The Doctrines of Grace, often summarized as five key truths about salvation, highlight the depth of God’s sovereign love and mercy. These doctrines—Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints—serve as a lens through which we see God’s kindness vividly displayed in His dealings with sinners. Far from being abstract theological ideas, they reveal the tender heart of a God who is both holy and compassionate, just and merciful.

God’s Kindness Toward the Helpless

Scripture teaches that humanity is dead in sin, unable to seek or please God in our natural state. Paul writes, “There is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:12, BSB). Yet in this bleak reality, God’s kindness shines. He does not abandon us in our helplessness. Instead, His mercy moves Him to act on our behalf.

Consider Titus 3:4-5: “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (BSB). Even when we were unworthy, God extended His saving grace, revealing a kindness that transforms dead hearts into vessels of praise.

Kindness Without Merit

The doctrine of Unconditional Election teaches that God chooses to save individuals not based on foreseen merit but solely according to His will and love. Ephesians 1:4-5 declares, “For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will” (BSB).

This election flows from God’s kindness. He did not choose us because we were lovable or deserving but because He is gracious. This truth humbles us and lifts our hearts in gratitude. As 2 Timothy 1:9 reminds us, He “has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began” (BSB).

The Intentional Kindness of Christ

Limited Atonement, often better understood as particular redemption, points to the purposeful nature of Christ’s sacrifice. Jesus laid down His life for His sheep (John 10:11), securing their salvation with unfailing love. Far from being restrictive, this doctrine underscores the intentional and personal kindness of God.

Paul exults in this truth in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (BSB). The cross is a display of God’s kindness aimed directly at redeeming His people, ensuring that not one of them will be lost.

Kindness That Draws

When God calls His children to Himself, He does so with a kindness that cannot be resisted. This grace is not coercive; it is compelling. Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44, BSB). This drawing is the work of the Holy Spirit, who softens hearts, opens eyes, and breathes life into the spiritually dead.

Jeremiah 31:3 captures this beautifully: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you with loving devotion” (BSB). The kindness of God does not merely invite—it conquers the rebel heart with an irresistible beauty.

Kindness That Keeps

Finally, the perseverance of the saints assures us that God’s kindness will sustain His children to the end. Philippians 1:6 offers this comfort: “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (BSB). God’s grace does not falter or fail; it preserves and protects.

Jesus promises in John 10:28-29, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (BSB). Such unshakable security is rooted in the kindness of a God who holds His people close, ensuring they endure to the end.

Worshiping the Kindness of God

The Doctrines of Grace magnify God’s kindness at every turn. From our helpless state to our eternal security, they declare that salvation is entirely of the Lord. His kindness is not weak or sentimental; it is strong, sovereign, and steadfast. It rescues, redeems, draws, and keeps.

Let us respond with awe and gratitude, echoing the psalmist’s words: “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever” (Psalm 136:1, BSB). In the light of such grace, how could we do anything less?

Jesus: The Seeking and Saving Lord

In Luke 19:10, Jesus declares His mission in clear, unmistakable terms:

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (BSB)

These words, spoken during His encounter with Zacchaeus, capture the heart of the gospel. Jesus is not a passive Savior waiting for the lost to find Him. He is the seeking and saving Lord, actively pursuing sinners and bringing them to salvation.

Seeking the Lost

Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus sought those who were far from God. He didn’t confine Himself to religious circles or those who appeared morally upright. Instead, He went to the outcasts, the broken, and the despised.

Consider His interaction with Zacchaeus, a tax collector notorious for his greed and betrayal of his own people. Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus, and rather than passing by, Jesus stopped, looked up, and called him by name:

“Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today.” (Luke 19:5, BSB)

Jesus’ initiative in seeking Zacchaeus mirrors His pursuit of all who are lost. He doesn’t wait for sinners to clean themselves up or make the first move. He takes the initiative, knowing that without His intervention, no one would seek Him (Romans 3:11).

Saving the Lost

The beauty of Jesus’ mission lies not only in His seeking but also in His saving. He doesn’t merely call sinners to repentance; He provides the means for their salvation. Through His perfect life, sacrificial death, and triumphant resurrection, He secures redemption for all who trust in Him.

When Jesus declared to Zacchaeus, “Today salvation has come to this house” (Luke 19:9), it was not because Zacchaeus had earned it. Salvation came because Zacchaeus had encountered the Savior. This is the grace of the gospel: Jesus saves not based on merit but by His mercy.

Paul captures this truth in Titus 3:5:

“He saved us, not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” (BSB)

The Shepherd Who Seeks and Saves

Jesus often described His mission in terms of a shepherd searching for lost sheep. In Luke 15:4-7, He tells the parable of the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine in the open field to search for the one that is lost. This relentless pursuit illustrates the depth of His love and the personal nature of salvation.

When the shepherd finds the lost sheep, he rejoices, carrying it home on his shoulders. Jesus concludes the parable with these words:

“I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:7, BSB)

This joy underscores the purpose of Christ’s seeking and saving work: to glorify God by bringing sinners into His fold.

The Invitation to All

While Jesus actively seeks and saves, He also extends an open invitation to all:

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, BSB)

This invitation reveals His heart for the lost and weary. He does not compel by force but calls with love. Yet, those who respond do so only because He first sought them. His Spirit draws hearts to Himself, opening blind eyes and softening hardened hearts.

Our Response

As followers of the seeking and saving Lord, we are called to join Him in His mission. We cannot save, but we can point others to the One who can. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 5:20:

“Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.” (BSB)

Let us reflect the heart of Christ by seeking out those who are lost and sharing the good news of salvation. And as we do, may we never forget that we, too, were once lost until Jesus found us.

Rejoicing in the Savior’s Mission

Jesus is the seeking and saving Lord. His mission is fueled by love, His pursuit is relentless, and His power to save is unstoppable. For every believer, this truth is a cause for endless gratitude and worship.

May we echo the words of the psalmist:

“I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm.” (Psalm 40:1-2, BSB)

Let us proclaim to a world still lost in darkness that there is a Savior who seeks and saves—and His name is Jesus.

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Moe Bergeron (editor and the publisher of Learn-Christ.org) is a seasoned pastor, teacher, and writer devoted to deepening believers’ understanding of Scripture through a Christ-focused lens. With a passion for theology and a commitment to exploring the centrality of Christ in God’s redemptive plan, Moe critiques traditional Covenant and Dispensational theologies, emphasizing Christ as the fulfillment of the Old and New Covenants.