“Noah planted a vineyard: and he drank of the wine, and was drunk; and he was naked in his tent” Genesis 9:20-21.

Some condition for Noah, the only righteous man, the preacher of righteousness, to be found in! BUT WHAT IS MAN? Look at him where you will, and you will see failure – in the garden of paradise, he fails; in the church, he fails; he fails everywhere and in all things. His true name is not MISTAKE, but FAILURE. His advantages are great, his privileges are great; but he can only display failure and sin because there is no good thing in him. “Noah was a just man and perfect in his generation, and Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9). Grace had covered all his sins and clothed his person with a spotless robe of righteousness. Noah displayed and exposed nakedness, but God did not see it; for He looked not at Noah in the weakness of his condition, but in the full power of Christ’s divine and everlasting righteousness. “We may have boldness in the day of judgment, because AS HE IS, SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD” (I John 4:17)

-Scott Richardson

“Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause.” Jeremiah 50:34

Behold the gracious covenant promises of God in Christ held forth to the full assurance of faith. The final destruction of all our adversaries is sure. Every child of God by promise, as Isaac was, may well join that hymn of old, and say, “So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might” (Judges 5:31). Remember, child of God, the issue of the holy war is not doubtful. Christ Jesus has conquered all in our name and nature; and he will subdue for us and in us all that oppose us.

He that is for us is more than all that are against us. He will rebuke all nations for his people’s sake. He will subdue the enemy and bring all their power to nothing for his own righteousness’ sake. His covenant promise is sure.

Throughout the Book of God Babylon represents all false religion, every form of free will/works idolatry. And throughout the Book of God we are assured that Babylon shall fall and that God’s elect shall be saved.

Rejoice, my soul, in God’s sweet promise to save his chosen. — “In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God. They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten” (Jeremiah 50:4-5). There are tears of joy, as well as tears of sorrow. Holy mourners coming to Christ with both (Zechariah 12:10; Matthew 5:4). Observe the beautiful order in the people’s return. They are said first to seek the Lord their God. This is the first work of grace. The second is they shall ask the way to God’s church, to Zion, desiring that they never forget God’s covenant, his mercy, and his grace. Was there ever a more accurate description than this of the heart of every poor returning prodigal, who by sin has run away from God, and is brought back by sovereign grace to seek the Lord’s face with broken heart? Let us ever extol the grace of our God, who gives such grace, such repentance, such returning to poor sinners. Without it we would never have come to ourselves, and come again to God our Savior. What marvelous, magnificent, matchless grace we have found in God, and experienced in the reception of our souls as poor returning prodigals, when we had nothing to bring and nothing to offer. Yet, in great mercy, our heavenly Father ran to, fell on our necks, and kissed us as the darlings of his heart.

-Don Fortner

Salvation is not a cooperation between the works of man  and the work of God.  All salvation is the work of God alone upon which man is the object and recipient. (Ezek.20:9; 14; 22; 44, Isa.11:11-17) Salvation was purposed and decreed of God the Father by Sovereign Election.( Eph.1:3-6; Rom 8:28-30; 2Tim1:9; Rom. 9:11-15) The redemption and righteousness of the elect were accomplished by the work of God the Son. (1Cor. 1:30; Eph 1:7; Col. 1:14; Heb 9:12; 10:14)  And the Work of regeneration. faith, and all graces are of the Holy Spirit of God.  (Titus 3:5; John 3:5-8; 1 Cor. 2:9-12)

What part then has man in the salvation of his soul?  All men must believe to be saved for no one will believe for you. ( John 3:16; 6:35; 7:38) but even our faith is the gift of God. (John 1:12-13; 1John 5:1; Eph 2:8)  Must not a man be willing? (Rev. 22:17; John3:16) Yes they are all willing; all of the elect, redeemed and regenerated souls of men are willing because we are “made willing in the day of His power.” (Ps.110:3)  Must not we perform good works? (Titus 3:8;14; James 2:18; 3:13) Yes all believer’s must, but even our good works are ordained of God. (Eph 2:10)

So then what part has man in the salvation of His own soul?  No part at all, but Salvation is the Work of God alone.  Therefore all the glory and praise of it belongs to Him!

-Fred Evans

A Self righteous man seeks to merit the salvation of God, expects to be accepted of God, but in the end that man will suffer the wrath of God.  But the sinner comes seeking only the mercy of God, expecting the wrath of God, but will receive the grace and glory of God through faith in Jesus Christ alone.