The reason for our salvation is God-centered, not man-centered. If we would understand that God saves us because He desires to, that it fits His purposes, then we would not be so prone to doubt our salvation. “That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:7). Again, if we would understand that God saves us because He has a purpose to—and that purpose has nothing to do with anything He has seen in us—then we would see salvation as something God wants to do more than we want Him to.

            “For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory.” (Eph. 2:8-9) The “glory” of salvation is a matter of tremendous concern. God receives glory—eternal glory—through the salvation of sinners. Salvation is by grace; it has to be by grace, for that is the only way that God, not man, is glorified. It brings God glory when sinners are justified. Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more (Rom. 5:20). The reason Paul had to write so correctively in Romans chapter six, is because he had taught these truths of salvation by grace to the glory of God  so strongly, his readers actually got the idea that if God receives more glory the worse we are, why not sin more so that God gets more glory? 

            The worse you have been, in a sense, the better; for the more severely you have been engrossed in sin, the more glory there is for God when He rescues you. Jesus told a parable about the person who was forgiven of more being appreciative of the love of God more. Those who have been the worst of sinners find themselves beign the best of saints, for they realize how much grace there is in God.

            Is this a scriptural principle? Indeed it is. Remember the words of Paul: “I thank him that enabled me, even Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful, appointing me to his service; though I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief: howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all his longsuffering, for an example for them that should thereafter believe on him unto eternal life. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.” (1 Tim. 1:13-17). Paul saw his salvation as God's act wherein God receives all the glory. And he recognized that in saving the "chief of sinners", God proved to everyone that He has enough grace to save anyone. (Continued tomorrow)