Jul 11
15
THE DISTINGUISHING GRACE OF GOD
by Don Fortner
“ For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” 1 Cor. 4:7
The only difference between the believer and the unbeliever, between the righteous and the wicked, between the seed of Christ and the seed of the serpent, is the difference which grace has made. This we must acknowledge. “By the grace of God I am what I am!” God’s grace is always particular, distinctive, and distinguishing. Those who are saved are distinguished from those who are lost by five acts of grace.
1. The first distinguishing act of God’s grace is his ETERNAL ELECTION. If you can, with the eye of faith, trace every spiritual blessing that you now enjoy, and those which you hope to enjoy, back to the place of their original source, the place of their origin would be spelled “E L E C T I O N” (Eph. 1:3-4; II Thess. 2:13; Jer. 1:4; 31:3).
2. The second act of grace by which God has distinguished his elect from the rest of mankind is EFFECTUAL REDEMPTION. By his precious blood, poured out unto death upon the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ has effectually ransomed God’s elect from the hands of divine justice, by satisfying the claims of justice against us (Isa. 53:8-11; Gal. 3:13; Heb. 9:12).
3. The third act of grace by which the Lord has distinguished us from the rest of the world is his ADORABLE PROVIDENCE. Our God governs all the affairs of this world. And he has governed all the affairs and circumstances of our lives to bring us to the place where we now are, and to eternal glory in Christ (Matt. 10:29-31; Rom. 8:28).
4. The fourth act of grace by which we are distinguished from all other men is GOD’S SOVEREIGN WORK OF REGENERATION. The only thing that makes you different from any other being on this planet, if you are born again, is the fact that God has saved you. He gave you life and faith in Christ by the irresistible power of his Spirit (Eph. 2:1-10).
5. The fifth act of grace by which God distinguishes his elect from the unbelieving is his MERCIFUL PRESERVATION. The only thing that keeps us in grace is grace itself. The only thing that holds us to Christ is Christ himself (Jer. 32:38-40).