Introduction

The book Only Jesus by John F. MacArthur is faithfully written by a loving and caring shepherd of God’s flock. This truth brought about many false accusations against Pastor MacArthur, and the only reason it did so is because the truth about the gospel was being presented from Jesus’s own mouth. Even though I read this book many years ago, from time to time, I will go over its faithfully written pages. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for depth about the Gospel of Grace to start reading Only Jesus. The following are notes from Only Jesus, organized to reflect the profound biblical truths it conveys about salvation, repentance, and the transforming work of God’s grace.

The True Nature of Salvation

Salvation is not a mere transaction or a one-time decision; it is the supernatural work of God that transforms a sinner’s heart and life. MacArthur emphasizes that real salvation encompasses justification, regeneration, sanctification, and ultimately glorification (Rom. 8:29). It is not enough to cling to a past experience or profession of faith; genuine assurance comes from seeing the Holy Spirit’s transforming work in one’s life (p. 25). As believers, we are called to examine our lives, for “each tree is known by its own fruit” (Luke 6:44, p. 24). Faith that does not produce righteous living is dead and cannot save (James 2:14-17, p. 25).

“By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8-9, p. 122).

The Bible teaches that salvation is by grace through faith, not human effort. Even faith and repentance are gifts from God, granted by His sovereign work (Acts 11:18; John 6:44, pp. 121-123). Sinners cannot seek God on their own (Rom. 3:11, p. 93), but when God draws a soul, it responds in repentant faith, leading to a life of obedience (John 6:44, 65, p. 122).

The Call to Repentance

At the heart of the gospel is a call to repentance. Jesus began His ministry preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17, implied in p. 84). Repentance is not a human work but the inevitable result of God’s work in the heart, leading to a recognition of sinfulness and a turning from sin to God (1 Thess. 1:9, p. 28). True repentance produces a radical change in direction—a spiritual conversion that overcomes both rebellion and indifference (Titus 2:11-12, p. 28).

MacArthur warns against “cheap grace” that offers eternal life without confronting sin. Jesus never sanctioned such a notion; He exposed sin to bring sinners to repentance, as seen in His interaction with the woman at the well (John 4:16, p. 57). Repentance involves a complete surrender of the will, resulting in a new way of life (p. 108). Without repentance, there is no salvation, for “there is no salvation apart from the repentance that renounces sin” (p. 114).

Faith and Obedience: Inseparable

True faith is not mere lip service; it is a full surrender to Christ as Lord (Acts 10:36, p. 26). Jesus condemned those who honored Him with their lips but not their lives (Matt. 15:7-9, p. 26). Disobedience is unbelief, and real faith obeys (John 3:36, p. 44). The faith God gives produces both the desire and ability to obey His will, though imperfectly due to our sinful flesh (Phil. 2:13; Rom. 7:18, p. 124).

“The obedience of faith” (Rom. 1:5; 16:26, p. 125).

Paul described this as “the obedience of faith.” Those who profess faith but live in perpetual disobedience deny God by their deeds (Titus 1:15-16, p. 126). True believers, however, will show repentance through righteous behavior, not as a means of earning salvation but as its inevitable fruit (1 Peter 4:18, p. 115).

The Seriousness of Sin

A deficient gospel avoids confronting the severity of sin, but MacArthur stresses that no one can be saved without understanding their sinfulness (p. 83). God loves sinners but hates sin and will punish unrepentant sinners with eternal torment (p. 71). The gospel is a call to sinners to repent and be forgiven, and those who refuse to acknowledge their sin cannot respond to it (p. 83). Isaiah’s encounter with God left him undone, crying, “Woe is me, for I am ruined!” because he saw his sin in light of God’s holiness (Isa. 6:5, p. 72).

Jesus came to save sinners who know they are desperate and unworthy (p. 73). He offers living water—salvation that includes freedom from sin and the power to live a life that glorifies God (p. 56). Those who confess and forsake their sin will find a Savior eager to forgive and liberate them (p. 67).

Imputed Righteousness: The Heart of the Gospel

The doctrine of imputed righteousness sets Christianity apart from all false religions (p. 138). Sinners are not justified by their own merit but by the perfect righteousness of Christ, imputed to them through faith (Rom. 4:5, p. 139). Christ bore our sins on the cross, and His righteousness is credited to us, so we stand before God as if we were perfectly just (2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9, p. 139). Justification is an instantaneous act of God, not a gradual process, delivering believers from all condemnation (p. 136).

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21, p. 139).

This truth underscores that salvation is impossible apart from God’s grace. We cannot atone for our sins or conjure up faith on our own (John 6:44, 65, p. 132). God’s righteousness, revealed in the gospel, is the ground on which believers stand (Rom. 4:3, p. 134).

A Warning Against False Assurance

MacArthur challenges the modern tendency to accept professions of faith without questioning their fruit. Multitudes claim to trust Christ while living lifestyles inconsistent with God’s Word, yet no one dares challenge their testimony (p. 70). Such “faith” that lacks obedience is not saving faith. Those who cling to a one-time decision but show no evidence of transformation risk the wrath of God (John 3:36, p. 130).

True believers, though imperfect, will desire to obey and mortify sinful desires (p. 111). Their faith, granted by God, will overcome the world (1 John 5:4, p. 29). Salvation is not just the granting of eternal life but the liberation of a sinner from the bondage of iniquity (p. 71).

Conclusion

Only Jesus reminds us that salvation is a divine work, not a human achievement. It calls us to repent, surrender to Christ’s lordship, and rely on His imputed righteousness. As believers, we must examine our lives for the fruit of the Spirit’s work, knowing that true faith produces obedience. Let us not settle for a deficient gospel but proclaim the full truth: God saves sinners who turn to Him in repentant faith, transforming them by His grace.

For those struggling with sin or doubting their salvation, take heart. The same God who draws you to Christ will perfect the good work He began in you (Phil. 1:6, p. 124). Seek His grace daily, and trust in His power to conform you to the image of His Son.