Salvation removes the awful sting of death and allows man to approach the last hour
“Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him and lies down to pleasant dreams.”
A Present Salvation.
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2. The present dispensation, or gospel day, is the salvation age. It is the accepted time, or the time which God has accepted for the salvation of man. That there is another dispensation of time beyond this present Christian era in which man can be saved is Satan's falsehood to cause man to neglect salvation in this “accepted time,” beyond which he knows there is no escape. “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” “To-day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts.”
The apostle Paul says, “The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.” Titus 2:11. It “hath appeared.” This is the time when [pg 058] salvation has appeared unto all men, and all men must accept it in this time or lose it forever. In Titus 3:5, Eph. 2:5, Rom. 6:22, Jude 1, 1 Cor. 1:2, and many other texts, salvation is spoken of as having been received. Beyond controversy salvation is a present attainment.
Salvation By Grace And Not By Works.
Salvation from sin is by the grace of God. The word “grace” is defined by lexicographers as favor or mercy. Grace is a characteristic in the nature of God which offers mercy or favor though wholly unmerited by the recipient. Man is an offender against God. Through repentance he finds favor or grace in God's sight without any worthiness, excellence or meritoriousness in himself, but because of the merciful nature of the Lord. “For by grace are ye saved through faith.” Eph. 2:8. “By grace ye are saved.” Ver. 5. “Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” 2 Tim. 1:9. “Being justified freely by his grace.” Rom. 3:24.
If man could attain to salvation by works, then he could plead his own merits; but we are taught that we can only plead the mercy of God. The apostle says that salvation is “not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:9. If it were by works man [pg 059] would have some cause for boasting; but because it is wholly by grace, he has nothing of self in which to boast. Again he says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Titus 3:5.