". . . I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand." (1Pe 5:12)The first-century Christians to whom Peter wrote were standing in the doctrine of "the true grace of God."
Are you?
Most Christians think they are, but an examination of their doctrine will almost always reveal that the "grace" they espouse is an admixture of grace and works. God does His part, and they do theirs. While the Bible teaches that faith is an evidence of eternal life (Joh 5:24), both Arminians and Calvinists have turned it into a sacrament which procures eternal salvation.
Using the Holy Scriptures, Pastor Wagner in this book expounds the “true grace of God” and refutes the errors of Arminianism and Calvinism. Topics such as the nature of man, election and predestination, being chosen by God, atonement, regeneration, preservation and perseverance, the purpose of the gospel, temporal salvation, twofold justification, and the unconverted elect are examined through a scriptural lens. After the Biblical teaching is set forth for each topic, the Arminian and Calvinistic positions concerning it are examined, and any truth found in them is affirmed and the errors are refuted.
Throughout the book, verses that appear to teach that salvation is acquired through something that man does are interpreted in light of verses that plainly state that salvation is wrought by the grace of God alone. Also explained is the relationship between the will and responsibility of man and the sovereignty of God.
There are a number of errors which have prevented many believers in Christ from coming to a more perfect understanding of the true grace of God. This book has endeavored to identify those errors and correct them with the scripture. Of all the errors, three in particular are pervasive among professing Christians.
The first and fundamental error that most people make concerning soteriology is confusing the
evidence of eternal salvation with the
cause of it. God alone
causes eternal salvation via His foreknowledge, election, predestination, justification, regeneration, and glorification of His elect. Fallen man cannot affect any of these acts which are solely the prerogative of God. Faith, reception of the gospel, repentance, baptism, or any other good works performed by man are the
evidence of eternal salvation, not that which produces it.
The second error which causes much confusion among professing Christians is the assumption that there is only one type of salvation spoken of in scripture: eternal salvation. There is, however, another salvation found in scripture, that being
temporal salvation (salvation in time, in this life). A failure to distinguish between eternal salvation and temporal salvation has caused much contradiction in the minds and theologies of both Arminians and Calvinists. By expounding the doctrine of
temporal salvation, this book shows how numerous verses in the scripture regarding salvation harmonize with each other, rather than appearing to contradict one another.
The third error, which has plagued Calvinists in particular, is the failure to understand that regeneration
is the imparting of eternal life and eternal salvation to the elect, not merely the enabling of so-called “saving faith.” When it is understood that eternal life is imparted by the sovereign act of God in regeneration and that faith is the evidence, not the cause, of eternal salvation, Calvinists will no longer have to sound like Arminians when they discuss the role of faith in salvation.
After reading this book, may the reader exclaim with the prophet Jonah that “Salvation is of the LORD” (Jon 2:9).
