SALVATION SERIES: Part 23 - Introduction to God's Salvific Plan

OUTLINE:

Which is More Gracious…
The Difference Between Cause and Accompaniment - blog
“There’s a difference between cause and accompaniment. To say that man is the cause for his salvation is a lie. To attribute one’s ability to repent and believe to natural man is the root of this lie…To accuse an orthodox pastor of supposing such a lie is slanderous.”

The Difference Between Cause and Accompaniment - blog
“The craziest thing is that I am accused of teaching something that I, in fact, do not teach.”

For Clarification…
We at NCC have been teaching for some time now about things that ACCOMPANY salvation, NOT things that CAUSE salvation.

Gal 3:2-3
Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

Charles Spurgeon on Heb 6:9
When the Apostle speaks of virtues and of graces, he calls them "things that accompany Salvation," not things which cause it. Our faith does not cause Salvation, nor our hope, nor our love, nor our good works; they are things which attend it as its guard of honor. The origin of Salvation lies alone in the sovereign will of God the Father; in the infinite efficacy of the blood of Jesus—God the Son, and in the divine influence of God the Holy Spirit. There are, however, "things that accompany Salvation."

The Threefold Method of Salvation
By God's Grace Alone
Grace is so central to salvation that it’s nearly impossible to talk about it without talking about faith and the glory of God.

Protestant Reformation Slogans (Latin)
Protestant Reformation
Martin Luther said to Erasmus in the 16th century that if you don’t embrace sola gratia (salvation by grace alone) you haven’t comprehended sola fide (justification by faith alone). Erasmus’ “Free Will” perverted sola gratia.

Pastor Collins
The key issue is that Satan knows that if he can pervert man’s perspective of grace he can frustrate the Great Commission, itself!

Helpless and Hopeless
Fallen man is polluted in such a way that ANYTHING that originates with him (e.g., mind, emotions, will) is impure also.

2Ti 1:9
who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace [sola gratia], which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began [soli Deo gloria],

God’s Salvific Plan
It is by grace (sola gratia) through faith (sola fide) that we are saved to God’s glory (soli Deo gloria).

What Parts of a Human Being Does God Save?
Avoid Hyper-Doctrinalization
You are always better off maintaining a simpler view of Bible doctrine that is true than a more complex, self-exacting view that does violence to Biblical revelation (e.g., by hyper-doctrinal categorization).

What Parts of a Human Being Does God Save?
Eph 1:7
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace

God Saves the Bodies of His Elect, to Be Raised:
What Parts of a Human Being Does God Save?