Yes, you should be deeply concerned about salvation, because God's sovereignty and grace do not cancel your personal responsibility to believe the gospel.
God is sovereign, but He works through His grace, and He has provided salvation for everyone through Christ's death on the cross. An unbeliever is not told to worry about election but is commanded to believe the gospel. God's sovereign choice works in tandem with your faith response, not against it.
Romans 1:16 — This verse shows the gospel is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, emphasizing personal faith.
The Bible declares that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes (Romans 1:16). It makes clear that salvation is not by works but by faith, as Paul writes, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8-9). This underscores that salvation requires a personal response of belief. Furthermore, Scripture teaches that Christ died for all, "Who gave himself a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:6), and that God desires all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). While God is sovereign in His choosing, the Bible also holds out the offer of salvation to all and calls on sinners to believe and be saved. Thus, the urgency of personal faith is not diminished by God's sovereignty.
Les emphasizes that God's sovereignty and His grace are not in conflict. He teaches that God's sovereign hand is involved in every detail, even in the conception of every individual, showing that God is intimately involved in human lives. However, this does not lead to indifference; rather, it magnifies God's grace in choosing people. Les clarifies that an unbeliever is not told to wonder if they are elect, but rather to believe the gospel. After believing, God reveals these truths progressively. Furthermore, the power of God is necessary for salvation—it takes more power to save a sinner than to create the universe—and that power is released through faith in the gospel. Christ's death on the cross was for every human being, and each person is responsible to accept that pardon.
No. Les teaches that even though God is sovereign, He works through the gospel to woo people to Himself. Unbelievers are not to worry about whether they are chosen; they are to believe the gospel. After salvation, they can look back and see God's hand, but the initial concern is faith in Christ.
The urgency comes from the fact that Christ died for all, not just a few. Les stresses that His death was a purchase for all mankind, and therefore everyone has a responsibility to accept that offer. Indifference would be a tragic misuse of God's sovereignty, which is always coupled with His grace.
Salvation is not by human effort. It takes the very power of God to save a sinner, and that power is released when a person believes the gospel. Faith is not just intellectual agreement but a total entrusting of one's eternal destiny to God's word.
Sovereign Act of God in Conception
Les teaches that God's sovereignty is seen even in the conception of every person, showing His personal involvement, but this should lead to gratitude, not passivity.
Why God Continues to Offer Salvation
Les explains that God continues to offer salvation because of His sovereign grace, not because of human merit, and the cross is the basis for that offer.
Assurance of Salvation
Les shows that true saving faith gives assurance and that no one can snatch a believer from God's hand, emphasizing the security of salvation.
Why God Had to Do It
Les explains that God's sovereignty doesn't mean He ignores His own principles; He had to reconcile fallen man through the cross because of His holiness.
Believing Is Not Just Agreement
Les clarifies that belief means entrusting your eternal destiny to the gospel, and that no works are part of salvation.
Sovereignty and Free Will Together
Les teaches that God's sovereignty and human response are not an either/or, but both are operative in salvation.
Noah’s Ark & Your Salvation: A Deep Bible Study on Eternal Security
Now if you're like myself and my wife, we've been under the preaching for years and years, and 90% of the time all we hear is the salvation of the soul, the concern of the soul. And I've come, since I've been teaching and getting into the book, that God isn't concerned just for the soul. He's concerned with the whole person.
Power of God in Salvation
Les teaches that salvation requires the same power of God that created the universe, and that power is accessed by believing the gospel.
Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
This verse establishes that the gospel is the power of God for salvation, and it is activated by personal belief.
Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
This passage emphasizes that salvation is a gift received through faith, not by human works, making personal response essential.
1 Timothy 2:4: Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
This shows God's desire for all to be saved, supporting the offer of salvation to everyone.
1 Timothy 2:6: Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Christ's death was a ransom for all, indicating that the atonement is sufficient for every person.
John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
This famous verse underscores that salvation is offered to whoever believes, showing the necessity of faith.
God's sovereignty does not negate your responsibility. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). Your response is to believe, not to question election.
Yes. If your faith is enough to believe the gospel, you should have enough faith to trust God's Word that you are His. No one can snatch you out of His hand.
Les says no. The sinner's prayer is not appropriate today. Salvation is by believing the gospel, not by reciting a prayer.
Believing means totally entrusting your eternal destiny to the Word of God and the power of the gospel, not just giving intellectual assent.
Watch the Teaching: Does God Choose Who Gets Saved? Romans 9 & Election Explained