In his sermon "How is it?", James Smith addresses the grace of God manifested in salvation, exploring the question of why a just and righteous God continues to bear with sinful humanity. He argues that despite willful sinfulness and rebellion, God's merciful nature compels Him to provide for and save His people through Jesus Christ, who has made a complete atonement for their sins (Ephesians 1). The preacher emphasizes the roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the salvation process: the Father elects, the Son redeems, and the Holy Spirit sanctifies believers, illustrating the triune nature of grace in action. This sermon underscores the Reformed doctrine of salvation by grace alone, reinforcing the significance of God's sovereignty and the intimate workings of His grace in the life of the believer, leading to transformations that are essential for redemption and assurance.
Key Quotes
“The work of salvation is holy of God, it is entirely of free and sovereign grace.”
“Unto you, therefore, who believe, He is precious.”
“He saves by His wisdom, His power, His providence, and His graces, for we are saved from despondency and despair by hope, from the world and the fiery darts of Satan by faith, from indifference and carnal security by love.”
The Bible teaches that salvation is a work entirely of free and sovereign grace.
Scripture clearly demonstrates that salvation is not the result of human effort but is solely the work of God's grace. Ephesians 1 outlines how the Father orchestrates the plan of salvation, choosing His people, while the Son executes this plan through His sacrificial death. Finally, the Holy Spirit applies salvation to the hearts of believers, enabling them to live according to God's will. This cooperative work between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit underscores the biblical truth that our salvation is a gift from God, entirely grounded in His grace, as reaffirmed in Jonah 2:9 where it states, 'Salvation is of the Lord.'
Ephesians 1, Jonah 2:9
God's grace is sufficient as He provided a complete atonement for sin through Jesus Christ.
In the gospel message, we see the fullness of God's grace demonstrated through the sacrifice of Jesus. The Scriptures affirm that Christ's death was sufficient to pay the debt for all of His people's sins, blotted out the accusations against them, and opened the way to a reconciled relationship with God. This is not only a promise but a reality because Christ indeed overcame the world and the powers that seek to condemn us. The blessings of salvation—justification, sanctification, and spiritual awakening—are all provided through grace, and believers can rest assured in the sufficiency of that grace as they journey through life, facing challenges and opposition.
Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14
The Holy Spirit applies the work of Christ to believers, enabling their transformation.
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the process of salvation, actively applying the work of Jesus to the lives of believers. As the teacher and sanctifier, the Holy Spirit draws individuals from darkness into the light of Christ, empowering them to live a life that honors God. He works in the hearts of the redeemed, washing, justifying, and fitting them to be dwelling places for the Father and the Son. This transformative work is vital, as it not only seals believers for the day of redemption but also continually nurtures and matures their faith, enabling them to grow in knowledge and obedience to God's will.
Ephesians 1:13-14, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
It means that salvation originates entirely from God’s will and grace.
When we say that 'salvation is of the Lord,' as mentioned in Jonah 2:9, we affirm that it is not through our own merit or ability that we are saved; rather, it is entirely an act of divine grace. The triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—works in unison to accomplish salvation. The Father elects and chooses, the Son redeems through His blood, and the Holy Spirit applies that redemption, enabling faith and repentance in the believer. This foundational truth reassures us that our deliverances in this life, from guilt, sin, and despair, are undergirded by God's sovereign grace, proving that all credit for our salvation belongs to Him alone.
Jonah 2:9, Ephesians 1:4-6
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