Power of God in Salvation (Elder Mikal Smith)

Dearest Brethren,

Praise be to God, who is not hindered by man’s work or lack of work, for the gospel—and the salvation it proclaims—

does not come in the wisdom and effort of man but in the power of God, whose Spirit alone can teach truth and give understanding.

I do not say that those called to preach are doing something meaningless, as God Himself calls and equips the man whom He chooses to preach. However, salvation is not dependent upon the adequacy of the exercise in, or the devotion and availability to, preaching. When Christ, by His Spirit, is the effectual preacher, nothing can hinder even one of God’s elect from believing and resting in His work alone in all aspects of their eternal salvation.
Not to mention, salvation does not come by believing, but by the finished work of Christ’s righteousness in His life and death as a substitute for His people.

Those who believe in the Lord have already been saved.

The legal matters of justification, expiation, atonement, redemption, forgiveness, and reconciliation were settled in blood.
“You shall call his name Jesus, for He shall save his people from their sins.”

It was only through the shedding of blood that atonement and justification were made. Our believing does not merit our salvation, nor does God wait in hope that we would believe before He can judge us, declare us saved.

As I understand it, we are not saved individually, sporadically throughout time. We are saved, in that strict legal sense, corporately at the cross.


Romans 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners (corporate condemnation), so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous (corporate salvation).

Now, this salvation surely enters into our experience at varying times. And it is by faith we experience that “once for all” salvation. We are granted repentance and faith by Christ in His timing to believe what was already pronounced on our behalf.

The fact that God grants repentance and faith as a gift of God still does not warrant any conditions in salvation. The salvation of God’s people was not based on any condition, natural or spiritually enabled. People’s standing before God is only in the righteousness and faithfulness of Jesus Christ. To condition salvation on man’s faith, acceptance, or belief is to deny that “it is finished” as our Lord so efficaciously proclaimed.

With that said, will we believe? Absolutely! “All that the Father giveth me shall come (believe) to me.”

In regard to our preaching, we continue to preach repentance from dead works and faith in Christ Jesus, clearly and biblically defining those terms and how they are accomplished in the scheme of God’s word, His sovereignty, and His finished salvation.

Now, some argue that we are “saved by grace through faith.” However, I believe they misapply that verse. As I understand it, “through faith” does not refer to our natural or spiritual faith. The faith in context is the “faith of Christ.” That is why it says, “and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” It was Christ’s faithfulness that God counted (gifted) for righteousness on our behalf. Our God-given faith only looks to and trusts in Christ alone—not for salvation or for quickening, but because we have been saved and quickened.

The Spirit gives life, but is not dependent on the preaching of the gospel to accomplish that. Quickening is the immediate work of the Holy Spirit, who alone gives life. The effectual preaching is not that of man but of the divine Teacher Himself. The preaching of the gospel by men is for those who already have life and faith. For those who believe, it is the power of God.

Let me clarify and reiterate: I am not trying to downplay faith. I am just trying to preach accurately what Scripture says about it. It does not teach that salvation comes by our faith or even our God-given faith. It was the faith of Christ that justified us, and we are saved by grace through His faith and righteousness, which culminated in death and resurrection. When the gift of faith is given to the child of grace, then he is enabled to believe that His work—and His work alone—is his salvation, and not his religious dead works or his faith. So I believe faith is important, for we walk by faith, live by faith, hope by faith, and are assured by the internal work of the Spirit in faith. But we must not put our faith in the place and stead of Jesus Christ and His finished work.
Also, I am not saying that preaching is not necessary. God has ordained and called preachers for the sheep. I just do not see in Scripture where the preaching of the gospel is necessary for their legal salvation—again, that is accomplished by the one-time finished work of Christ. Preaching the gospel is to give knowledge to the elect of how they were saved, as the Spirit gives them understanding.

Scripture declares:
Ephesians 4:11–12: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting (maturing) of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

Also, we read:
2 Timothy 1:9–10: Who 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, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

So the preaching of the gospel is not to give life, but to bring the child of grace (who already has life) into the knowledge of his salvation, for his growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord.

I hope that clarifies my position as I have been given to believe, and that it may be of some comfort to Christ’s sheep.


Mikal Smith