I believe that the Triune God saves (Ps. 68:20). It is His work alone (Ps. 3:8). God takes the initiative in saving people from satan, sin, death, and hell, saving them to full and forever life with Him. Salvation is a free gift of God that is received by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Eph. 2:8).
I believe that before the foundations of the world God chose certain people to receive every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1:3-6). This election was not based on any human action or ability (1 Cor. 1:26-29) but solely on God’s sovereign plan and gracious purpose (2 Tim. 1:9; Eph. 2:8-9). God’s abounding love (Jn. 3:16) and amazing grace (Eph. 2:5) are driving forces in His great work of salvation (Tit. 2:11). God is calling all people everywhere to be saved (Acts 17:30; 1 Tim. 2:3-4). This general call sounds forth primarily through the spoken word of the gospel (Rom. 10:13-17) by disciple-making disciples of Jesus (Mat. 28:18-20) empowered by the Spirit (Acts 1:8). Some people hear this call, but are not saved (Mat. 22:14). Others hear it and are saved (1 Cor. 1:24) when God particularly and irresistibly draws them to Himself (Jn. 6:44). This effectual call is a supernatural work of God’s grace that infallibly results in salvation.
I believe that salvation begins in people with the miracle of rebirth (Jn. 3:3-8; 1 Pet. 1:23). A new heart is given that beats with life for God and a new spirit is given that can connect with His (Ezek. 36:25-28). This regeneration is a monergistic (one way) work of God (Tit. 3:4-7) that inaugurates an ongoing relationship with Him. God brings us to life (Col. 2:13)! At this point everything changes—our disposition, direction, and deepest desires—when God makes us new (2 Cor. 5:17). We realize our sinfulness in light of God’s holiness and recognize that Jesus is the Savior we need. In this moment of conversion—after hearing the gospel, upon being reborn—we respond to God in repentance and faith (Mk. 1:15; Acts 20:21). In repentance we turn from sin and self, and turn toward God (1 Thess. 1:9). In faith we trust that Jesus is the Savior we need, and we entrust our lives to Him (Rom. 10:9-10). At conversion all believers are adopted into God’s family (Gal. 4:4-7), obtaining all the rights and privileges of being heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:15-17). When we believe the gospel and receive God’s grace we become God’s children (Jn. 1:12).
I believe that salvation has past, present, and future dimensions. In the past work of Christ on the cross, God made justification possible (Rom. 3:24-26). God declares sinners to be righteous and changes their legal status from ‘guilty’ to ‘acquitted.’ On the cross Christ took our sin, and we received His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). We have been saved! Justification is a gracious gift of God received by faith (Rom. 5:1-2; Eph. 2:8). It inaugurates our ongoing status as His children (Rom. 8:16-17).
As we walk through life as children of God we experience sanctification—the ongoing process of Christian growth (1 Cor. 1:18; 2 Cor. 2:15). Sanctification is a conditional state that springs from a positional standing. Believers stand as those who have been apart for holiness and service to God (Heb. 10:10,14). As such, we are those whose current state is one of gradual transformation—becoming more like Christ (2 Cor. 3:18). We are being saved! Sanctification is where divine and human responsibilities merge. In cooperation with the indwelling Spirit (Jn. 14:16-17; Gal. 5:16) in the context of Christian community (Col. 3:12-15) believers strive for holiness (Heb. 12:14; 2 Cor. 7:1), fight against sinfulness (Rom. 6:12; 8:13), and walk in repentance (Acts 26:20). We work out our salvation as God works in us (Phil. 2:12-13). We utilize all the power and wisdom provided to us in the gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:24).
Christians experience gradual growth in the present as they look with hope towards the future. One day, we will be saved! When Christ returns we will be like Him (1 Jn. 3:2)—sanctified completely (1 Thess. 5:23) in sanctified community (Eph. 5:26-27). We will inhabit new glorious bodies (Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Cor. 15:51-53) and will live on a new resurrected earth (Rev. 21-22). This future glorification is our hope! Until then, we wait eagerly (Heb. 9:28). We press on (Phil. 3:12-14), continue in the faith (Col. 1:23), and hold firm to the end (Heb. 3:14) in full assurance that God will finish what He started (Phil. 1:6), will not cast a believer out (Jn. 6:37), and will never let a believer go (Jn. 10:28). Genuine salvation is secure salvation (Jn. 6:39-40). God will glorify those whom He justified (Rom. 8:29-30).
I believe that salvation is possible because of the believer’s union with Christ. In Christ (Eph. 1:3-14) we have died (Rom. 6:5), are risen (Col. 3:1), and will reign with Him (2 Tim. 2:12). All of a believer’s life now orients around Christ—our lives are in Him (Col. 3:3). Christ is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption (1 Cor. 1:30). Christ is our hope (1 Tim. 1:1), life (Col. 3:4), and Savior (Tit. 2:13) for God is reconciling the world to Himself through Him (2 Cor. 5:19). Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world (1 Jn. 4:14).
No comments:
Post a Comment