Sola Gratia

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” ~John 6:44

In last week’s meditation, Sola Scriptura, Peter exhorted us to hold in mind the Scriptures as to a lamp shining in a dark place. Indeed, we are surrounded by darkness. And part of that darkness is the proud and self-righteous belief that humanity is essentially good. “You’re beautiful just the way you are,” “Always believe in yourself,” “Follow your heart,” etc. 

The Bible teaches the opposite. Yes, we are of worth because we are made in the image of God, but we are by nature slaves to sin (John 8:34) and our hearts our deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). Paul doesn’t hold back – speaking to now Christians, he wrote, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience – among whom we all once lived in the passion of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Ephesians 2:1-3). In short, the Bible teaches that the natural person is unable to receive God’s Word, is unable to please God, and is unable to love or come to God unless God somehow acts first.

This doctrine – total depravity – is awfully offensive. To assert that all humanity is dead in sin, is at war with God, is hell-bound, and is unwilling – indeed, unable – to choose God unless God first intervenes… it’s a brutal attack on human pride! But for us, Christian, it is a glorious doctrine! It means my salvation is of pure, 100%, unadulterated, full-fat grace. Being spiritually dead, I was unable and unwilling to choose God; He, by grace alone, chose me. I chose Him only because He first chose me. It’s all Him! It’s all grace! Thank you, Lord!

And this glorious doctrine of sola gratia is what the Bible teaches (John 6:37, 44, 65). God chose His people in eternity before we even existed (Ephesians 1:3-6, 11). He chose some and not others (Romans 9:15-23). But why did He choose me? Why me? GRACE! But why? Because He loved me. But why did He love me? He loved me because He loved me (Deuteronomy 7:6-8).

As we approach the Lord this coming Lord’s Day, are we not – knowing we are saved purely because of the love and grace of God – invigorated to praise Him all the more? The hymnist thought so:

Lord, 'tis not that I did choose you;
that, I know, could never be,
for this heart would still refuse you
had your grace not chosen me.
You removed the sin that stained me,
cleansing me to be your own;
for this purpose you ordained me,
that I live for you alone.

It was grace in Christ that called me,
taught my darkened heart and mind;
else the world had yet enthralled me,
to your heav'nly glories blind.
Now I worship none above you;
for your grace alone I thirst,
knowing well that, if I love you,
you, O Father, loved me first.

"'Tis Not That I Did Choose Thee" (Josiah Conder, 1836)

Rev. Rob Dykes, Pastor of Preaching & Congregational Care