All of Grace

A wise neighbor said that Christians are saved in an instant then spend the rest of our lives trying to figure out what happened. This can become controversial. Many Christians say “when I choose Christ” even though Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you. . . .” and others will say they were seeking God even though the Bible says, “no one understands; no one seeks for God.” (Romans 3:11)

Many Christians base their conclusion of how salvation happens on their experience, even to the conclusion that others who have a different experience cannot be saved. The Word of God speaks to that also:

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. (2 Corinthians 10:12)

My salvation experience was something like the Apostle Paul. While I was not seeking to put Christians in prison, or walking on a road, or even realizing God was goading me, Jesus appeared and at that instant everything changed. But I cannot say this is how salvation should happen to everyone.

Today’s devotional cites an incident in the life of Christ. A ruler of the synagogue, Jairus, came to Jesus pleading him to heal his daughter who was dying. “While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” (Mark 5:35–36)

The author of the reading said this was all we have to do, even though Jesus was not talking about salvation, but His power to heal. This author also wrote that the gospel of Christ is addressed to sinners as sinners, ‘not awakened sinners, not sensible sinners, not convicted sinners, not lost sinners, not repentant sinners—just sinners.” He added that God does not command sinners to feel a certain way, experience something or come to realize something about themselves. God commands sinners to ‘believe on his Son, Jesus Christ’.

However, the Bible also says that faith comes by hearing and that the Holy Spirit communicates it to us, so the hearing is from Him, as is the conviction of sin and the gift of repentance. Whatever order they come in, or seem to be realized, the responses to the ‘hearing’ about Christ are all gifts from God. So is being able to believe what He says;

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

Saying that my part in believing is true, yet beware that faith becomes a work on my part and one more thing that I can boast about. While I should never insist that the salvation experience of others be like mine, what happened to all of us should be like what the Bible says; it is all of grace — even the faith to believe is grace.

The moment any condition or qualification of any kind is placed upon the sinner before he can be saved, including “just believe” slips away from the gospel of pure grace. Anything that seems like a prerequisite is actually a gift from God, including repentance, conviction of sin, lamentation and sorrow over sin. These are part of faith, and may deepen with faith, but whenever they occur, all these experiences are part of God's saving power, not something anyone could or would do on their own.

No one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:11–18)

PRAY: Grace humbles me even as it blesses me. It enables me to trust You. Because You softened my hard heart and put in it a desire for You and to love and obey You, my life is changed and changing — and it is not my doing. Every part of salvation and the results are gifts of grace and because that is so, I worship You.