the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Grace for Today
Romans 10:17
‘Faith cometh by hearing’
Read John 3:1-18
The Lord our God is absolutely sovereign. He saves his people altogether by grace, without any works of their own. No one believes or preaches that any more fully than I do. But there are some who conclude that since salvation is of the Lord, it is not necessary for men to hear the gospel, repent of sin and believe on Christ. Such reasoning is just as heretical as Arminianism. Our doctrine must rest upon the plain statements of Holy Scripture, not upon human logic and reason. Here are three facts, plainly revealed in the Word of God.
1. No one will ever be saved who does not hear the gospel. God could have chosen to send angels to reveal his grace, or he could have chosen to take his people to heaven upon the merits of Christ’s righteousness and shed blood, without ever sending a preacher to them. But he did not. In his infinite and wise sovereignty, God determined to make the preaching of the gospel an essential instrument in the salvation of his elect.
2. No one will ever be saved who does not repent of his sin. Our Lord said, ‘Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.’ It is not possible for a man to enter into heaven who does not enter by the gate of repentance. Christ himself said so! Repentance is a change of mind, a change of masters and a change of motives. Men may argue and debate the subject, but the Word of God is unchanged. You have but two alternatives: you must either ‘repent or perish’!
3. No one will ever be saved who does not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. It is written: ‘He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.’ Faith is indispensable to salvation. Faith in Christ is the sure token and evidence of God’s electing grace. Whoever believes is elect. Whoever dies in unbelief is not elect. God’s purpose of grace includes all the means as well as the ultimate end of eternal salvation.
Mark it down. Those who are chosen of God and redeemed by Christ will hear the gospel, repent of sin and believe on Christ.
