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, 9; and Rom. 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, 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 3:14-16). The first look gives life, and every look after is the power of living (see 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.
I learn from Romans 3:10― “There is none righteous (or good), no, not one.” I learn from Romans 3:12― “There is none that doeth good, no, not one.” I learn from Romans 7:18—That I cannot do good, and that there is no good in me.
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. 4:13).
Reader, are you saved? W. M.