While the law can only condemn where perfect righteousness cannot be produced,
the gospel brings glad tidings of salvation for the ungodly, the sinner, and
the lost. The reason that the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation
to everyone that believeth is that therein is revealed a righteousness of God
by faith of Jesus Christ, which is unto all and upon all that believe.
While the whole Person and work of Christ forms the object of faith, the resurrection
is specially stressed.
' ... If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved' (Rom. 10:9).
Salvation cannot be merited; it is not of works, but the gift of God. The Lord
Jesus Christ is above all else 'The Saviour', and salvation is ours because
of His finished work. He died, the just for the unjust, that He might bring
us to God. He suffered for our sins. He endured the cross that salvation might
be complete, even to the putting off of the old man, and the putting on of the
new. His precious blood cleanses from all sin, and in His resurrection the believer
finds the power and pledge of a new and endless life. The fact that God is a
just God and a Saviour, that He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
that in the very salvation provided by His love He manifests not only His mercy
but His righteousness; this is the believer's sure rock foundation. Salvation
is all of grace; free, unmerited favour to the worthless and the lost.
We believe that, 'Once saved, always saved' expresses a glorious truth. This
does not mean that unfaithfulness will not be reckoned, or that there is any
encouragement to slackness on the believer's part, but that those for whom the
Saviour died can never perish, neither can any pluck them out of His hand. Salvation
is the great covering term that stretches from the first awakening to the need
of a Saviour to the time when the redeemed are presented faultless before His
throne. Salvation includes justification by faith without works, forgiveness
of sins, the gift of eternal life, and the hope of glory.
'This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners' (1 Tim. 1:15).