The “power of God unto salvation” is automatically yours when you hear (perceive) the truth of the gospel, by the ‘prevenient grace’ of God, and then ‘by faith’ freely choose to trust in Jesus as Savior. But sadly, many hear and still refuse to choose Jesus as Savior.

Prevenient grace is seen in the Holy Spirit works with the presentation of the Gospel through teaching (John 6:45) and convicting (John 16:8) the sinner, to enable the sinner to respond in the exercising of saving faith in Christ.

“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. ¹³ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ¹⁴ How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher (speaker)? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace (with God) and bring glad tidings of good things! ¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? ¹⁷ So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:12-17)

Upon the hearing of “the gospel of the grace of God” that encompasses Christ’s cross, the power of the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of heart for one to believe, but the Holy Spirit does not compel believing, else that would violate man’s free will. In the case of Lydia the Spirit “opened her heart” (Acts 16:14, below) as He does the “mind” (Luke 24:45), when she attended to the words of Paul’s preaching and chose to believe.

“And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us (Luke here writing of Paul’s preaching): whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended (Gk. prosecho, took heed) unto the things which were spoken of Paul. (Acts 16:14)
“Then opened he (Jesus) their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,” (Luke 24:45)

Its apparent from the verses above, in the light Romans 8:28-30, that the Lord “foreknow(s)” (v29) who will be believe and who will freely choose to not believe, and He accordingly “works” the “all things” (v28) in their lives to brings revelation of the truth of the gospel, that they may implement their free-will choice to believe or not believe. Upon believing, the Lord then brings that one whom He had ‘foreknown’ and predestined to the ultimate consummation of being “glorified,” (v30) as a partaker of the Lord’s eternal life and destiny. One’s salvation is not predestined, but the believer’s ‘glorious end is predestined.’

Now the question of those seeking ‘proof’ worthy of believing may be seen in a new light. It’s not a question of one lacking proof of the Bible and Jesus for confidence, it’s is actually the cry of one lacking in “the power of God unto salvation.” that comes by hearing (perceiving) the true “gospel of the grace of God.” This “power” opens the heart to consciously believe or choose to not believe. Yet, all too often, many simply choose to knowingly reject the salvation of the Lord. They typically cling to their self-love and illusory control in their live, while lacking humility needed to receive the Sovereign Lord over them.

Salvation is really quite simple… just believe to receive. For one who has believed in Jesus and His cross-work unto resurrection, nothing else is needed, then “ye are complete in him… who is the head” (Col. 2:10). This is because Christ did it ALL for us… without us cleaning up ourselves! “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8)

Salvation is only possible if the work needed to save you was completed by Christ at the Cross. Our only response to the gospel must be ‘Faith In Jesus As Our Savior.’ The only way to be saved is “by grace through faith,” in Jesus Christ. Therefore… CHRIST AND HIS CROSS IS ‘OBJECT OF THE BELIEVER’S FAITH.’

If you think you should add some of your religious works and goodness in order to seal the deal with God, then believing in Jesus will NOT save you. Why?

It is because you’re then not trusting in Christ’s ‘finished cross-work’ of redemption for you. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing (cleansing) of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” (Titus 3:5)

The Lord Jesus revealed to the Apostle Paul “the gospel of grace of God” (Act 20:24) that saves us today. This “gospel of grace” allows Christ to save us through trusting in this truth as “the gospel of your salvation.”

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” (Ephesians 1:13)

“To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that He (God) might be just, and the justifier of Him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3:25)

God’s righteousness will not permit Him to forgive sins without cause. The righteousness and integrity of God is questionable if He isn’t ‘just.’ If an earthly judge just lets a criminal go free without a penalty paid, then justice has not been served. God’s justice must be met. God’s plan of redemption for fallen mankind called for the only ‘just’ and righteous One to pay for Our Sins… and Jesus Did It All… For Us.

So, it is in hearing and believing this “gospel of your salvation” that God extends His salvation so freely to us. We must say “Yes, I believe in this Jesus” of “the gospel of the grace of God.” With that act of belief… the heavy weight of unforgiven sins are forever forgiven, and new ‘Spirit-life’ is regenerated in the believer’s “spirit of man.” We need only to BELIEVE the truth to receive ALL the riches of His Cross.

Think of it, Jesus was God in human flesh dying for our sins, then rising from the dead, as revealed in Paul’s gospel of Jesus’ finished work at the cross (1Cor. 15:3-4). Having done everything necessary for our salvation, we simply trust in Jesus and His crosswork on our behalf in order to be saved.

You can’t be ‘saved’ if you don’t know and trust in the truth of “the gospel”; 1) knowing who Jesus is, 2) knowing what He did, and 3) trusting in Him alone as your Savior. Only by knowing and believing the truth will make you forever secure, sealed in union with Christ.