We had a good Sunday today thinking about what it means to say that salvation comes entirely from God. Salvation is a gift from God from start to finish. He chose us in Christ before the world was even created. He sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to be a Saviour for needy sinners like us. Even our repentance from our sins and our faith in Christ are gifts from him. And he causes us to persevere in Christ until we are gathered to be with him forever. All this ought to fill us with unspeakable joy and gratitude for our amazingly gracious and generous God!
Our friend, Ben Wright, preached on Psalm 40:6 during the evening service. The verse says, "Sacrifice and offering you have not desired, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required." Indeed, God doesn't require empty, external obedience from us. Instead, we are to trust not in what we can do, but to trust in what he has already done. Ultimately, Psalm 40:6 points us to the final sacrifice for sin whom God has provided for us. In Hebrews 10, this verse is applied to Jesus Christ, the one whom God has sent to make an atonement for our sins.
Salvation is not about what we can do to please God, it is about what God has already done in his Son, Jesus Christ, for sinners who need forgiveness but can do nothing to save themselves. Trust in Christ. Trust in him wholly.
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