PER:It's all a gift  by Richard Yim

   Many claim to believe in total depravity and yet maintain
that every human has within himself an element of good and power
to obtain salvation. But total depravity is TOTAL.

The Free-will teaching says that salvation is essentially up
to man. Divine Sovereignty of God in grace shows salvation is up
to God. "So then, it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that
runneth, but of God that showeth mercy." (Romans 9:16)
"Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He
will He hardeneth." (Romans 9:18).

It is true, "whosoever will" can freely come to Christ Jesus
the Savior of sinner. He invites those who are weary and heavy
laden due to sin. BUT NOW TAKE A LOOK BEHIND THAT 'WILL'! "It
is NOT in man to direct his steps." (Jeremiah 10:23) "Blessed is
the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee,
that he may dwell in Thy courts." (Psalm 65:4) "Remember the word
unto Thy servant, upon which Thou hast caused me to hope." (Psalm
119:49) Can you not see that as in the natural creation so it is
in the new creation in Christ -- "In the beginning God"?

God's people are willing in the day of His power which is
the day of His sovereign revelation to them in salvation. (Psalm
110:3) HE works in them "both TO WILL and TO DO of His good
pleasure." (Phillipians 2:13)

Yes, if you will or desire to follow Christ and be saved,
look behind that will and desire and you see God! If He did not
give you a hearing ear, a seeing eye, and a willing heart -- if
He passed you by instead of sovereignty having mercy upon you --
then you would die in your SINS. In your WHAT? In your SINS.
You may have been taught that Christ atoned for all the sins of
all of Adam's race. If He did, why do some have to go to hell
because of their SINS? Does God require payment twice? Does He?
Before you believe that God loves everybody, you better consider
that God hated Esau and he hates the WORKERS OF INIQUITY.

But doesn't God loves sinner? Indeed He does. So much that
He sent His son to die for them. Are you a sinner? Are you lost
on the account of sin? Are you totally unable to do anything to
reach Heaven because of sin? Are you prostrate at the foot of
the cross on account of sin? Are you WILLING to leave the
destiny of your soul up to Jesus Christ, whether He chooses to
save you or not? Are you willing? (Or would you get angry and
reply against Him for sending you to Hell?) Are you fully
satisfied for Him to dispose with you as He chooses, be it life
or death? Do you desire His salvation because you see yourself
guilty and you see Him holy? Do you desire salvation because you
want and will to be holy as He is holy? Do you? If so, then this
is evidence that He is working with your heart. Indeed, He has
given you a heart to desire these things. And ALL who thus come
to Him because they are drawn by Him, He will in no wise cst out.
He is our loving Savior.

Faith is a gift. Repentance is a gift. Salvation and
eternal life is a gift. Everything pertaining to salvation is a
gift. EVEN THE DESIRE TO RECEIVE IT is a gift. We have NOTHING
to boast of. God is sovereign in the bestowing of His gifts.
"Salvation is of the Lord." All hail the power of Jesus' Name.
Let angels prostrate fall. Bring forth the royal diadem and
crown Him Lord of all. "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Only sinners can lay
claim to Christ, Hallelujah! What a savior! He was made to be
SIN for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), punished by the Father so that
we might be declared innocent, clean and holy before God. May
our lives manifest it.

(The above is a tract from Living Fragments of Truth, Rt. 2,
Ellen College, NC 27244. --Richard Yim)