Last Monday, I was compelled to write about current events. I was deeply grieving the past weeks’ many developments culminating in the civil protests now labeled the Capitol Riots. Since my last post, we have experienced a second impeachment of the President of the United States by the U.S. House of Representatives. There are thousands and thousands of armed troops heading to the capitol cities of many, if not every, U.S. state under concerns for mass unrest this inauguration week. America is in crisis.

Considering the extraordinarily adverse events that just seem to keep coming anew every day now, I’ve asked the question, “How are we, as followers of Jesus Christ, to then live in our times as Paul commands in Philippians 2:15: ‘that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.’” The short answer I keep coming back to is this: I am to live out the axiom: Christ is all I need.

But how do we really ensure we can say that Yes, Christ is all I need? I think it hinges on three elements: a correct understanding of our conversion, an accurate view of history in keeping with Scripture, and a correct view of God that keeps Him the hero of every conversation, story, or event. Today, I want to focus on element number one, the need for a correct view of conversion. I’ll elaborate on elements two and three in the coming weeks.

Understanding our salvation cannot just be an academic exercise. Mere head knowledge of conversion quickly fails people when life’s circumstances squeeze. A person’s life and doctrine are simply unable to weather the storm of crisis absent an authentic conversion, and so they cut loose from their faith and chase after lies in hopes of finding safety. James 1:2–4 speaks of the importance of trials as tests of true conversion:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)

So, as challenging as things seem to be in our lives right now, we should be gratefully seeing the times as an opportunity to affirm and rejoice that we are indeed His—that our conversion is real. How do we do that?

We must see God’s purpose and means of salvation His way as Scripture teaches. Salvation is a sovereign work of God. It is about Him and not about us. To understand this vital doctrine correctly, we must see that we have no capacity whatsoever to save ourselves. This is because of the utter depravity of man:

As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10–12)

Apart from a radical grace intervention by God Himself, we are dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1–5). We are utterly alienated from God (Colossians 1:21–22). We are helpless to save ourselves, much less anyone else (Romans 5:6). Our depravity means God must seek man out. Romans 8:28–30 explains God doing this seeking out:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30)

The four “he also’s” tell us God does the work from start to finish. The chain of events, once initiated, is unbreakable. He will complete what He starts. Those who He calls to salvation will respond, and they will be glorified with Him in heaven. This is a promise of security! Notice also that the tense of the four actions is past tense, meaning the believer’s salvation was written in eternity past.

Why is this all-important to know and understand? It is because we must see that our salvation is a work of God and God alone and that even our faith to respond to God’s call is also a gift from Him (2 Peter 1:1). To be as clear as possible, here are the steps of salvation that God performs:

• God call one to salvation—Romans 8:29–30
• God draws one to Himself—John 6:44
• The Holy Spirit, convicts one of sin—John 16:8–9
• God grants repentance—2 Timothy 2:25; Acts 11:18
• God gives one the faith to believe—2 Peter 1:1; Philippians 1:29; Ephesians 2:8–9
• God justifies the believer—Romans 4:25–5:1
• The Holy Spirit washes and regenerates—Titus 3:5
• God promises to glorify—Romans 8:30; Philippians 3:20–21

So, what is my part in the salvation process if God is in complete control of it? I am simply to exercise faith in what Jesus has done for me. Intentionally exercising my faith is being a doer of the Word, which alleviates pressure in living out my destiny in this utterly fallen world and gives me great confidence in a big, good God, despite the mess I see around me. John MacArthur puts it this way:

“When we accept the finished work of Christ on our behalf, we act by the faith supplied by God’s grace. That is the supreme act of human faith, the act which, although it is ours, is primarily God’s, His gift to us out of His grace. When a person chokes or drowns and stops breathing, there is nothing he can do. If he ever breathes again, it will be because someone else starts him breathing. A person who is spiritually dead cannot even make a decision of faith unless God first breathes into him the breath of spiritual life. Faith is simply the breath that God’s grace supplies. Yet, the paradox is that we must exercise it and bear the responsibility if we do not.” (John MacArthur)

Such understanding drives me to a place of utter brokenness and contrition, which is where God must begin with us all. We must see clearly that our salvation is all about Him—His glory alone—even though we benefit beyond words. I can only do what God gives me to do and nothing more. Right now, I am writing to you, which I do in faith and with a desire to please God. I think this is how I must do every task as any and all events unfold ahead in the future God rules over. Think about what God has done for you in saving you, fellow Christian, and count it all joy!