THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGETH SALVATION by John Gottlieb Matteson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 3, 1876

THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGETH SALVATION

By John Gottlieb Matteson

I charge thee therefore, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; PREACH THE WORD. 2 Tim. 4:1, 2.

THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGETH SALVATION.

BY ELD. J. G. MATTESON.

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:11–14.

Our Heavenly Father is very gracious to the human family. He is a merciful God, and “is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” Luke 6:35. “He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matt. 5:45. Life, with all its blessings, is from the free grace of God. But all this grace is not “the grace of God that bringeth salvation.” It lasts no longer than this present life. The saving grace of God is more noble and holy. Its effects are more lasting. They reach beyond the tomb into the eternal ages. And this grace comes to us through the incorruptible seed, “by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” 1 Peter 1:23.

1. “The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.” The light has appeared in the world. Jesus says, “I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12. The word of life is free for all. All are invited to come to Jesus. “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17. The Lord “is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9.

2. The saving grace of God teaches us. The word “teaching” belongs, according to the original, to “grace,” not to “men.” Two things are here testified of the saving grace of God. 1. It has appeared to all men. 2. It teaches us. Then the apostle shows what it teaches us; namely, to follow Christ, and to look for his glorious appearing. And, finally, he points out the foundation on which this hope rests.

The saving grace of God is a system of education. It teaches us. It may be termed the school of Christ. The pupil who wishes to have a good standing at the close of the school must diligently heed the instructions given. He must learn little by little, day by day. He cannot learn everything the first day. He can come to the school and begin on the first day. That is all. So, likewise, must a Christian learn by degrees. He cannot grasp everything at once. “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:13, 14.

Scholars often make mistakes, especially when they first begin, although their intentions may be good and their diligence great. The teacher does not drive them away from the school on that account. He has patience with them, and instructs them until they obtain more knowledge and experience. So, likewise, our teacher, Jesus, manifests great patience toward us. He continues to impart heavenly knowledge and to guide us, so that we may obtain an experience in the things of God, until we are ripe for the great harvest, his own image shines forth in us, and we have the mind of Jesus and “live by the faith of the Son of God.” In order to advance this work, we must be willing to learn, and not imagine that we have now learned enough because we have been baptized and have become members of a church. When this is done, we have just commenced to go to school, if the law of God is written in our hearts, and we know the Lord, so that he is our God, and we are his children.

It is a great mistake in the school of Christ when the disciple wants to be above the Master. May the Lord help us that we may be taught by the saving grace of God, until we finish our course with joy, and at last obtain the crown of righteousness.

3. The saving grace of God teaches us to follow Christ. “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Men can learn much that pertains to religion. But if they do not learn to forsake their sins, and to follow the footsteps of Christ, they have not been taught by the saving grace of God.

It is through grace that we have known a portion of the Holy Scriptures from our childhood. But this grace alone does not save us. It is not saving before it enters so deeply into the heart that we “strive to enter in at the strait gate.”

When we by the grace of God gain victories over sin, and learn from Jesus to be “meek and lowly in heart,” then the grace of God brings us salvation. Then the soul finds rest in Jesus, and has learned that his yoke is easy, and his burden light.

Let us closely observe this important truth, that that which does not overcome sin is not the saving grace of God. It may be the invitation of God, or his preparatory grace, but it is not his saving grace. This Satan understands full well. For this reason he does everything in his power to hinder our salvation from the bondage of sin.

People can go from one religious society to another. They can change their views and theories. They can even learn to understand the truth of God and acknowledge his holy requirements. But to dig deep in one’s own heart, acknowledge one’s own sin, and turn away from idols to serve the living and true God, is the most difficult of all. It causes pain, so much pain that we are thereby led to suffer with Jesus. For no bodily suffering is so hard to endure as those sufferings of mind which are a consequence of crucifying the flesh with the lusts and affections thereof.

Blessed are they who learn to endure this profitable mortifying of the flesh. They are taught by the saving grace of God, and know by experience what it is to walk in the narrow way which leads unto life.

In this way we learn to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. Ungodliness is the opposite of godliness. The ungodly man does that which is contrary to God’s will and at variance with his holy character. He despises both the law of God, and the joyful message of salvation through faith in the crucified and resurrected Messiah.

Worldly lusts are fleshly inclinations and desires which we have inherited from our parents or formed by our conduct and association with worldly men. So long as we follow these, and walk after the fashion of this world, and do the will of the flesh and of our evil desires, we are the children of wrath. Then we need to repent, to turn to the Lord, and to be born again by the word of truth. For when we receive the word with patience, it is able to save our souls. James 1:18, 21. Afterwards the spiritual life must be nourished by the pure milk of the word, and the heavenly principle of love needs to be quickened daily by prayer and communion with God, as well as by self-denial in our daily life and obedience to all of God’s requirements.

In this way we can receive strength to deny ungodliness, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. We need wisdom from above—that wisdom which is “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy, and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” James 3:17.

We need divine wisdom to overcome the wisdom of Satan; for that is greater than all human wisdom. We need wisdom from God to be able to give an account at last of our stewardship—to arrange our affairs in life in such a way as may best glorify God. We need also heavenly wisdom to follow the golden rule—to do to our fellow-men as we would like to have them do to us.

The children of God are like an open epistle, known and read of all men. 2 Cor. 3:2. They are the epistle of Christ, written with precious letters by the Spirit of the living God in the fleshly tables of the heart. Verse 3. This epistle is put into a beautiful frame which adorns the doctrine of God our Saviour, when the disciples of Jesus walk circumspectly, not as fools—but as wise. Eph. 5:15.

It is well to be careful of our words, thoughtful in our actions, merciful, long-suffering, ready to help and to forgive, showing love and gentleness to all. And when we have erred and wronged our fellow-men, it is like the friendly sunshine after the storm when we humbly acknowledge our mistakes and ask their forgiveness.

We live righteously and godly when our life is molded after the holy law of God and the perfect example of our Saviour. “The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Tim. 2:19. “Little children, let no man deceive you; he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.” 1 John 3:7.

4. The saving grace of God teaches us to look for the glorious appearing of our Saviour. It does not teach us to long for death, but to wait for Jesus. “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13.

Death is an enemy, and the last enemy that shall be destroyed. 1 Cor. 15:26. It is not the gate of endless joy. Jesus is the door. John 10:9. He is the way and the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by him. John 14:6. No one can obtain salvation from sin, except through Jesus. Neither can any one deliver us from death and the tomb, and present us before the Father adorned with the never-fading beauties of immortality, except Jesus.

Jesus has gone to prepare a place for his disciples in the beautiful mansions of the Father’s house. He testifies: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also.” John 14:3. The church of God waits for the coming of Christ. This is the blessed hope. The Lord says, “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” And the waiting saints of God respond, “Amen! Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Rev. 22:12, 20.

Let us then look for and hasten unto the coming of the day of God, and strive to be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless. 2 Peter 3:12, 14.

The foundation on which the hope of the church of God rests is this, that the Son of God “gave himself for us.” Our hope of salvation from sin does not rest on the law. The death-bringing letter of the law (according to the Danish translation) cannot give life. But it can lead us to a true knowledge of sin. And this is the office of the law both in the Old and the New Testament. The law was not crucified for us. It did not suffer the punishment of sin in our stead. But the Son of God “gave himself for us.” His name is Jesus; “for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matt. 1:21.

The object of this divine sacrifice is, “that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” The word which is translated iniquity is anomias, and means lawlessness. It is thus translated in the Emphatic Diaglott.

This is in perfect harmony with Rom. 8:3, 4. God sent his own Son for a sin-offering, “that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Thus, through faith in his beloved Son, can the Lord take away the carnal mind, which is enmity against God; “for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Verse 7.

Jesus can save from all iniquity or lawlessness, when we are continually taught by his saving grace. And the souls which are thus purified are his peculiar people. They belong to the Lord for time and eternity. “For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Cor. 6:20.

When the saving grace of God thus works in us, it produces zeal for good works. Then the words of Christ, “Ye are the light of the world,” are daily considered

by humble and teachable souls. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” Matt. 5:14, 16.

Blessed is the man who pays attention to the word of life, and learns diligently in the school of God’s saving grace, until, like a ripe sheaf, he is gathered home to the heavenly garner.