The Great Doctrine of Salvation pt. 3 (Cont.)

Two weeks ago we started looking at the “Benefits” of salvation — none of us ever started a job without first asking what the benefit package looked like, but no one ever had benefits that could outdo God!

We saw in our last study that there are twelve benefits of salvation. We looked at the first six: sanctification, justification, new allegiance, imputed righteousness, and adoption, and new spiritual life.

Today we will conclude our study by looking at the final six benefits of salvation. Notice that in Christ you are a...

New Creation

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV 1900

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Our new nature is created in righteousness and holiness, whereas our old nature was sinful.

Our new nature gives us a desire for the things of God 2 Peter 1:4

2 Peter 1:4 KJV 1900

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

New desires, new motivations, everything is new in Christ! which leads to the next benefit...

Good Works

Now we understand that good works are not for salvation, but because of salvation! Eph. 2:8-10

Ephesians 2:8–10 KJV 1900

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

As a child of God you become His instrument to perform good works FOR His glory! Titus 2:11-14

Titus 2:11–14 KJV 1900

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Through our good works others living in the world can see the power of God to change us from within and we can demonstrate to them the love of God. Amen. How is this possible? We find the answer in the next benefit...

The Indwelling Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit, the third member of the Trinity, has always existed, however, His ministry was different in the OT and the NT. In the OT He would come on men and fill them temporarily, but in the NT era, He indwells believers permenantly at the moment of salvation, empowering them to do the will of God John 14:16-17

John 14:16–17 KJV 1900

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Not only does the Spirit of God indwell us, but His indwelling presence leads to the NEXT benefit....

Spiritual Gift(s)

Each believer has at least one gift, some have more than one. These gifts are for use in the building up of the church. The gifts are given so that we may serve the Lord

Romans 12:6–8 KJV 1900

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

1 Corinthians 12:7–11 KJV 1900

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

There are two more benefits of salvation, and we have saved the best for last. The eleventh benefit is...

Heaven

Each believer is assured of spending eternity with the Lord

John 14:1–3 KJV 1900

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Matthew 25:34 KJV 1900

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Talk about benefits! A home in heaven beats a 401k any day!

What could possibly be a better benefit than a home in heaven? Well the twelfth benefit is the...

Assurance of Salvation

Each believer can rest assured of their eternal inheritance with Christ 1 Pet. 1:3-5

1 Peter 1:3–5 KJV 1900

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

With benefits like these, why would we ever complain? The harsh reality is, however, that Christians are often discontent with what God is trying to do in their lives.

In the story of the Israelites in the wilderness, they frequently expressed discontentment with their circumstances. Despite being freed from slavery, they longed for the comforts of Egypt. Their discontentment led them to forget the mighty acts of God and His provision. This reminds us that when we dwell on dissatisfaction, we often overlook the blessings God has already given us.

Church, I hope that you will meditate on these benefits of God’s salvation and that you will be content to face whatever He leads you to on earth, knowing what He has in store for you in heaven.