The One-Sided Nature of our Salvation

“On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands. And I said to them, “Each of you, get rid of the vile images you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me; they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt. But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations they lived among and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites by bringing them out of Egypt. Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the desert.” (Ezek 20:6-10 NIV)

How did we seek Him, in our dark estate? How did we give ourselves over to the pursuit of righteousness? How did we set out on an adventure to discover the Cross of Christ?

I did nothing of the sort. I was in headlong flight from God. I was steeped in idolatry and immorality, and enjoying it to boot. But God, for the sake of His great name, gave me over to deep conviction of sin, and to a discovery of Christ that was quite deliberate on His part, and nothing more than accidental on mine.

“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.* Amen.” (1 Tim 1:15-17 ESV)

Truth that liberates..