A Biblical Testimony by Jack Kettler
In the book of Romans, Paul declares the following concerning man’s condition: “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one...that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God” (Romans 3:10, 19). Paul explains that this is a fallen man’s condition. Paul says: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). The sinner had earned the wages of death. God, in His mercy, gives sinners the gift of eternal life. The only thing that a sinner has earned and deserves is death. Eternal life came as a gift. One thing is certain: there was and is absolutely nothing in the sinner that caused God to give the sinner this gift. Jesus Christ gets all the glory and praise.
The believer should now attempt to do as the writer of Hebrews sets forth: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). The believer looks to Jesus by giving him the glory. God gives sinners the gift of faith. Believers are saved by grace, and even faith is a gift. Ephesians 2:8 says: “and that not of yourselves.” What is not of yourselves? Faith! Did the sinner choose Christ and exercise faith? Yes, but why? Who gets the glory? Christ? Or the sinner? Why did the sinner choose to believe? Ephesians 1:4, and verse 5 supplies the answer.
“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” Was this salvation in the sinner’s hands to choose or reject? If this were the case, then the sinners could glory in themselves. How can that be so? Because the sinner would have done something others had not done. The following verse tells us that predestination is: “according to the good pleasure of his will.” “So, then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy” (Romans 9:16).
More than any other teaching of Scripture, the doctrine of election takes salvation out of man's hands and places it in God's control. Men do not like God’s control. The cause of God’s choosing is found in Him. If one insists that one’s actions are part of God’s choice, human merit is brought into the picture. Salvation then becomes synergistic rather than monergistic. Biblical salvation is monergistic. Christ alone, by His complete and finished work, saved the sinner. Within a synergistic scheme, salvation becomes a cooperative effort. An individual’s work takes away from the work of Christ. How? The sinner contributed. The sinner played a part in salvation. If the sinner was not willing, then God could not save them. A synergistic scheme of salvation steals Christ's glory and limits God's power. God can only do what the sinner allows Him to do within this type of system. Again, the believer must confess by the grace of God that: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5).
Logical Argument:
Premise 1: The apostle Paul teaches in l Corinthians 15:1-4, Romans 3:10, and Romans 6:23 that all humanity is fallen and deserving of death due to sin.
Premise 2: The gift of eternal life is given to sinners by God's mercy, and it is not something they have earned or deserve.
Conclusion: Therefore, salvation and eternal life are solely dependent on God's grace and not on the actions or merit of the sinner.
The believer’s testimony must be, “To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever.
Amen”. Romans 16:27. heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:28-29). Amen!
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
Mr. Kettler has previously published articles in the Chalcedon Report and Contra Mundum. He and his wife, Marea, attend the Westminster, CO, RPCNA Church. Mr. Kettler is the author of 15 books defending the Reformed Faith. Books can be ordered online at Amazon.