Salvation Is of the Lord
The sermon emphasizes that salvation is solely the work of God, and we contribute nothing to our own preservation or sanctification.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes that salvation is entirely the work of God, who quickens and sustains the soul. He asserts that all spiritual life, grace, and strength come from the Lord, and any goodness in us is a result of His work. Spurgeon highlights that our actions, whether in prayer or resisting sin, are empowered by God, and without Him, we can do nothing. He reminds us that our growth in knowledge and sanctification is through the Holy Spirit, and ultimately, all we need is found in God alone. The core message is that 'Salvation is of the Lord,' underscoring our dependence on Him for every aspect of our spiritual lives.
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Salvation is the work of God. It is He alone who quickens the soul "dead in trespasses and sins," and it is He also who maintains the soul in its spiritual life. He is both "Alpha and Omega." "Salvation is of the Lord." If I am prayerful, God makes me prayerful; if I have graces, they are God's gifts to me; if I hold on in a consistent life, it is because He upholds me with His hand. I do nothing whatever towards my own preservation, except what God Himself first does in me.
Whatever I have, all my goodness is of the Lord alone. Wherein I sin, that is my own; but wherein I act rightly, that is of God, wholly and completely. If I have repulsed a spiritual enemy, the Lord's strength nerved my arm. Do I live before men a consecrated life? It is not I, but Christ who liveth in me. Am I sanctified? I did not cleanse myself: God's Holy Spirit sanctifies me. Am I weaned from the world? I am weaned by God's chastisements sanctified to my good. Do I grow in knowledge?
The great Instructor teaches me. All my jewels were fashioned by heavenly art. I find in God all that I want; but I find in myself nothing but sin and misery. "He only is my rock and my salvation." Do I feed on the Word? That Word would be no food for me unless the Lord made it food for my soul, and helped me to feed upon it. Do I live on the manna which comes down from heaven? What is that manna but Jesus Christ himself incarnate, whose body and whose blood I eat and drink?
Am I continually receiving fresh increase of strength? Where do I gather my might? My help cometh from heaven's hills: without Jesus I can do nothing. As a branch cannot bring forth fruit except it abide in the vine, no more can I, except I abide in Him. What Jonah learned in the great deep, let me learn this morning in my closet: "Salvation is of the Lord."
Sermon Outline
- I. Salvation is of the Lord
- A. God quickens the soul and maintains spiritual life
- B. God is the source of all good things in our lives
- C. We contribute nothing to our own preservation or sanctification
- II. God's sovereignty in salvation
- A. God's strength is what enables us to resist spiritual enemies
- B. God's Holy Spirit sanctifies us
- C. God's chastisements wean us from the world
- III. God's role in our growth and nourishment
- A. God teaches us and helps us to feed on the Word
- B. God provides us with spiritual nourishment through Jesus Christ
- C. God gives us strength and might
- IV. Our dependence on God
- A. We can do nothing without Jesus
- B. We must abide in Him to bear fruit
- C. We must learn to rely on God's sovereignty in our lives
Key Quotes
“Salvation is of the Lord.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“He only is my rock and my salvation.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“As a branch cannot bring forth fruit except it abide in the vine, no more can I, except I abide in Him.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We must learn to rely on God's sovereignty in our lives and acknowledge that He is the source of all good things.
- We must abide in Jesus Christ to bear fruit and experience spiritual growth.
- We must recognize that our strength and might come from God, and without Him, we can do nothing.