Grace: First. Last. But what of the middle?

The great declaration of the scripture is that salvation is by grace: FIRST, LAST, and ALWAYS. From its origin in the mind of God, its unfolding in history, to its consummation in glory, sinners are saved by the free unmerited favor or the sovereign Creator. Whatsoever is needed to comply with His demands is provided for by He alone who can supply. While the first step in salvation was God’s decree before the world began, the subjective first step in the sinner’s life is his regeneration, followed by its continuance in sanctification, and its consummation in glorification. It is important for us to realize that each step of the way is accomplished by the wondrous grace of God. We may rightly call these three stages of this phase of our salvation the beginning (regeneration), the middle (sanctification), and the end (glorification).

We borrow the words of Jerome Zanchius to illustrate this point:

“That what good thing soever is begun to be wrought in our souls (whether it be illumination of the understanding, rectitude of will or purity of affections) was begun altogether of God alone, by whose invincible agency grace is at first conferred, afterwards maintained, and finally crowned.“

“That the work of internal salvation (the sweet and certain prelude to eternal glory) was not only begun in us of His mere grace alone, but that its continuance, its progress and increase are no less free and totally unmerited than its first original donation. Grace alone makes the elect gracious, grace alone keeps them gracious, and the same grace alone will render them everlastingly glorious in the heaven of heavens.“

With the origin of the time salvation paradigm, this wonderful truth of salvation by God’s grace from beginning-to-end is actually being denied. Having taken eternal salvation and “subdividing it into fragments and parts” (Elder David Bartley, 1905) the post-regeneration experience is treated as a thing distinct from eternal salvation. Whatsoever happens after regeneration is deemed optional, left up to man’s free-will and works! In this system, the beginning and end are by grace, but not so with what lies between!

So to you who advocate this doctrine…

You agree that salvation is by grace in the beginning (regeneration) and end (glorification), but what of the middle???