Absolutely nobody volunteers for repentance (Romans 3:10-11); we as humans hold on tight to our sin. If anything, we all find ways to justify and get even deeper in our sins. As we witness the deterioration of our morals, we see things that were appalled just a few years ago, today not only acceptable, but also made right and, even celebrated in our culture. Without the light of God’s righteousness, we are left in darkness of sin, transgressions and iniquities. That is why salvation is a supernatural work on God. Ephesian 2:8-9 tells us, 

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.” (NIV) 

Romans 9:14-16 also tells us, 

“What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! ¹⁵ For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” ¹⁶ It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” (NIV)

Furthermore, Jesus tells us in John 15:16, “You did not choose me, but I chose you…” (NIV) We are chosen by the grace of God. We stand saved today because of God’s will and not ours. Second Peter 3:9 tells us, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (NIV) 

If salvation is the work of God and, scripturally speaking, clearly is, why do we keep asking folks to make decisions for Christ? There was a time I did not think this was a big deal, but today I realize that it is. We are asking folks to, not only make a decision they are incapable of making, but what’s even worse, making them feel that they are making it and, that they are now right with God. 

By making folks think they have a choice in receiving Christ for their own salvation we partnership with the devil in deceiving them. I am afraid our churches are filled with folks who think they are saved when they are not. Without a born-again spirit there is no wonder our preaching omits sin all together and focused on a motivational style of speaking that is attracted to the soul. This motivational style of teaching is self-centered, but never God’s centered. We are left with a form of godliness that omits the power of God. Beloved, if you are a Born-Again Christian is not because anything special you did; it is strictly because of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9 / Romans 9:14-16). John also tells us, 

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12-13 (NIV)

God gave us freewill and, that freewill will affect our lives significantly, but salvation is not a matter of freewill, salvation is a divine miracle… Period! 

To be continued…