The redemption of man is found in & through Jesus Christ
Salvation is a gift from God to man and it is a mystery. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works. It involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, 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. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. Salvation in the glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness and grace, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It precludes boasting and encourages humility.
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 Savior.
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. It occurs by and through Christ and is because of His work on the cross and gained through faith.
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.
Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.
Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and power of God that gives this security.
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; 14:6; 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; 4:3; 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, 26; 5:1, 22—25; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8—22; 4:11—16; Philippians 2:12—13; Colossians 1:9—22; 3:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:23—24; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11—14; 3:5; Hebrews 2:1—3; 5:8—9; 7:25; 9:24—28; 10:10—14; 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