Evangelism

Three Aspects of Salvation: Past, Present, and Future

1. In the PAST I was saved from the PENALTY of sin (Justification).

Justification is a Christian’s judicial acceptance by God as not guilty because his sins are not counted against him.

Romans 3:24–25 “24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” (KJV 1900)

Romans 3:28 “28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (KJV 1900)

JUSTIFICATION

Whereas forgiveness is the negative side of salvation, justification is the positive side. To justify is to declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus Christ. It is a forensic (legal) act of God whereby He declares the believing sinner righteous on the basis of the blood of Christ. The major emphasis of justification is positive and involves two main aspects. It involves the pardon and removal of all sins and the end of separation from God (Acts 13:39; Rom. 4:6–7; 5:9–11; 2 Cor. 5:19). It also involves the bestowal of righteousness upon the believing person and “a title to all the blessings promised to the just.”

Justification is a gift given through the grace of God (Rom. 3:24) and takes place the moment the individual has faith in Christ (Rom. 4:2; 5:1). The ground of justification is the death of Christ (Rom. 5:9), apart from any works (Rom. 4:5). The means of justification is faith (Rom. 5:1). Through justification God maintains His integrity and His standard, yet is able to enter into fellowship with sinners because they have the very righteousness of Christ imputed to them.

Justification is manward; man had sinned and broken God’s standard. Man was in need of receiving the righteousness of God to enter into fellowship with Him.

Paul proclaims that “all who believe” are justified by faith without works (Rom 3:24–25, 28). In other words, believers are reckoned as righteous by God not on the basis of their good works but because of what Christ has achieved for them, received by faith. The Reformers coined the doctrine of “justification by faith alone.” This does not mean that faith exists on its own. Saving faith is expressed in baptism, is joined with repentance and works through love. Christians are not justified by such things, but nor are they justified without them. It is only faith that saves, not because faith is greater than love or any other virtue, but because faith unites believers with Christ, in whom and because of whom they are accepted. So faith alone justifies, but the faith that justifies is never alone, it never exists without love and good works.

James, however, says that we are justified not by faith alone but by works. How is that to be reconciled with Paul? As is often noted, James uses the words “justification” and “faith” differently from Paul. He states that Abraham was “counted as righteous” by faith (2:23), which is what Paul means by “justification by faith” (Rom 4:2–5).

2. In the PRESENT I am being saved from the POWER of sin (Sanctification).

Sanctification is the ongoing supernatural work of God to rescue justified sinners from the disease of sin and to conform them to the image of his Son: holy, Christlike, and empowered to do good works.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 “23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (KJV 1900)

2 Thessalonians 2:13 “13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:” (NASB95)

John 17:17 “17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (NASB95)

Note: A Sanctify believe lives his or her life by TRUTH ONLY ( Not Perfect but truth )

Note: Truth is being redefined based on feelings

Note: Not only that, but feelings usually differ based on who you are and what perspective you have.

Note: Anytime you base your values, beliefs, and decisions on feelings, you are no longer basing them on the truth.

Note: Scripture calls this ever learning yet never coming to the knowledge of the truth 2Tim.3:7 “7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Note: When your life is not functioning on truth then you become confused and confused people talk about confused ideals often rooted in one-sided perspectives, which then leads to an even more confused audience or followers.

Note: The one thing that ought to distinguish the Christian influencer or Pastor, as well as the church of Jesus Christ, is that we are people of truth.

Note: And yet even within much of the church today, truth has left the building.

Note: Truth is the foundation of character.

Note: Truth has a way of bringing clarity to our understanding.

The triune God not only declares his children righteous but also progressively makes them righteous, setting them apart for himself and freeing them from the entanglements of sin. This process, referred to as “sanctification,” does not happen in a moment but is the ongoing work of God throughout the life of a believer. In “justification,” Christ’s righteousness is imputed to believers: it is reckoned to their account, judicially speaking. In sanctification, Christ’s righteousness is imparted: by the power of the Spirit, the converted sinner becomes more like Christ. The sinner is transformed in every area of his or her life: inward and outward, heart and action, relationships and purpose.

Sanctification is the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (John 17:17, 19; 1 Cor 1:2, 30; Eph 5:25–27; Col 1:22; 1 Thess 5:23; Heb 10:10–13; 13:12, 20–21). Yet it is the Holy Spirit who applies this triune work, freeing and empowering believers to become like Christ (Rom 8:12–14; 15:16; 2 Thess 2:13; Titus 3:5; 1 Pet 1:2). Scripture’s frequent designation of the Holy Spirit speaks to the fitting nature of the Spirit’s role as sanctifier.

Sanctification does not occur as a separate step after salvation; rather, it is the working out of one’s salvation into the whole of life and practice. It is not simply ethical conformity but the conformity of one’s entire life into the image of God. Sanctification is the natural application of justification: those who have been declared holy are now made holy. It is the natural development of regeneration: those who have received new life now live out this life as they grow in Christ. It is also the natural implication of adoption: God’s beloved children imitate him in holiness and purity. Christians are enabled to do good works that please and honor God, love and serve others, and represent God’s character and ways before the world (John 15:5, 8; Rom 7:4; 1 Cor 10:31; Gal 6:2; Jas 2:14–22).

3. In the FUTURE I will be saved from the PRESENCE of sin (Glorification).

In the last days, the righteous in Christ will experience resurrection to a new, spiritual but still physical body.

1 Corinthians 15:42–44 “42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”

The Christian faith has always valued the body and understood it to be an essential part of the human person. The body, therefore, is not an encumbrance to Christ’s salvation but a necessary object of it. While there have long been debates among Christians regarding the timing of the future resurrection, Christians agree that when the Lord comes again in glory the redeemed will be raised to new life and enjoy the blessing of a glorified body. The precise nature of the glorified body is a mystery, but Scripture provides enough revelation for readers to imagine several of its features.

The basic pattern for the future glorified body is the Lord’s resurrected body. When the resurrected Christ appeared and conversed with others, there was obvious continuity with his former body: the disciples recognized the Lord, touched him, and confirmed he was not a phantom. At the same time, his new resurrected body did not experience normal limitations, nor was it subject to suffering, sin, and death (Rom 6:9). Thus, the glorified body is not a different body but a different form of the same body: it is what Paul calls “a spiritual body” (1 Cor 15:42–44).

THE NATURE OF GOD

We underestimate our need for a Savior because we underestimate who God is.

1. God is HOLY

2. God is RIGHTEOUS AND JUST

THE NATURE OF MAN

1. Our nature: WE ARE SINFUL

2. Our choice: WE SIN

3. Our condition: WE ARE LOST

Three Central Truths about How We Are Saved

Salvation is not by works but by GRACE

Salvation is not initiated by us, but by GOD

It’s not man reaching UP to God, but God reaching DOWN to man.

Salvation is not an afterthought with God; it is his ETERNAL PLAN