𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗩𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: 𝗔 𝗚𝗜𝗙𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗚𝗚𝗟𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗘𝗜𝗩𝗘

𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗩𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: 𝗔 𝗚𝗜𝗙𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗚𝗚𝗟𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗘𝗜𝗩𝗘

𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Salvation is the simplest gift God ever offered, yet it is also the hardest gift for man to accept. Not because God made it complicated — but because human pride, human performance, and human perception get in the way. In every dispensation, God reveals man’s inability and His own sufficiency. The struggle is not in the Giver, but in the receiver. Today, we examine why man struggles to accept a free gift, and how dispensational truth magnifies the grace of God.

𝟭. 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗜𝗙𝗧

(Romans 10:3)
Man naturally believes he can do something to save himself.

Subpoints

1. Self-Righteousness Elevated — Man “goes about to establish his own righteousness.”

2. God’s Righteousness Excluded — Refusing to “submit” to God’s righteousness.

3. Grace’s Simplicity Eclipsed — Pride blinds man from seeing salvation as a gift.

(Dispensational View: Man has always failed when relying on himself.)

𝟮. 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗜𝗙𝗧

(Ephesians 2:8–9)
Man assumes good works contribute to salvation.

Subpoints

1. Efforts Become a Crutch — “Not of works…”

2. Ego Becomes a Claim — “Lest any man should boast.”

3. Eternal Life Becomes a Wage — If earned, it ceases to be a gift.

(Dispensational View: In this Church Age, salvation is purely grace apart from works.)

𝟯. 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗣𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗥𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗦

(Mark 7:7; Gal. 2:16)
Religion adds rules; God gives righteousness.

Subpoints

1. Human Traditions Promoted — “Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

2. Human Ceremonies Performed — Rituals elevated above redemption.

3. Human Systems Preferred — Religion glorifies man, not God.

(Dispensational View: Israel had ceremonies; the Body of Christ has Christ alone.)

𝟰. 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗛𝗨𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

(John 12:42–43)
Many refuse Christ because of people around them.

Subpoints

1. Fear of Reputation — “Loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

2. Fear of Rejection — Afraid to stand alone for Christ.

3. Fear of Reversal — Admitting one’s sinfulness is humbling.

(Dispensational View: God deals with individuals, not nations, in the Church Age.)

𝟱. 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗙𝗔𝗟𝗦𝗘 𝗚𝗢𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗟𝗦

(Galatians 1:6–9)
Many preach a “gospel” that is not the gospel.

Subpoints

1. Grace Replaced — Adding law, works, or conditions.

2. Gospel Reversed — Turning the good news into bad news.

3. God’s Wrath Revealed — “Let him be accursed.”

(Dispensational View: Paul’s gospel of grace is the only gospel for today.)

𝟲. 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗬𝗦𝗜𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗛𝗨𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗨𝗡𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗙

(Hebrews 3:19; Acts 28:24)
The core issue is unbelief, not ignorance.

Subpoints

1. Faith Refused — “Some believed not.”

2. Facts Rejected — Truth seen, yet denied.

3. Flesh Reigning — Unbelief flows from a heart unwilling to submit.

(Dispensational View: Faith is the sole condition in this dispensation.)

𝟳. 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗚𝗢𝗗 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗬 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗦

(Romans 5:15–18)
Despite struggle, salvation remains a gift.

Subpoints

1. A Gift Provided — “The free gift is of many offences unto justification.”

2. A Grace Presented — “Abundance of grace.”

3. A Guarantee Promised — “Reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”

(Dispensational View: Christ’s finished work is fully sufficient in the Age of Grace.)

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍
Man struggles with salvation not because the gift is unclear, but because the heart is unwilling. Pride, performance, religion, fear, and unbelief all compete with grace. But God’s gift remains unchanged — free, full, and finished.

𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Reject pride — receive grace.
Lay down your works — take God’s gift.
Stop struggling — start believing.
Share the true gospel — Paul’s gospel — with clarity.

𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

Salvation is simple — man complicates it.
Salvation is free — man tries to pay for it.
Salvation is finished — man tries to add to it.
Salvation is Christ — not the sinner’s contribution.