CHAPTER 7
Salvation and Its Terms
1. The declaration
We believe that salvation is by grace, through faith in the finished work of the Lord
Jesus Christ. It constitutes the theme of the gospel, and while a message of unspeakable
mercy to the sinner, it stands firm upon the basis of righteousness, God in His wondrous love providing the sacrifice for sin, whereby He might be a just God and
a Saviour of all that call upon Him.
2. Scriptural grounds
' ... I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation
to every one that believeth' (Rom. 1:16).
' ... the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men' (Titus 2:11).
' ... Thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins'
(Matt. 1:21).
'Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved
us' (Titus 3:5).
'For by grace are ye saved through faith ... not of works' (Eph. 2:8,9).
' ... a Just God and a Saviour' (Isa. 45:21).
3. An explanation and expansion of the scriptures that speak of salvation
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).