Two Great Mistakes.

THAT we are saved by grace, through faith—and that not of ourselves―and not of works, is the simple teaching of the Word of God (see Eph. 2:8, 98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9); and Rom. 4:55But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)). Also, that grace, which brings salvation, teaches us to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; not to get saved, but because we are saved (see Titus 2:11, 1211For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (Titus 2:11‑12)). Now the two great mistakes of which I wish to speak, are these.
First of all, faith is put in the place of the Saviour. It is by faith in Christ and His finished work that we are saved. The right faith is the faith that trusts in the right person, and that person is the Son of God, who became a man, that He might be my Saviour, and who died on the cross for my sins, and is risen again and gone into heaven. And just as one look at the brazen serpent in Numbers 21 gave a bitten Israelite life, so one look of faith at the glorified Man in heaven saves the poor sinner, and gives him eternal life (see John 3:14-1614And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:14‑16)). The first look gives life, and every look after is the power of living (see Hebrews 12:1-31Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (Hebrews 12:1‑3)). Now since this is so, consider how evil the teaching must be, that occupies a poor sinner with his faith, and that tells him he is saved only while he keeps on believing. Consequently, instead of looking unto Jesus, he gets occupied with himself, and his faith, and wonders if he has the right faith, and if he is believing in the right way.
Secondly, salvation is put at the end of the Christian’s course, instead of at the beginning. Many think the servant of Christ is trying to save his own soul, and that he only preaches and teaches to secure heaven for himself at last. What a very great mistake! No man ever got to heaven, or ever will get it by his own works, or because he deserves it; on the contrary, it is all of grace, all undeserved, and the truth is that no one ever does any good thing till he is saved.
How different is the language of the believer, the Christian, when as a saved man, he speaks, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:1313I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13)).
Reader, are you saved? W. M.