Why Are You Saved?: Exploring the Depths of God's Grace and Love

By David Michael Porter

Does everything really happen for a reason?

You've heard it a thousand times; "Everything happens for a reason." But does it? If so, then WHY do things happen the way they do? Is God really in control? Does prayer change His mind?

In this book you will search the scriptures to find answers for some of life's most puzzling questions – especially those pertaining to faith and belief. As we seek to explore the depths of God's grace and love, you will come to see that all things are of God, especially in matters related to your salvation and a life-transforming relationship with Him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HigherLife Publishing
• Release date: Feb 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781951492557

Book preview

Notes

Chapter 1

BEHOLD OUR GOD

Who God Is

OUR QUESTION IS not, Does God exist? For only the fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’ (Ps. 53:1). Rather, we ask, Who is God? What is He like? With the illuminating aid of the Holy Spirit we may examine Scripture in humble devotion and seek the revelation of His Being. As we study and our faith seeks understanding, we can know, in measure, who God is.

EXHORTATION

With most sincere conviction, I say that it is impossible to overstate the essential and foundational need of knowing who God is. As A. W. Tozer rightly stated, I believe there is scarcely an error in doctrine or a failure in applying Christian ethics that cannot be traced finally to imperfect and ignoble thoughts about God ¹ [ … which result from a failure to understand Scripture]. For as we know, the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.¹ When we know God, we can understand His Word. As we grow in the knowledge of His nature, we are enabled to grow apart from our own nature. As He increases, we can decrease.² Knowing God is the centerpiece of all our biblical understanding. Growing in that knowledge enables us to draw nearer to Him.

If we have a poor concept of God, then our understanding of the Bible will be shallow and even carnal, focused on self rather than on Him. If we have a high and noble concept of God we can humbly, even joyfully, embrace every great doctrinal truth that He has chosen to reveal to us, by faith, as we find it in Holy Scripture. He is the starting point and the focal point of all our theological endeavors. He is the foundation upon which we build our religious home. He is the Great Revealer of truth for He is Truth. Our understanding of all things concerning God, starts and ends with Him. It is revealed to us by His Spirit through the Word.

It is imperative that we come to know God through prayer and the study of His Word. It fills me with sorrow to say that there are myriads of believers who profess the holy Name of Christ, yet they conduct their lives as though they never knew God existed, or that Christ was the Judge of the world. Bearing this truth in mind, we must strive diligently to make our calling and election sure.³ For God is not hidden nor is He silent. Therefore, let us adore Him in spirit and in truth with praises for all that He is.

EXALTATION

THE ONE TRUE GOD

The one true God is the Supreme Being

who inhabits eternity.⁴

He is the Alpha and the Omega—

yes, the Uncaused Cause—

who was, and is, and is to come.⁵

He is timeless in nature and measureless in existence.

He is the Ancient of Days who has never been given to,⁶

nor has He received anything whatsoever.

Our self-sufficient God is immortal

and dwells in unapproachable light.⁷

He is the very source of that light;

and O how He shines

with unseen beauty and glorious splendor!

His garments are as white as snow,

His hair is like pure wool,

and His train fills His temple.⁸

His features are that of jasper and sardine stones,

of emeralds and fire.⁹

Lord Almighty is exalted over the nations,

and His glory is above the heavens.¹⁰

Although He inhabits eternity, eternity itself

is encompassed in the heart of God.

For truly all things are outsourced from Him

and find their existence in Him—

the One True Source.¹¹

The same God who said Let there be light

at the genesis of His creative works,

sovereignly commands the Light of salvation

to be shown into the darkness of our hearts

for His glory.

The Ancient of Days is infinite in all His attributes

and absolute in all His perfections.

He is the very essence of love,

not to be understood as something that He possesses,

rather as a part of His collective glory

and divine Person.

He is love,

and that has been made manifest to us through Christ.¹²

He is our Rock and stronghold forever,

and we should never lose hope

in His unchanging righteousness.

The Faithful One, His work is perfect;

all His ways are just, righteous,

and without injustice.¹³

He is holy, holy, holy;

and the whole earth is full of His glory.¹⁴

His supreme holiness allows our feeble hearts

to rest peacefully in the understanding

that there is no wrong or impurity

that can be found in Him,

and He will always do what

will bring about the most good.

For, in the same way that His sovereignty

flows from His omnipotence,

so does His justice

flow from His righteousness.

The Great Comforter is compassionate.

Although He dwells on a high and holy place,

He is still with the contrite and lowly of spirit to revive them.¹⁵

Although He transcendently soars

beyond all human apprehension,

He condescends Himself to us in a relational way:

making himself known and teaching us His ways

with a Fatherly love.

Moreover, the great condescension of God

in the Virgin Birth, perfect life, willing death,

and the glorious resurrection and divine ascension

of Jesus Christ have allowed us

to draw near to Him with a sincere heart

in full assurance of faith.¹⁶

The Giver of all good things is kind and benevolent.

He causes His sun to rise on the evil

and the good alike;

and sends rain on the righteous

and the unrighteous.¹⁷

He is the Giver of all good things.¹⁸

Without His gracious giving there would be

nothing good to enjoy,

but only darkness and evil to engulf us.

The King of kings absolutely is sovereign

over all creation.

Whatever He pleases, the Lord does …

in heaven and in earth,

in the seas and all the deep places.¹⁹

Man’s heart is like channels of water in His hand.

He turns it wherever He wishes.²⁰

He created all, and is indebted to none;

therefore, He will only act according

to His good pleasure,

only accomplish what perfectly pleases Him.

The eternal God is immutable—

unchanging and unable to be changed.

He is not a man that He should lie

nor a son of man that He should repent.²¹

His qualities and collective nature

are eternally and perfectly permanent.

Due to His divine immutability,

He can be most earnestly trusted.

The All-wise One is the Creator of all.

Apart from Him, nothing came into being

that has come into being.²²

He is the Great Sustainer.

He is before all things,

and all things are upheld by the word of His power.²³

The righteous One is the Judge of the World.

He gives mercy to whom He gives mercy,

and compassion to whom He chooses.²⁴

In His righteousness He will do what is right.

All will stand before Him on that great day.

The Triune God functions within Himself

in perfect unity, and in perpetual

and simultaneous harmony.

There is no lacking, nor