Not too many years ago, I was talking to a pastor friend of mine about the doctrines of grace. He told me about an encounter with a lady who did not believe these doctrines, and said that he took her to six scriptures that clearly set forth that our only hope is the sacrifice of Christ, apart from any means of men. After reading each Scripture, he asked her the basic question “how. . . ?” I thought I would share these scriptures, and the subsequent questions and answers, with you today.

First of all, he took her to Isa. 53:5: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Question: How were we healed? Answer: With HIS stripes.

Next, he read Rom. 5:10: “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Question: How were we reconciled to God? Answer: By the death of His Son.

Then he pointed her to Heb. 1:3: “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. . . .” Question: How did He purge our sins? Answer: By Himself.

After this, he turned to Heb. 9:12: “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Question: How was eternal redemption obtained? Answer: HE obtained it for US.

The fifth scripture they looked at was Heb. 9:26: “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Question: How were our sins put away? Answer: By the sacrifice of Himself.

Finally, he looked at Heb 10:14: “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” Question: How were we perfected? Answer: HE perfected US.

Do you see from these Scriptures Who is doing the acting, and who is acted upon? The clear teaching of each of these verses is that our eternal salvation is solely in the hands of Christ: He healed us with His stripes; He reconciled us to God by His death; He purged our sins by Himself; He obtained eternal redemption for us; He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself; and, finally, He perfected us by the offering of His body on the Cross.

One last point from the final Scripture that was considered (Heb. 10:14): those whom He perfected, He perfected “forever”. In other words, the work that Jesus did is a “forever” work. In all the years I have worked, either at my job, or on the farm, or as a pastor, I have never done ANYTHING that will last forever! That is the main reason I am glad that the work of my eternal salvation is not in MY hands!

My friends, the work of eternal salvation is solely and wholly in the hands of God. And that is right where it needs to be, because everything we do ourselves is subject to corruption and decay!

Aren’t you glad that the answer to all of these questions is that salvation is of the Lord? I sure am!

May the Lord bless you is my prayer.

Elder Chris McCool, Pastor