Section 6
salvation and then abandon us? No, God's salva tion is eternal.
God's Love and Grace Are Eternal
Furthermore, God's love and grace toward us are not conditional or temporary. It was not love from our side that saved us, but love from His (1 John 4:10). He loved us with an eternal love (Jer. 31:3). His grace was toward us in eternity past, before the world began (2 Tim. 1:9). When Christ loves us, He loves us to the uttermost (John 13:1). No sin, failure, or weakness on our part can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:35-39).
God Is Righteous
But our salvation is based not only upon God's love and grace, but even more upon God's right eousness. Our God is a righteous God. Right eousness and justice are the foundation of His throne (Psa. 89:14). If God were to be unright eous, His throne would lose its foundation. There fore, if our salvation in any way involves God's righteousness, it is very strong indeed.
Suppose you run a red light and are given a $25 ticket. That $25 fine is a righteous penalty, and the law of the land demands that you pay it. If a civil