IV.
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, justification,
sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart
from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.
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.
B. 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 unto a
relationship of peace and favor with God.
C. 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 maturity through
the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth
in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person's life.
D. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final
blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.
Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matthew 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14,29; 3:3-21,36; 5:24; 10:9,28-29; 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Romans 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18,29-39; 10:9-10,13; 13:11-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18,30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-22; 3:1ff.; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8,14; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23; 1 John 1:6-2:11; Revelation 3:20; 21:1-22:5.
