Nana Yaw Aidoo
A preacher once wrote:
It is a scandalous and outrageous lie to teach that salvation arises from human activity. We do not contribute one whit to our salvation… Abundant good works are the fruit of salvation, but the finished work of Christ at Calvary is the only act of merit in human redemption.
If the above quote is true, then,
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Either faith is not necessary to be saved since it is something the sinner must do for himself in order to be saved (Heb. 11:6) or faith is something God does for the person being saved.
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Either repentance is not necessary to be saved since it is something the sinner must do for himself in order to be saved (Luke 13:3) or repentance is something God does for the sinner in need of salvation.
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Either confession of faith is not necessary to be saved since it is something the sinner must do for himself in order to be saved (Matt. 10:32) or confession of faith is something God does for the one who wants to be saved.
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Either immersion in water unto the remission of sins is not necessary to be saved since it is a human activity (Acts 2:38) or immersion in water unto the remission of sins is something God does for the sinner seeking salvation.
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Either love for Christ is not necessary to be saved (1 Cor. 16:22) since the sinner must choose to love Christ or love for Christ is something God does for the sinner.
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Either all men will be saved since Christ died for all or finished His work at Calvary for all (Titus 2:11) or Christ will save a select few.
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Either a person must not obey God to be saved (Heb. 5:9) or obedience is something God does for the alien sinner.
Friends, it is a scandalous and outrageous lie to teach that salvation is wholly, completely or entirely by the grace of God, without any acts of obedience on the part of the sinner. While it is true that we are saved by the grace of God, those who teach a “grace only salvation,” because they equate grace with doing absolutely nothing, shock us. Was Noah not saved by grace from the flood when he obeyed the command of God to build the ark (Gen. 6:8, 22)? Since God’s grace alone did not transport Noah and his family to the new world, it ought to be obvious to all that Noah appropriated the blessings of God’s grace, when He met God’s condition to build an ark according to His pattern. Likewise, all who would be saved by God’s grace today must obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. If this isn’t so, then why has the owner of the quote above attempted to preach the gospel all these years if …the finished work of Christ at Calvary is the only act of merit in human redemption?
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
