate, willful, whole-hearted coming to God is faith (Heb. 11:6; 1 Pet. 2:4-5).
•Coming to God implies that you must leave something else. If a person comes to God, he must leave his sins and he must leave his righteousness. He must leave his bad works and his good works. The gate is too straight to carry anything in with you; and the way is too narrow to allow you to pick up anything along the way.
•Coming to God implies a sense of need. Coming to God implies a reconciliation of the heart to him, as he is pleased to reveal himself in Holy Scripture. Above all, coming to God is to believe him. It is exercising faith in him.
Mediator
How do we come to God? There is but one way for sinful men to come to God. All who come to God have to come the same way. We come to God “by Him.” Christ is the only Way to God (John 14:6; Heb. 10:20). Christ is the only Door of Entrance into life (John 10:9). Christ is the only Mediator between God and men. God will never accept any who come to him without a suitable Sacrifice, and that Sacrifice is Christ. God will never accept any who come to him without a spotless garment of righteousness. That garment is Christ.
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