There is only one plan of salvation that is sure and certain for all its intended objects. That plan is salvation by grace through faith as set forth in Rom. 4:16, our text for this series of articles on the subject of salvation by grace.

There are only two, perhaps three plans of salvation set forth by all religions, be they pagan or “Christian” in character. If we allow for three, they are:

1. Salvation wholly of grace.

2. Salvation wholly by works

3. Salvation through a mixture of works and grace.

There is a severe problem with the last for in this mixture grace ceases to be grace and works cease to be works and the one seeking salvation through this means becomes totally confused.

Salvation by works is certain to no one. The one seeking salvation might labor all of his life and then in a moment of weakness commit a mortal sin and be cast off forever. One wonders why any could hope to be saved by his works. There is no certainty here.

Salvation is declared to be “of faith” that “it might be by grace” with the purpose that “it might be sure to all the seed” (Rom. 4:16). Salvation by grace has its source completely in the will, purpose and power of the blessed Trinity. It depends not on preacher, priest, or persons. God is its Author, Executor, Accomplisher, Applier, Perpetuator, and Consummator. Man is passive in salvation. This is the only way manifest in Scripture that makes salvation “sure to all the seed” (Rom. 4:16).

Of course, one may raise the question: “Why do men need to be saved?” Man is a creation of God. He is made in the likeness and image of God (Gen. 1:26-27). He was created a living soul who was morally upright (Gen. 2:7; Eccl. 7:29).

Man existed in this state of holiness for a time. He fell from that estate, however, because he disobeyed the one negative command that God had laid down. His fall was to such an extent and of such a nature that it shut man up to only one hope—the unperverted, unfrustrated, pure grace of God.

The reader should keep in mind that Adam’s fall was completely voluntary. No one deceived Adam; no one forced Adam. Eve, having been deceived by Satan, had eaten the forbidden fruit. She offered it to Adam who voluntarily cast his lot with his wife and partook of the fruit (Gen. 3:6; I Tim. 2:14).

Seeing and knowing that they were naked, Adam and Eve tried to solve their problem by making themselves coverings of fig leaves (Gen. 3:7). They thought that they could cover their nakedness and their guilt with these flimsy fig-leaf skirts. They still felt their insufficiency and their consciences troubled them so that they hid themselves from God (Gen. 3:10).

Of course, their sin found them out. No one can successfully hide himself from God. When God walked in the garden in the cool of the evening and called out to them they were convicted of their sin and shown the folly of the Devil’s lie.

But, will Adam and Eve accept the responsibility for what they have done? Absolutely not! Eve blames the serpent and the One who created the serpent.

The woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat (Gen. 3:13). Adam blamed God and the woman whom God had given him. The man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat (Gen. 3:12). In his fallen condition Adam was unwilling to take responsibility for his sin. He “passed the buck.” He ultimately blamed God for giving him the woman to be with him.

The results of Adam’s sin were tragic. As the head of the human race, his actions were treated as the actions of the race. In him we stood or we fell. When he sinned his race sinned. When he died spiritually his race died spiritually. “Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12).

All men are born with a sinful nature because this depravity originating in the fall is hereditary. This terrible infection of sin had involved the entire posterity of Adam. How often this is brought out in Scripture.

Paul repeatedly refers to the hereditary nature of the contagion of sin. He wrote: “By one man sin entered into the world.” Again: “Through the offence of one many be dead.” Also: “Death reigned by one.” Again: “By the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation . . . By one man’s disobedience many were made sinners” (Rom. 5:12-19).

Job asked: “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?” (Job 14:4). He was speaking of man that is “born of a woman” (Job 4:1). Job answered his own question: “Not one” (Job 14:4). Not one set of parents in the world is capable of producing an undepraved child. Not one set of parents in the world can produce a child that is not conceived with a sinful nature.

David mournfully declared: “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psa. 51:5). David was the youngest of eight sons of Jesse and his wife. David did not mean that the coital act by which he was conceived was a sin. Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. David was referring, not to an act of sin, but to the state of sinfulness in which he was born.

The wicked depraved nature with which men are born is manifest quickly by their sinful actions. “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies” (Psa. 58:3). Man is truly “A transgressor from the womb” (Isa. 48:8).

It is as natural for man to sin as it is for a duck to swim. One does not have to be taught to sin anymore than a duck has to be taught to swim. It’s the natural thing for the newborn infant to sin for we are all “by nature the children of wrath” (Eph. 2:3), and “children of disobedience” (Eph. 2:1-3; Col. 3:6; Eph. 5:6).

The hereditary depravity of man reaches to every faculty of his being and is, therefore total. There is not one faculty of man that has escaped the defilement of sin.

The HEART is affected by this sinful infection. It “is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:9). “Ye walk everyone after the imagination of his evil heart” (Jer. 16:12). “The heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Eccl. 8:11). Again we read of the natural condition of men’s hearts: “The heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live” (Eccl. 9:3). God declared: “The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Gen. 8:21). Solomon asked: “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” (Prov. 20:9). In speaking of the natural condition of men Paul says that men’s spiritual ignorance is directly connected with “the blindness of their heart” (Eph. 4:18).

The MIND of man is affected by depravity. “The carnal (natural) mind is enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7). Natural men walk “in vanity of their mind” (Eph. 4:17). Mentally, men are “alienated and enemies in their minds” (Col. 1:21). “Their mind and conscience is defiled” (Titus 1:15).

The AFFECTIONS of the natural man are controlled and determined by his depraved nature. “You have not the love of God in you,” said Jesus to some who came to Him (Jn. 5:42). Again He said: “Men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil” (Jn. 3:19). The heart is fully set to do evil and the carnal mind is enmity, therefore the affections are directed toward that which is evil.

The condition of the heart, mind, and affections controls the manner of life that men live. It is very evident from Scripture that the LIFESTYLE of men is certainly affected by sin and depravity. We who are saved must admit that “We ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another” (Titus 3:3). We must confess that “we walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind” (Eph. 2:2-3). David informs us that God looked down from heaven upon the children of men and saw that “they are all gone aside, they are altogether become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Psa. 14:2-3).

The NATURE of man is affected by depravity. Perhaps this should have been discussed first but let it briefly be manifest from Holy Writ that man’s first birth is fleshly and “That which is born of the flesh is flesh” (Jn. 3:6). With Paul we must agree “that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing” (Rom. 7:18). This total absence of good in the flesh makes one a “child of wrath” by nature (Eph. 2:3). “There is none righteous,” by nature, “no, not one” (Rom. 3:10).

The SPEECH of man is affected by his inherent depravity. He goes forth from the womb “speaking lies” (Psa. 58:3). “Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips” (Rom. 3:13). Paul goes even further and declares that the natural man’s “mouth is full of cursing and bitterness” (Rom. 3:14). Jesus said: “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matt. 12:34). When one considers the terrible deceit lying in the heart it is little wonder that the mouth spews forth corruption.

The PURSUIT of man is depraved. He does not seek after God. His feet “are swift to shed blood” and “destruction and misery” is what he leaves in his path (Rom. 3:11, 15-16).

The UNDERSTANDING has been infected with this inherent depravity. “There is none that understandeth,” wrote Paul (Rom. 3:11). The understanding has been so “darkened” in the fall (Eph. 4:18) that one cannot “see (comprehend”) the kingdom of God” unless God regenerates him (Jn. 3:3-7).

One hears much about the worth of man. The VALUE of the natural man is nothing because in the fall man’s worth hit bottom. “They are together become unprofitable” (Rom. 3:12).

The TRANQUILITY of man was destroyed in the fall. He is “like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt” (Isa. 57:20). “There is no peace” for them according to our great God (Isa. 57:20). They have not even known the way of peace (Rom. 3:17).

The REVERENCE which men should have for God was lost in the fall. “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom. 3:18). The “heathen rage.” They “take counsel against the Lord, and against his anointed.” They seek to dethrone God (Psalm 2). Some have even dared to declare that God is dead. The Creator is the object of the jokes of the creature. Such irreverence is only traceable to the depth of man’s utter depravity.

The ABILITY of man to do that which is spiritually good was lost in the fall. He is “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1-2). He cannot see nor enter the kingdom of God unless the Spirit quickens and regenerates him (Jn. 3:3-7). He cannot come to Christ unless he is drawn, quickened and enabled by God (Jn. 6:44, 63-65). He cannot hear the word of God unless God gives him a hearing ear (Jn. 8:43; Prov. 20:12).

The natural man does not have the ability to change himself for the better. He cannot even will his own regeneration (Jn. 1:13). Jeremiah used the figure of a leopard that might will to change its spots and an Ethiopian who might will to change the color of his skin. If they could will these changes God says: “Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil” (Jer. 13:23).

The natural man cannot believe. Some declare that man has, within himself, the ability to believe the gospel to the saving of the soul. How could one with a blinded heart and a darkened understanding believe saving truth?

Of some Jesus declared: “They could not believe” (Jn. 12:39). Paul wrote that “all men have not faith” (II Thes. 3:2). Unless “it is given unto you on the behalf of Christ. . . to believe on Him” you will never have saving faith (Phil. 1:29).

The natural man cannot do that which is spiritually good. In fact, Jesus said: “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. . . . for without me ye can do nothing” (Jn. 15:4-5). Man must confess with Paul: “How to perform that which is good I find not” (Rom. 7:18).

The natural man does not have the ability to be subject to the Law of God. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against Cod,” wrote Paul, “it is not subject to the law of God neither indeed can he” (Rom. 8:7). Paul went further with this discussion of the inability of man by declaring: “They that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom. 8:8).

Man, in his unregenerate condition is incapable of discerning spiritual truth. The reason that so many churches have gone so far into error is because they are filled with unregenerate church members who possess no spiritual discernment. They would not know truth if they met it in the middle of the road. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (I Cor. 2:14). There is nothing Inherent in man that gives him the ability to discern truth. Only God gives that necessary comprehension through the regenerating power of His Spirit.

Man cannot find his way to God nor direct his steps because of his fallen condition. He is in such a state of depravity that he “meets with darkness in the daytime, and gropes in the noon-day as in the night” (Job 5:14). His way “is as darkness” and he “knows not at what he stumbles” (Prov. 4:19). Because of this condition that resulted from the fall of Adam Jeremiah cried out: “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).

One other aspect of man’s nature must be discussed before concluding this message. It is closely connected to man’s ability. The WILL of man is just as depraved as any other faculty. The will has to do with the desire, the inclination, and wish of a person. In his unregenerate condition, a man will not “receive” Christ (Jn. 1:11). He will not bow to the Lordship of Christ but cries with men of another time: “We will not have this man to reign over us” (Lu. 19:14, 27). He willfully closes his eyes to the truth (Acts 28:27). There is no way that he, in this depraved state, will come to Christ. Well did Jesus declare: “Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life” (John 5:40).

In this message, I have sought, by the power of the Holy Spirit and the exposition of God’s Word, to fully stain and remove all human pride and self-glory that men have. I have sought to bring down the high and haughty looks of men causing all who have heard and read to see our terrible sinful perversity. It was my goal to cause the sinner, through God’s power, to feel unworthy of the least of God’s mercies. I pray that it has stripped every sinner of the filthy rags of self-righteousness and has shattered your arrogant self-sufficiency. May you be keenly conscious of your utter dependence on the free grace of God. You are absolutely helpless and are shut up to sovereign grace.

I originally published this series on God's grace in the first 12 issues of the papers in 1985. At that time we only had a little over 200 readers, a number of whom are not with us any more due to deaths and other things. The series was extremely well received that I recently decided to run it again. First, I wanted to set it forth again for our new readers. Second, I wanted to publish it on our Internet sight for our readers of that. Third, I have rejoiced in reading the articles again as I have scanned and proofed them so I feel sure that if you read them before you may still profit from reading them again. I pray that God may bless them to the hearts of all our readers in the months ahead as we publish them again.

May God bless all of you through these and other messages in the future.

KANSAS: The article about God's Word being purified was a breath of fresh air.  I pastor a Baptist Church in Wichita, KS and I have a man in the church who is dogmatic about the very thing you exposed.  I love him, but he also thinks it is a huge error for Christians to go to the Greek for ANYTHING.  I agree with you completely and am very thankful for this article.  Do you have a problem with me printing this article and passing it out at church?  Also, I would very much like to talk to you via phone.  If you so desire, you may add your number in a return email. 

WWW: That was a great expondation of Peter's Gospel----Thank you very much. Just imagine how great The Messiah is to renew a vile sinner like myself--My testimony of my conversion would make some stronger in their faith--My past abominations were forgiven by the Blood of Christ and believers mock and ridicule me. I love the scripture--Those who have sinned much love MUCH----My Salvation shows the Power of The King's blood----Some people will never accept His amazing grace (Christians included of whom many of such are the worst offenders---They that have sinned little love little-----Great website --thank you very much--Don't take offence at what I said --I just had to get it off my chest

Thanks again for the good preaching!

LOUISIANA: A letter from one of my granddaughters:

Hey Paw Paw,

 This is Ashley. I am teaching an Awana group for the softball team and was looking for a Bible verse on the importance on attending church. While searching it brought me to your website and I figured I hadn’t talked to you or seen you in a long time and it had your email address. So I figured I would say hey!  I hope you are having fun in Thailand!!!

Love you bye

Ashley Camp

Good morning and happy birthday. I just realized it was your birthday today and wanted to let you know I was thinking of you and praying for you. It is so encouraging to get the reports and see how the Lord is working. I told Ruth that it makes it very clear you are doing exactly what the Lord wants you to do. I pray for your continued health and give my love to Anond.

Have a wonderful day,

Love in Christ

WWW: Thank you for the article on the Internet. Very interesting subject and I have been looking into it for a long time.

I noted your comments regarding Dr. DeHaan views, they didn't sit well with me and I am no doctor anyway.  Your understanding of the real human physical nature of Jesus makes a lot of sense, not commonsense, because these things are communicated by God's Spirit based upon His Word.

I noted with interest your comment His being subject to all the ills common to the human nature INCLUDING physical death.  This I believe but I seem to be on my own because of the confusion between the physical nature of the body and the spiritual nature of sin in its members. People go straight to John 10 v. 18 etc. and say that if He didn't deliberately dismiss His spirit then He would go on living indefinitely regardless of His mortal wounds. This view seems to be widespread in the schools of thought with which I have been connected and researched for 40 years.

I noted you mentioned near the end of the article -

His earthly life was ended, the blood, his human blood, which had invigorated and sustained his human body during his 33 or more years on earth would no longer be needed. When he arose from the dead, he would have his body, but not his blood, for he would now return to the glory he had with the Father before the world was. And his glorious body would be sustained by the Spirit, not by blood.

If the body was 'the same' in resurrection then to speak of the Spirit replacing the need for blood seems to be a contradiction. So the Spirit is coursing through His veins now? Supposing He still has veins? Is it safe to jump to the conclusion that the Spiritual and glorious body of the resurrected Jesus has no blood because He only speaks of having flesh and bones? Did not Adam say the same about Eve being of his flesh & bones? Surely he had blood but he didn't mention it. 

Thank you for your thought-provoking article.

DID YOU NOTICE SOME DIFFERENCES?

Yes, there are several differences in this paper, but you may not have caught the differences because they are not very obvious.

First, there is a new publisher. With this issue the Central Baptist Church of Grenada, MS, became the publisher of The Grace Proclamator and Promulgator. It is a new experience for this church but one they seem to look forward to with great anticipation.

Second, there are now two editors of the paper although I have edited this issue, Bro. Bill Lee, Pastor of Central Baptist Church and I will now serve as co-editors. The editorial policies and positions will remain the same but we will both be writing for it on a regular basis.

Third, we have changed permits. Whereas we have published the paper for 20 years as Second Class and later Second Class was replaced by the designation of Periodical Publications. We have now secured a Standard Mail permit that will save a little on postage and has fewer restrictions than does Periodical Publications.

Fourth, those of you who have been receiving bundles with only one addressed piece in the bundle will now receive the same number of papers but every paper will have an address on it. This will deliver us from those postal employees who would take the top paper off a bundle and send it to the addressee and send the other back to us. I filed complaints but they did not good. We put a blue sticker with an F on the bundles which meant FIRM. The bundle was not supposed to be broken but left as a bundle and delivered to the address on the top paper. Some postal employees did this just fine, others, well, I will not express what I thought of their sending mail back that was properly addressed and bundled. We finally resorted to extra measures to try to keep the FIRM bundles together but occasionally someone did not think we knew what we were doing and here would come papers back to us with no indication from where they came.

We trust you will continue to find the paper helpful to your Christian life. We ask you to help us defray some of the expenses by letting us know in advance if you are changing addresses so that we can change your address without having to pay to get your new address. We will reserve the right to cancel from the mailing list those who do not notify us of the change. A few people move around rather regularly and never notify us when they are moving. If you do get canceled and want back on the list you will need to contact us at the address that you see just to the left of this point.