Sovereign Grace Church

God…hath saved us, and called us with an 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 TIMOTHY 1:9)

The religion of Jesus Christ stands eminently distinguished, and essentially [and wholly different], from any other religion that was ever proposed to human reception, by this remarkable [distinction]: that, look abroad in the world, and you will find that every religion, except one, puts you upon doing something, in order to recommend yourself to God.

A [follower of Mohamed] expects to be saved by his works. A [Jehovah “false” Witness] thinks to go to heaven by his works. A [Roman Catholic] looks to be justified by his works. A Free-willer hopes for salvation by his works, compliances, endeavours, and perseverance. A Pagan, if he believes that there is a future state, expects to [go to heaven], by virtue of the supposed good he does, and of the evil he leaves undone. A [Buddhist] has the same hope, and stands on the same sad foundation. It is only the religion of Christ, which runs counter to all the rest, by affirming that we are saved, and called with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to the Father's own purpose and grace, which was [not sold out to us on certain conditions, to be fulfilled by ourselves, but was] given us in Christ, before the world began [2 TIMOTHY 1:9]. It was long ago remarked by a good man, that “It is the business of all false religions to patch up a ‘righteousness’, in which the sinner is to stand before God.” But it is the business of the glorious gospel to bring near to us, by the hand of the Holy Spirit, a righteousness ready wrought; a robe of perfection ready made; where in God’s people, to all the purposes of justification and happiness, stand perfect and without fault before his throne [in love].