The doctrine of creature merit

(Octavius Winslow, "The God of Grace")  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

"Salvation is of the Lord!" Jonah 2:9

Salvation is but the unfolding of the boundless grace of God—to lost, vile, and Hell-deserving sinners.

All the religions of men; and their name is "legion"; are based upon the principle of human merit.

All are founded upon some 'imagined good and power' in the creature, the effect of which is totally to set aside the Atonement of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in the soul.

In fact, the doctrine of creature merit is the fatal element of man's religion—the moral poison of his soul; the remedy for which, is only found in a believing reception and heart-felt experience of the free grace salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The whole plan of salvation is based upon free grace—or, in other words, God's unpurchased favor to sinners.

This idea, of course, repudiates and ignores all worth and worthiness whatever on the part of the creature, man.

Human merit, therefore, is entirely excluded as an element entering into our salvation; the whole scheme, from first to last, being by grace!

"And if by grace, then it is no longer by works;
 if it were, grace would no longer be grace." Romans 11:6

Christ died, not for saints—but for sinners.

He receives, not the worthy—but the unworthy.

He came to heal, not the whole—but the sick.

He came to call, not the righteous—but sinners, to repentance!

Salvation, from first to last, is of free grace!