If GOD has found a way whereby He can righteously save hell-deserving, meritless sinners, apart from all complications with human resources or limitations, He has, by the continued application of those principles, found a way whereby, without reference to merit or demerit, the saved one can be kept saved unto eternity. This, though most reasonable, is purely a question of divine revelation, and, therefore its consideration should not be influenced by rationalistic systems of thought. As has been stated, to have accepted the true grace principles in salvation is to be committed to those selfsame principles which, in turn, form the very basis of the keeping power of GOD through grace.
To restate, The basis upon which GOD can exercise grace in the salvation of the sinner is threefold:
There must be the disposal of every condemnation. This has been perfectly accomplished in the Cross of CHRIST.
There must be a disposal of every human obligation. This has been provided in the offer of salvation to man as a gift from GOD.
There must be a disposal of all human merit. This has been supplied by the divine sentence which places the whole world “under sin” before GOD.
If these great principles of grace, which belong to salvation, shall be applied and continued to the believer after he is saved, there is formed thereby, the same righteous freedom for the infinite love of GOD to be exercised to its own satisfaction in the eternal keeping of the one who has been saved.
With more specific reference to these three principles in grace, it may be observed:
a. There must be the Disposal of Every Human sin.
Since the problem of the keeping power of GOD is related only to the believer, the crucial question which is confronted at this point may be stated thus:
Are the sins which Christians commit after they are saved divinely judged and disposed of in the Cross equally with the sins of the unsaved? The answer is emphatically yes! – John 1:29; I John 2:2; 2 Cor. 5:14-15; 1Tim. 2:6; Col. 2:13, Eph. 1:7
The Scripture is clear on this point: “And he is the propitiation for our [Christians] sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world”; “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us [Christians] from all sin” (I John 1:7; 2:2).
To these passages may be added all the Scripture which contemplates the universality of the efficacious death of CHRIST for sin; for sin is sin in any and every case, whether it be committed by the saved or the unsaved, and it can be cured only by the precious blood of the Son of GOD. All sin taken together formed the unmeasurable burden which was laid on Him. The supposition that the sins of Christians were excluded from the redeeming work of CHRIST is totally erroneous. Equally erroneous is the supposition that GOD does not deal judicially with the Christian’s sins until they are committed. Every sin that humanity – saved or unsaved – had committed, or ever would commit, was dealt with in perfect divine judgment by CHRIST at the Cross (2 Cor. 5:18-21; 1 Pet. 2:24). Being universal, this divine judgment contemplated the sin of the saved as much as the sin of the unsaved.
As certainly, then, as grace may be extended to the unsaved on the basis of the fact that CHRIST has already borne the condemnation of his sin, so certainly grace may be extended and continued to the saved on the basis of the fact that CHRIST has already borne the condemnation of the Christian’s sin.
In this dispensation, the unsaved are not said to be condemned primarily because of their sins which CHRIST has borne; they are condemned because they do not believe on CHRIST who bore their sins. “He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). In like manner, the Christian will never be condemned because of the sin which CHRIST has borne. So, also, the Christian, having saved by CHRIST, can never be condemned (Romans 8:1). By this Scripture it is seen that the finished work of CHRIST is the foundation of the Christian’s eternal security and standing in grace.
Does the Christian sin? Does sin unsaved the Christian? This is a fair question, and if it be answered in the affirmative, there are but two possible positions in which the Christian might stand: he must, at a given time, be either sinlessly perfect, or a lost soul. There could be no intermediate ground. They are, rather, “kept through the power of God,” and that power is not only directly exercised in their behalf; but it has been made righteously free to act through the shed blood of the Lamb of GOD. Sin does not overcome the Blood; it is blood that overcomes sin (Colossians 1:14; 2:13-14). Thus grace is extended toward the believer for time and eternity, not on the ground of impossible perfection; it is extended to him because it is the Father’s good pleasure to keep His child, and the Father is unconditionally free to do this through the Blood that has been shed.
b. There Must be a Disposal of Every Human Obligation.
It is most evident from the Scriptures that every human work has been set aside and salvation is now offered to men, only as the gift of GOD. There are no payments to be made, past, present, or future; else grace is no longer grace. This fact is the second foundation principle of grace as grace is exercised toward the sinner. This aspect of divine favor is equally effective when grace is exercised toward the Christian.
Do Christians pay their way, or do they, by their good lives and service, can move GOD to keep them saved? The answer is evident. There could be no peace of heart under such relations to GOD. Who could ever assure himself that he had accomplished all his Christian duty, or complied with all the demands found in the holy standards of GOD (James 2:10)? Who can repay GOD for the riches of His grace?
To attempt to do so, is to place a cheap value on the priceless treasures of Heaven’s glory (Psalm 49:6-8; 1 Peter 1:18-20). GOD proposes to keep every believing soul, for He has said, “I will in no wise cast out.” But His keeping will not be on a basis of exchange wherein Christian faithfulness, as important as it is, will be made the purchasing medium of the measureless goodness and blessing of GOD. He will keep by grace alone.
c. There Must be a Disposal of Every Human Merit.
Through the divine decree, as has been seen, every human merit has been set aside in order that pure grace might reign unchallenged and uncomplicated. That salvation might be by grace alone, GOD has removed every possible conflicting issue which might arise because of human merit. The whole human family is now “under sin”; for only thus are they objects of pure grace. Such grace can be exercised only toward the meritless. Salvation is based on the loving goodness of GOD and never on the supposed worthiness of the sinner.
In like manner, GOD is now equally free to continue the exercise of His boundless grace toward the safe-keeping of the Christian without reference to the Christian’s merit. All that the love of GOD may prompt Him to do in grace, He is free to do. His unconditional covenant of eternal blessings is the guaranty of His abiding purpose.
Evangelist Rodgie Quirante
The Workman’s Treasure Study Series