“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom....”
-Proverbs 9:10
It has been said that true wisdom consists of but two things: the knowledge of God, which should generate a great reverence and obedience within the true believer - and the knowledge of self, which should bring a deep humility to the believer’s heart, and that all misunderstandings of our state in this world have their root in our erroneous views of God’s holiness, and a lack of understanding the enormity and nature of our own sin.
While most can gaze through a glass darkly at least a dim view of the attributes of God as seen in His creation (see Romans chapter 1), it is the latter misunderstanding that to some degree or another always remains a stumbling block, men being the prideful creatures that we are. Hence, this primer shall focus mainly upon this particular obstacle to man’s understanding, that we may first come to know of our need for the Saviour, and then - in brokenness - come to repent and believe, desiring the Saviour.
“Gospel”, meaning “good news”, implies a concomitant “bad news.” Let us begin with the bad news.
Before we discuss the cure, we must first diagnose the disease that plagues us all. Paul’s letter to the Christian believers in Rome begins to provide our diagnosis when he states, “There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways:And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (See Romans 3:10-20) So, there is none, not one, righteous as Adam was, in a state of innocence; for all have sinned, and are filled with unrighteousness, and are enemies to righteousness; none are righteous by their obedience to the law of works; nor are there any righteous in the sight of God, upon the foot of their own righteousness, however they may appear in their own eyes, and in the sight of others; nor are any inherently righteous, for there is none without sin, sanctification is imperfect; nor is it, either in whole or in part, a saint's justifying righteousness; indeed there is none righteous, no, not one, but those who are justified by the righteousness of Christ imputed to them. You and I have never met a “good”, righteous person: according to God's word, there are none - not me, not you, not our parents, not our siblings, not our children, not our friends.
In our natural state, we love ourselves (though our self-love is at cross purposes to our true best interests) and are at enmity with God. We war against Him, and against ourselves - “kicking at the goads,” as it were. Our unsuccessful attempts at assailing God soon turn to our waging war against His word and His people. This, sadly, is our lot, unless God Himself steps in to interrupt our march to Hell. Please know, this is not a war that we are capable of winning. All of us begin our lives as spiritually dead rebels, fools, and dullards - refusing and unable to hear and answer God’s call to repent, believe, and obey. Look around, and notice, as Thoreau stated, the mass of men living their lives in “quiet desperation, looking for “the next thing.” as if a little more food, alcohol, sex, financial prosperity, or worldly renown will satisfy the soul. They cannot. No, friend, our “achievements” and pursuits of pleasures will never provide us the fulfillment and satisfaction that we seek. The pursuit of the world is likened to chasing after the wind. God did not design the things of this present world to bring men joy. Joy is found only in God Himself. Yet, if you were to ask most men and women what it is that would bring them “happiness,” they would tell you, in so many words (if they were to be honest with themselves), that the only thing that they desire is “just a little bit more.” Many are of Augustine’s mind when he prayed, “Give me chastity and continence, but not yet.” Still, enter any bookstore and find within the “Self Help” section a plethora of titles aimed at building our self-esteem. The world tells us that, “I’m Okay, You’re Okay”, but the Bible tells us that I’m not okay, and neither are you.
Because of the fall of mankind (Genesis 3), we are unable of ourselves to savingly believe the gospel. As unregenerate sinners, we are dead, blind, and deaf to the things of God; our hearts deceitful and desperately corrupt. Our will is not free, but in bondage to our evil nature; therefore, we will not - indeed we cannot - choose good over evil in the spiritual realm. Consequently, it takes much more than the Spirit's assistance to bring us sinners to Christ - it takes regeneration by which the Holy Spirit makes one alive and gives him a new nature. Faith is not something that we contribute to salvation but is itself a part of God's gift of salvation - it is God's gift to us sinners, not our gift to God.
Now, the good news.
God's choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world rested solely in His own sovereign will. His choice of particular sinners was not based on any foreseen response or obedience on our part, such as faith, repentance, etc. On the contrary, God gives faith and repentance to each individual whom He selected. These acts are the result, not the cause of God's choice. Election therefore was not determined by or conditioned upon any virtuous quality or act foreseen in us. Those whom God sovereignly elected He brings through the power of the Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ. Thus God's choice of the sinner, not the sinner’s choice of Christ, is the ultimate cause of salvation.
Christ's redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actually did secure salvation for His particular and chosen individuals, and not to potentially save all men. His death was a substitutionary payment of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners. In addition to putting away the sins of His people, Christ's redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation, including the faith which united them to Him. The gift of faith is infallibly applied by the Holy Spirit to all for whom Christ died, thereby guaranteeing their salvation.
In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation. The external call (which is made to all without distinction) can be, and often is, rejected; whereas the internal call (which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected, it always results in conversion. By means of this special inward call the Spirit irresistibly draws sinners to Christ. He is not limited in His work of applying salvation by man's will, nor is He dependent upon man's cooperation for success. The Holy Spirit graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to repent, and to come freely and willingly to Christ. God's grace, therefore, is invincible; it never fails to result in the salvation of those to whom it is extended.
All who were chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given faith by the Holy Spirit are eternally saved. They are kept in faith by the power of Almighty God and thus persevere to the end.
Notice that man is justified by faith alone when, excluded from any works of his own, he by faith lays hold of the righteousness of Christ, and being clothed in it, appears in the sight of God, through the veil of Christ, not as a sinner, but as righteous, holy, and pleasing in His sight. When God saves a man, He supplies all things necesessary: the gift of faith, the will and the power to repent, and then imputes the perfect righteousness of Christ Jesus. God does not convert a soul by any work of man: neither by an “altar call”, nor by praying a “sinner’s prayer,” nor by “making a 'decision' for Christ,” nor by completing some religious pilgrimage. Many have done all of these things, yet remained lost. So, salvation is all of God's grace, unmarred by any addition of man's self-righteous works, which God calls "filthy rags." No man will ever have any reason whatsoever to boast.
“For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” 1 Corinthians 4:7
We shall - each of us - soon enough go the way of all flesh. Our life's account will soon close. Our time for questioning God and His claims upon us will come to an end, and His time to evaluate us will immediately commence. Our earthly remains will then rest in a wooden box or be blown away by the wind, and our souls will be transported to judgment.
Before moving on to the remaining content, perhaps you will meditate upon several important questions:
If you were to die tonight, where would you go? Why?
Are you a sinner?
Do you need forgiveness?
Do you even desire forgiveness?
If what you believe is not true, would you want to know?