How are we saved?  — “By grace through faith.”

What are we saved from?  -  From the power of our fallen nature or flesh, from our inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil.

How does this happen?  - “By grace through faith.”

I remember in my early experience as a young Christian at Avondale college, listening to the learned discussions and sermons on the justification and sanctification process, which mostly went over my head. Sometimes scientific terms were used such as “forensic justification”, or “intrinsic justification.”  Many times I felt like jumping up and shouting, “What are you talking about?  Just tell me from your own personal experience what these terms mean to you.  Tell me how you have learnt to walk with God.  Tell me simply what is God’s part is and what is my part in the saving of my soul.”  Of course, no one could tell me, so I went my way, and without a firm foundation in Christ, I found it an easy matter to drift away from the church when difficult times came.

Years later my interest in history and prophecy led me back to God, but I still did not understand God’s part or my part in the salvation process.  But God was with me, and I progressed in the Christian pathway, despite not being able to understand the secret to overcoming power - the very essence of salvation.  A few short years back my agitation over this issue again surfaced when a preacher in Alabama took us through a study in Romans.  Again, my heart cried out, “Tell me simply, as to a little child, with illustrations from your own experience, what is my part and what is God’s part.  What does “grace” mean to you personally, tell me about the power of grace in your own life.”  But still the answers did not come.

But God knew the cry of my heart, and when the time was right brought into our lives Restoration International, the ministry of the Hornberger and Waters’ families, who, like John the Baptist and the apostle Paul, went to live in the wilderness for several years to learn the secret of walking and talking with God.  From them I have at last been able to have my questions answered.  The following thoughts are taken from Jim Hornberger’s message, entitled “By Grace through Faith.”

The salvation of man has two parts to it. God’s and ours. God’s part is His gift of grace which He freely imparts day by day. Our part is to receive this free gift. To accept it is to exercise faith.

What is grace?

Jim’s definition - God’s grace is Gods continual presence in my life to direct, guide and empower me all through my day.  His grace will enable me to do whatever He calls upon me to do that day.  How does God’s grace work?  By His still small voice which continually speaks to us all day long.  He says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  He is our helper in the smallest and the largest task or decision.  It doesn’t matter how impossible the problem; God has a solution. He works though the still small voice of conscience.

- the ‘voice’ that checks us when we really want to pass on that juicy piece of gossip.