God Is Not Partial

God is not partial. This is a lesson that the apostle Peter had to learn through divine revelation and in his own experience. Peter preaching to the household of Cornelius was a major change in his thinking. He was a Jew preaching the gospel to Gentiles. "Then Peter opened his mouth and said, 'In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality"(Acts 10:34).

God is not partial in His love for the world (John 3:16). The good news is that God loves sinners, and He proved it at the cross of Jesus. Jesus did not die for good people, because there are none (Romans 3:10, 23). We have all sinned and come short of God's glory. Jesus died for sinners (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Once and for all, God proved His love for the world at the cross of Jesus (1 John 2:2).

God is not partial in His mercy and grace toward mankind. The Bible declares: "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11). There's enough mercy in God for all nations (Revelation 5:9). 

God's mercy is sufficient to save anyone from eternal judgment. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). The invitation to God the Father through Jesus Christ is offered to all people with no partiality. "Whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43).

Who Christ Is for Us

Charles Spurgeon wrote: "Jesus will never betray the confidence we place in Him. As you place your faith and trust in Him, remember that He is made unto us 'wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30). 

Christ is wisdom for us. He is every believer's Counselor, sharing with us the wisdom of God. His words in Scripture speak wisdom and counsel for our life situations. He speaks wisdom to us, as we read His words in the Bible.

Christ is righteousness for us. Self-righteousness will never please God. By faith in Christ, the believer receives the only righteousness that can possibly please God. We become righteous by faith in Christ alone. We are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Christ is sanctification for us. Trying to sanctify yourself is nothing more than self-righteousness. Only the blood of Christ and the Spirit of Christ can surely sanctify us before God. Jesus Christ alone is our sanctification.

Christ is redemption for us. He paid the price to set us free from the curse of sin and condemnation. It is nothing but the blood of Jesus. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are blood bought. Jesus paid it all.

God's Grace In Christ

God's grace is in Jesus Christ our Lord. God's grace changes our hearts, which is regeneration. God's grace enables us to repent and believe the gospel of Christ, which is our conversion (Philippians 1:29; 2 Timothy 2:25).

God's grace is salvation by faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation is God's grace working through us in Christ (Ephesians 2:10). The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is by God's grace, and not by any works which we have done. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5). 

God's grace is the gift of God in Christ. It is never earned by our works. If salvation was by our works, we could boast of what we have done. However, salvation is by grace in Christ alone, which means it is the gift of God. Salvation is the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is to the glory of God alone, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Salvation is not received by God's grace plus our works. Some teach that salvation is initiated by God's grace and must be completed by our works. Not so. When grace saves us, it is by grace received in Christ. God's grace in Christ begins and completes our salvation (Philippians 1:6).

Two Sides of God's Will

God's will has two sides. We can know God's revealed will for us in the Bible. God's secret will cannot be known. God's revealed will is our responsibility. God's secret will is not known. God's revealed will may be disobeyed; God's secret will is sovereign, certain to be fulfilled in God's time.

"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law" (Deuteronomy 29:29).

God's revealed will comes to us through the commandments of Scripture. For instance, God commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). That is God's revealed will of command which often is ignored. Yet, there are some who repent, turn to God and receive mercy and grace in Christ. The revealed will of God is our responsibility. Yet, God certainly knows that many will disobey to their own condemnation.

God's secret will is not for us to know. It is God's will of decree. It is certain to come to pass. Some may speculate and debate the secret will of God, but without Scripture as evidence. His secret will includes all the details of providence known only to God. The classic illustration is the appointed time for the second coming of Christ. Scripture teaches that no one knows the day nor hour, not even the angels of heaven. Yet, God's secret will appoints the day and hour.

Faith without Doubt

Faith without doubt is based upon God's promises. The Christian life begins with the promise of God for all who believe. The Bible says, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved (Acts 16:31). The believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is saved according to the promise of God. Faith is simply trusting what God promised. Salvation is by faith in Christ, based upon God's sure promises.

Faith without is trusting and relying upon God's promises in the Bible. Trying to live the Christian life without the promises of God becomes confusing and doubtful. The victorious Christian life is based upon what God promises in Christ that cannot fail. That's because God who has promised cannot lie (Titus 1:2).

Faith without doubt is in God's promises through our Lord Jesus Christ. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us (2 Corinthians 1:20). God keeps His promises through us as believers to the praise of His glory. Prayer based upon what God promises you is answered with Yes and in Him Amen. Trusting what God promises in your Bible is the solid foundation for all who live by faith.

Faith without doubt is standing on God's promises. That's faith with confidence in the promises of God in Christ. They are Yes and Amen in Christ. Don't let doubt rob you of victory unto the glory of God. Pray the promises of God. The answer is Yes and Amen in Christ. Your faith is sure, because what God promises you cannot fail.

Salvation In Christ

Salvation is in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:3-8). The gospel is the death of Christ for our sins and his resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Grace is the gift of God in Christ to all who believe. You are saved by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10). Paul was emphatic that if anyone preached any other gospel, let  him be accursed (Galatians 1:8).

Salvation comes through the call of God. The gospel call to Christ is to all nations and races of people. Yet, the gospel call is personal. God calls us to receive Christ (Galatians 1:6). That call is effective when our hearts are changed, as we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9).

Salvation changes your mind and heart. That is God's grace renewing your mind (Romans 12:2). That's the change of heart, which is the mind, will and emotions. You become a new creation by the grace of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). That change is by grace through faith in Christ.

Salvation brings peace with God (Romans 5:1). God's peace is within you. Peace with God means you are reconciled to God in Christ our Lord. Peace within you is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). This grace is not based upon any merit on your part, but the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. You are saved as you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:30-31).

God Saves Whoever

God saves whoever calls upon him. Whoever calls upon the name of Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13). Those who sincerely call upon the Lord are saved today. That's why today is the day of salvation.

The Bible warns about waiting for a day in the future to be saved. The danger is hardening our hearts in sin. Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts (Hebrews 3:15). It's a serious matter to resist the convicting work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11). That's the reason the Bible declares, Behold now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. However, those who have hardened their hearts will not, even in the face of death. Life is so uncertain and death is so sure. That's why today is the day of salvation. We are not promised tomorrow. 

The dying thief was saved on the day he died. Being crucified next to Jesus, he said, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom (Luke 23:42). Jesus said to him, Today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43). There is no doubt about his salvation. The words of our Lord confirmed it. Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.