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SALVATION
Salvation involves the redemption of
the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and
Saviour, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In
its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, sanctification, and
glorification. A. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a
work of God’s grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It
is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to
which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable
experiences of grace. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith
is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to
Him as Lord and Saviour. Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal
upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in
Christ. Justification brings the believer into a relationship of peace and favor
with God. B. Sanctification is the experience,
beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God’s
purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual perfection
through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in
grace should continue throughout the regenerate person’s life. C. Glorification is the culmination of
salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed. Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14-17; Exodus
6:2-8; Matthew 1:21; Matthew 4:17; Matthew 16:21-26; Matthew 27:22-28:6; Luke
1:68-69; Luke 2:28-32; John 1:11-14, 29; John 3:3-21, 36; John 5:24; John 10:9,
28-29; John 15:1-16; John 17:17; Acts 2:21; Acts 4:12; Acts 15:11; Acts
16:30-31; Acts 17:30-31; Acts 20:32; Romans 1:16-18; Romans 2:4; Romans 3:23-25;
Romans 4:3ff; Romans 5:8-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-18, 29-39; Romans
10:9-10, 13; Romans 13:11-14; 1 Cor. 1:18, 30; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 1 Cor. 15:10; 2
Cor. 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 3:13; Galatians 5:22-25; Galatians 6:15;
Ephes 1:7; Ephes 2:8-22; Ephes 4:11-16; Phil. 2:12-13; Col. 1:9-22; Col. 3:1ff;
1 Thes. 5:23-24; 2 Tim. 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:1-3; Hebrews 5:8-9;
Hebrews 9:24-28; Hebrews 11:1-12:8, 14; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23; 1 John
1:6-2:11; Rev. 3:20; Rev. 21:1-22:5. |