The grace of God!
(Charles Spurgeon) LISTEN to Audio! Download Audio
Titus 2:11-14, "The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No!' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness, and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good."
All true theology is summed up in these two short sentences:
Salvation is all of the grace of God, from first to last.
Damnation is all of man, from top to bottom.
No doctrine is so calculated to preserve a man from sin, as the doctrine of the grace of God! If grace does not make us different from other men, then it is not the grace which God gives to His elect.
There is no preservative from sin, like the knowledge that I am chosen by God from the foundation of the world. There is nothing like a belief in the immutability of my Father's love for me, which can keep me near to Him from a motive of simple gratitude. If God has loved me once, then He will love me forever!
Sovereign grace puts its hand on the boasting mouth, and shuts it once for all!
The bridge of grace will bear your weight. Thousands of big heinous sinners have gone across that bridge—yes, tens of thousands have gone over it. Some have been the chief of sinners, but the bridge has never yielded beneath their weight.
Free grace can go into the gutter, and bring up a jewel!