irst, let us consider the causes and the means of salvation.  There are no less than seven things which do concur in this great work, for all of them are said, in one passage or another, to “save” us.  Salvation is ascribed to the love of God, to the atonement of Christ, to the mighty operations of the Spirit, to the instrumentality of the Word, to the labors of the preacher, to the conversion of a sinner, to the ordinances or sacraments.  The view of salvation entertained today by the majority of professing Christians is so superficial, so cramped, so inadequate.  Indeed, so great is the ignorance which now prevails that we had better furnish proof texts for each of these seven concurring causes lest we be charged with error on so vital a subject.

Salvation is ascribed to God the Father: “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling” (2Ti 1:9)—because of His electing love in Christ.  To the Lord Jesus: “He shall save his people from their sins” (Mat 1:21)—because of His merits and satisfaction.  To the Holy Spirit: “He hath saved us, by the renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Tit 3:5)—because of His almighty efficacy and operations.  To the instrumentality of the Word: “the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (Jam 1:21)—because it discovers to us the grace whereby we may be saved.  To the labors of the preacher: “In doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1Ti 4:16)—because of their subordination to God’s Word.  To the conversion of a sinner in which repentance and faith are exercised by us: “Save yourselves from this untoward generation”—by the repentance spoken of in verse 38 (Act 2:40); “By grace are ye saved through faith” (Eph 2:8).  To the ordinances, or sacraments: “Baptism doth also now save us” (1Pe 3:21)—because it seals the grace of God to the believing heart.

<>The love and wisdom of God comprise the prime cause, the first mover of all the rest of the causes which contribute to our salvation.
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A.W. Pink (1889-1952): Pastor, itinerate Bible teacher, voluminous author of Studies in the Scriptures and many books including his well-known The Sovereignty of God. Born in Great Britain, immigrated to the U.S., and later returned to his homeland in 1934.