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BIBLE DOCTRINES
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT SALVATION
Introduction
The first step in Christianity is obviously salvation. Anyone who is going to be effective in serving God must have a Biblical understanding of what is meant by salvation and they must have assurance of their own salvation. With this lesson we hope to take a thorough look at the Bible doctrine of salvation. The most dynamic single word in our language is the word salvation.
I. THE MEANING OF SALVATION.
Salvation means to effect successfully the full delivery of someone or something from impending danger. The very word carries with it a threefold implication:
A. Salvation Implies That Someone Or Something Needs To Be Saved.
1. Only a sick person needs a doctor. Man is desperately ill.
(See Isaiah. 1:6; Matthew 9:12.)
2. Only an accused person needs a lawyer. Man stands condemned in God’s court of law. (Romans 3:10-19)
3. Only a drowning person needs a lifeguard. Man finds himself flooded by the waters of sin. (Psalms 69:1, 2)
4. Why Are Men Lost? (Romans 3:10; 23)
a. All Men Are Lost Because They Have Sinned In Adam. (Romans 5:12)
1) Adam stood as representative of the entire human race.
2) Adam was not deceived but deliberately chose to sin against God. (1 Timothy 2:14)
3) Adam's seed are all born spiritually dead.
(Ephesians 2:1-12)
b. All Men Are Lost Because They Are Totally Depraved.
(i.e. Sin dominates every part of man's being.)
1) The heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked. (Jeremiah 17:9)
2) The mind of man is unable to understand the things of God.
(1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 4:17-18)
3) The unsaved man only has power to sin. (Romans 6:20)
Even his “righteous” acts are as filthy rags in the sight of God. (Isaiah 64:6)
4) The unsaved world lies in wickedness. (1 John 5:19)
a) They reject God’s revelation of Himself.
(Psalms 19:1; Acts 14:17; Romans 1:19, 20)
b) They disobey their own conscience.
(Romans 2:14-16).
c) They walk in the ways of this world.
(Ephesians 2:2; James 4:4; 1 John. 2:15-17)
d) They are children of Satan and under his power.
(John 8:42-44; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:13; 1 John 3:10; 5:19).
e) They are lost because of their relationship to sin. (Genesis 8:21; Mark. 7:20-23; Galatians 5:19-21)
A sinner may not be as bad as he can be but he is nevertheless as bad off as he can be. Man is both dead (spiritually) and dying (physically).
(Genesis 2:17)
f) They are lost because of their relationship to God. (John 3:36; Ephesians 2:12; 4:17-18; 1 John 5:12; Jude 1:19)
c. The Nature Of Man's Sin.
1) Sin is missing the mark that God has set as the standard. (i.e. Christ.) (Romans 3:23)
2) Sin is open defiance against God's law. (1 John 3:4)
3) Sin is rebellion against God Himself. (Luke 19:14)
(i.e. Refusal to let Him be the Master.)
d. The Consequences Of Man’s Sin. (Romans 6:23)
The basic meaning of the word “death” is “separation.”
1) Adam's sin separated him from fellowship with God.
2) Men without Christ are lost or separated from God. (Ephesians 2:11-12)
Sin has rendered man spiritually dead or separated from God in this life.
3) Unless man's sin is forgiven, it will cause him to face the second death or eternal separation from God in the Lake of Fire in the life to come. (Revelation 20:14-15)
So, Salvation Implies That Someone Or Something Needs To Be Saved.
B. Salvation Implies That Someone Is Able And Willing To Save.
Such a Savior must fulfill both requirements.
1. He Must Be Able To Save.
It is possible for a person to have the desire but not the ability to save another individual.
2. He Must Be Willing To Save.
It is possible for a person to have the ability but not the desire to save another individual.
C. Salvation Implies That The Person In Need Of Salvation Accept The Offer Of The One Who Is Able And Willing To Save.
One can refuse the offer of salvation extended and thus perish.
II. GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
A. Salvation Proceeds From God.
1. It comes as a result of His unconditional love for mankind.
(John 3:16; Romans 5:6-8)
2. It comes as a result of His mercy. (1 Peter 1:3)
B. Salvation Is Provided For All Men. (Romans 10:13; 1 John 2:2)
C. Salvation Excludes The Works Of Men. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
1. It is not by works of righteousness which we have done. (Titus 3:5)
2. It is not by the works of the law. (Romans 3:26-28)
D. Salvation Involves Payment For The Penalty Of Sin. (Hebrews 10:4-12)
E. Salvation Involves The Forgiveness Of Sin. (Colossians 2:13)
F. Salvation Involves The Imputation Of God’s Righteousness.
(2 Corinthians 5:21)
G. Salvation Is Opposed By Satan. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
H. Salvation Involves Conviction By The Holy Spirit. (John 6:44; 16:8-11)
Some conviction comes to all men at some point. (Acts 17:27; Titus 2:11)
I. Salvation Is Appropriated By Faith. (Romans 5:1; Galatians 2:16)
1. Faith involves believing in Jesus as He is presented in Scripture.
2. Faith involves believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
3. Faith involves repenting or turning away from everything else to Christ.
(i.e. sin, self righteousness, religion, etc.)
4. Faith involves personally receiving Jesus Christ.
(John 1:12; Ephesians 2:8-9)
III. THE BELIEVER’S ASSURANCE OF SALVATION. (1 John 5:11-13)
A. The Very Nature Of Salvation Assumes That The Recipient Can Be Assured That God Has Done A Work In His Life.
1. The fact that God has moved in grace toward sinful man. (Romans 5:6-8)
2. The fact that salvation involves a new birth that places the person in a new family and a new race. (John 3:3; 1 Corinthians 10:32)
(Jews and Gentiles—> Church of God)
B. God Has Decreed That The Believer Can Be Assured Of His Salvation.
(1 John 5:12-13)
1. God has given eternal life in His Son. (1 John 5:11)
2. The individual who has the Son has eternal life. (1 John 5:12a)
a. The individual should have invited Christ into his life.
(i.e. received Christ in sincerity and truth.)
b. It is the promise of God that anyone who asks Christ to come into his life will receive Him. (John 1:12; 3:16; Romans 10:13)
c. Christ has promised never to leave nor forsake His own.
(Hebrews 13:5)
3. The individual who does not have the Son does not have eternal life.
(1 John 5:12b)
4. God has written these things that the individual may believe on Christ and that he may know that he has eternal life. (1 John 5:13)
C. Chastening For Sin Is Assurance Of Salvation. (Hebrews 12:5-8)
D. A Changed Life Is Assurance Of Salvation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
E. A Desire For The Things Of The Spirit Is Assurance Of Salvation.
(1 Corinthians 2:12)
IV. THE EFFECT OF SALVATION. (Ephesians 2:10)
A. Salvation Results In A Saved Person Working For Christ.
(Ephesians 2:10; James 2:14-26)
B. Works Are The Evidence Of Our Love For Christ. (Acts 26:20; 1 John 4:19)
V. THE ASPECTS OF SALVATION.
A. Past tense–We have been saved from the penalty of sin. (Romans 8:1)
B. Present tense–We are being saved from the power of sin. (Romans 6:1-6)
C. Future tense–We will be saved from the presence of sin.
(1 Corinthians 15:50-53; Revelation 21:27)
A. Conversion.
Psalm 19:7–“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.”
Psalm 51:12-13–“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.”
Matthew 18:3–“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
Acts 3:19–“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”
Acts 15:3–“And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
James 5:20–“Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”
The Greek word translated “conversion” has reference to a twofold turning on the part of an individual. One has to do with repentance (a turning from), and the other with faith (a turning to).
1. Repentance.
a. What repentance is not:
1) It is not reformation, that act of turning over a new leaf.
2) It is not remorse, that act of regretting the fruit of one’s crime, but not the root.
Here we have two biblical examples.
a) Esau: Hebrews 12:17–“. . .he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears”
(For the full background of this, read Genesis 27).
b) Judas: Matthew 27:3–“Then Judas, who had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.”
That this was only remorse and not true repentance is shown in verse 5 of Matthew 27 where we are told: “And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.”
3) It is not penitence, that act of attempting to make up for one’s sins through good works.
b. What repentance is:
It is a voluntary and sincere change in the mind of the sinner, causing him to turn from his sin. It should be noted here that we said sin and not sins. True repentance involves the turning from one specific sin, the previous rejection of Christ. Jesus spelled this out very clearly for us in John 16:7-11.
God is not primarily interested in convincing a sinner to give up smoking, swearing, drinking, and illicit sex, as bad as these may be, for this will never save him. His great sin which will eventually condemn him forever is the rejection of Jesus Christ.
Repentance therefore deals with a turning from this horrible crime of spurning Calvary.
1) Repentance and the ministry of John the Baptist:
Matthew 3:2–“Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 3:8– “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.”
2) Repentance and the ministry of Jesus:
Matthew 9:13–“. . .for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Luke 13:5–“I tell you, nay; but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
Luke 15:7– “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”
Luke 24:47–“And [he] said unto them that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
3) Repentance and the ministry of the Apostle Peter:
Acts 2:38–“Then said Peter unto them, repent and be baptized. . .”
Acts 3:19–“Repent ye therefore and be converted.”
4) Repentance and the ministry of the Apostle Paul:
Acts 26:20–“But [I] showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent. . .”
Acts 17:30–“And the times [prior to the cross] of this ignorance God winked at [overlooked]; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.”
2. Faith.
a. What it is not:
1) It is not a “blind leap into the dark.”
2) It is not supposition.
3) It is not speculation.
4) It is not opinion or hypothesis.
b. What it is:
It is a voluntary and sincere change in the mind of the sinner, causing him to turn to the Savior.
We have now seen both sides of the coin of conversion. Repentance is a turning from sin, and faith is a turning to Christ. Paul includes both concepts during his farewell message to the Ephesian elders.
Acts 20:21–“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
c. How it is produced:
Romans 10:17–“So, then, faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”
Here Paul is saying that faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through preaching Christ.
d. Why it is so necessary:
Hebrews 11:6–“But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
1) The sinner is saved by grace through faith
(Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:8-9).
2) The saint is sanctified (grows in grace) by faith.
Thus, by faith:
a) We live.
Romans 1:17–“. . .the just shall live by faith.”
b) We stand.
2 Corinthians 1:24–“. . .by faith ye stand.”
c) We walk.
2 Corinthians 5:7–“. . .for we walk by faith. . .”
d) We fight.
1 Timothy 6:12–“. . .fight the good fight of faith.”
e) We overcome.
1 John 5:4–“This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
B. Born again (John 3:3) and Regeneration (Titus 3:5)
Both speak of the fact that the sinner has been born again or regenerated in his spirit that had been dead in trespasses and sin.
1. The definition of regeneration.
It is that process whereby God through a second birth imparts to the believing sinner a new nature.
John 1:12-13–“But as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God”
2. The necessity for regeneration.
It is necessary because of the corruptness of human nature.
Jeremiah 13:23–“Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil”
(See also Romans 3:10-18; 7:18; 8:7; Galatians 5:19-21).
By nature all men are:
a. Dead to God. (Ephesians 2:1).
b. Children of wrath. (Ephesians 2:3).
c. Children of disobedience. (Ephesians 2:2).
d. Cursed with Adam’s sin nature.(Romans 5:12;1 Corinthians 15:47)
3. The means of regeneration.
Three factors are vital for a sinner to experience redemption.
a. The Word of God.
(Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23)
b. The Man of God.
(Romans 10:13-15; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
c. The Spirit of God.
(John 3:5, 6; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Titus 3:5)
These three factors should not be lightly passed over. They teach that no sinner has ever been saved since Adam apart from them. Some may deny the necessity of the second factor pointing out that people often came to Christ while alone, after reading a gospel tract. But just how was that tract written, printed, and distributed in the first place? Obviously saved human beings were involved. If the above is true, then it is not unreasonable to conclude that as the Holy Spirit looks for a human instruments to bring living souls into this world, he likewise seeks out human instruments (soul-winners) to usher sinners into the kingdom of God.
4. The fruits of regeneration.
a. A Born Again Person Does Not Practice Sin. (1 John 3:9; 5:18)
b. A Born Again Person Loves Others And Knows God. (1 John 4:7)
c. A Born Again Person Loves The Saviour. (1 John 5:1, 2)
d. A Born Again Person Overcomes The World. (1 John 5:4)
C. Imputation. (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 4:5-8)
With regard to our salvation, “imputation” speaks of the fact that the sinner's sin has been imputed or set down to the account of Jesus Christ and that the righteousness of God has been set down to the account of the sinner.
1. Definition of imputation:
To impute is the act of one person adding something good or bad to the account of another person.
2. Kinds of imputation:
In the Bible there are three main theological imputations:
a. The imputation of Adam’s sin upon the human race.
Romans 5:12– “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”
1 Corinthians 15:22–“For as in Adam all die.”
This first imputation seems at first to be totally unjust. Why should Adam’s sin be imputed to me when it happened in a remote part of this world thousands of years before I was even born? If the story ended here it might be unjust, but it doesn’t.
b. The imputation of the race’s sin upon Christ.
Isaiah 53:5– “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:11–“. . .by His knowledge shall My righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.”
Hebrews 2:9–“. . .that He, by the grace of God, should taste death for every man.”
1 Peter 2:24–““Who His own self bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed”
(See also 2 Corinthians 5:14-21)
The first imputation was an unwilling one (for no human would voluntarily accept Adam’s guilt), but the second imputation was effected upon a totally willing volunteer.
John 10:11–“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.”
John 10:18–“No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.”
c. The imputation of God’s righteousness upon the believing sinner. (Philippians 3:7-9)
This imputation, like the second, must be voluntary. God does not force the righteousness of Christ upon anyone.
3. Biblical examples of imputation.
a. Abraham.
James 2:23–“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God.”
(See also Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3)
b. David.
Romans 4:6-8--“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin”
(See also Psalms 32:1, 2).
c. Onesimus.
Philemon 1:17-18–“If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it.”
d. Stephen.
Acts 7:59-60– “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
e. Paul.
2 Timothy 4:16 “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.”
Speaks of the fact that Christ died as a substitute in the place of the sinner.
1 Peter 3:18–“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”
1. Temporary substitution.
In Old Testament times, prior to Calvary, the sheep died for the shepherd.
Genesis 3:21–“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”
See Genesis 22:10-13; Exodus 12:3-7, 12-13.
The sacrifices under the Law were only a temporary covering for sin and had to be repeated.
These were only a picture of the one true Sacrifice that was to come.
See Hebrews 9:6-14; 10:1-14.
2. Permanent substitution.
In New Testament times, after Calvary, the Shepherd died for the sheep.
John 10:11–“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
Thus, Christ became on the cross what he was not—namely, sin—that we might become what we were not—namely, righteous. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
The Son of God became the Son of man that sons of men might become the sons of God.
See Isaiah 53:4-12.
E. Propitiation.
Speaks of the debt owed to God (because of sin) being satisfied by the work of Christ on the cross.
1 John 2:2–“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 Jn. 2:2).
1 John 4:10–“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
1. The meaning of propitiation.
The word translated propitiation means “to render favorable, to satisfy, to appease.”
2. The method of propitiation.
Romans 3:25–“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood.”
Ephesians 2:13–“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
3. The necessity for propitiation.
It was necessary because of God’s wrath (that reaction of the divine nature to evil in man).
Romans 1:18–“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.”
John 3:36–“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
Ephesians 5:6– “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”
(Cf. Colossians 3:6)
4. The place of propitiation.
a. The Old Testament temporary place—the mercy seat in the tabernacle (typically).
Exodus 25:22–“And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel”
See Hebrews 9:5-7.
b. The New Testament permanent place—the center cross on Golgotha (actually).
Romans 5:10–“For if, when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
Colossians 1:20–“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him, to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”
5. The results of propitiation.
Romans 3:25-26– “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; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
F. Reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:19–“God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.”
1. What does it mean?
a. The Old Testament meaning:
The Hebrew word kaphar, which means to cover something, is found some eighty-three times in the Old Testament. Of these, it is translated “atonement” seventy-six times and “reconciliation” seven times.
b. New Testament meaning.
The Greek word allasso means to change from that of enmity to that of friendship.
Romans 5:10-11–“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”
See Ephesians 2:16; Colossians1:20-22; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20.
2. What does it imply?
a. It implies that a previous animosity once existed.
b. It implies that the offended party (or parties) now views things differently.
3. There are two phases of reconciliation.
a. God has reconciled himself to the world through Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19–“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation”
b. Man is now to reconcile himself to God through Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:20–“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
4. The chronology of reconciliation.
a. In Eden God and man faced each other in fellowship.
b. After the fall, God and man turned from each other.
c. At Calvary God turned his face toward man.
d. At conversion (through repentance and faith) man turns his face toward God.
G. Remission.
Matthew 26:28–“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Acts 10:43– “To him [Jesus] gave all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins”
(See also Luke 24:47; Hebrews 9:22)
The concept of remission is practically synonymous with the word forgiveness.
It refers to a sending back, a putting away. In fact, the word translated “remission” is also translated as “put away” (Matthew 1:19; 5:31; Hebrews 9:26) and as “forgive” (Luke 6:37; Ephesians 4:32; and Colossians 2:13).
H. Redemption.
Galatians 3:13–“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law.”
Revelation 5:9– “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation”
1. Redemption has a threefold meaning.
a. To pay a ransom price for something or someone.
Hebrews 9:12– “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
b. To remove from a slave marketplace.
Galatians 3:13–“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.”
c. To effect a full release.
Romans 8:22-23–“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body”
(See also Romans 3:24; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:7, 14; 4:30; Colossians 1:14).
2. The costliness of redemption.
1 Peter 1:18-19–“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
I. Justification. (Romans 3:28)
Speaks of the fact that man who was condemned as guilty of sin has now been declared as just or justified because Christ has fulfilled the terms of the sentence.
Job 25:4–“How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?”
Romans 5:1–“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1. The need for justification.
In his epistle to the Romans, the Apostle Paul presents sinful man in a courtroom on trial for his very life.
The charge is high treason against the King of the universe (Romans 3:23). The presiding Judge is the Lord Jesus Christ himself.
(John. 5:22; Acts 17:13).
The jury is made up of the Law of God and the deeds of man.
(Romans 2:6, 12).
After proper deliberation a just and fair verdict of “guilty” is returned (Romans. 3:9-20).
A terrifying sentence is then imposed—spiritual death, meaning to be forever separated from God to suffer throughout all eternity in the lake of fire (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:11-15).
In light of all this it can be readily seen that a desperate need for justification existed.
2. The definition of justification.
The great theologian, A. Strong, has defined justification in the following way: “By justification we mean that judicial act of God which, on account of Christ, to whom the sinner is united by faith, He declares that sinner to be no longer exposed to the penalty of the law, but restored to His favor.” (Systematic Theology, p. 849)
i.e. Justification is that legal act whereby man’s status before God is changed for the good. He is declared righteous.
3. The method of justification.
a. Not by the Law.
Romans 3:20–“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
Galatians 2:16–“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law,. . . for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
b. But by grace through faith!
Romans 3:24–Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”
Romans 3:28–“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
Romans 4:16– “Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace.”
Galatians 2:16–“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
4. The results of justification.
a. The remission of sin’s penalty.
(Acts 13:38, 39; Romans 4:7; 6:23; 8:1, 33, 34; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7; 4:32; Colossians 2:13)
b. The restoration to divine favor. (Romans 5:1-11)
c. The imputation of Christ’s righteousness.
(Matthew 22:11; Luke 15:22-24; Romans 4:11; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
Man justifies only the innocent, but God only the guilty.
Man justifies on the basis of self-merit, but God on the basis of the Saviour’s merit.”
J. Sanctification.
Speaks of the Believer having been set apart from the sin and the world unto God because of the work of Christ on the cross.
John 17:19–“And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”
Ephesians 5:25-26–“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it”
1 Thessalonians 4:3– “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23– “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly.”
1. Sanctification defined.
a. What sanctification is not:
1) It is not the eradication of the sinful nature.
In fact, those who boast of the eradication of their sinful natures actually claim that which Paul, James, and John admit they had not attained.
(Philippians 3:12-14; James 3:2; 1 John 1:8-9; 2:1)
However, even though a Christian cannot be sinless, he can and should through sanctification, sin less.
2) It is not the “second blessing.”
In 2 Corinthians 1:15 Paul writes: “And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit.” Some have taken their theology of the second blessing from this verse. However, Paul describes the Corinthian believers in his first epistle as already being sanctified. (1 Corinthians 1:2; 6:11).
3) It is not the baptism by the Holy Spirit.
In 1 Corinthians 12:13 Paul says all believers have been baptized by the Holy Spirit, regardless of their personal spiritual condition. Compare this with 1 Corinthians 3:1-4.
b. What sanctification is:
Sanctification occurs in various forms some 300 times in the New Testament and 760 times in the Old Testament for a total of 1060 in the Bible.
The basic meaning in all these instances is “to set apart.”
2. Sanctification contrasted with justification.
a. Justification deals with our standing, while sanctification deals with our state.
b. Justification is that which God does for us, while sanctification is that which God does in us.
c. Justification is an act, while sanctification is a work.
d. Justification is the means, while sanctification is the end.
e. Justification makes us safe, while sanctification makes us sound.
f. Justification declares us good, while sanctification makes us good.
g. Justification removes the guilt and penalty of sin, while sanctification checks the growth and power of sin.
3. Sanctification achieved.
In Romans 6 Paul clearly lays out the program leading to that lifelong process of growing in grace and spiritual maturity, which is sanctification. The plan involves four simple commands.
a. “Know ye!” (Romans 6:1-10)
1) That we have been “buried with him [Christ] by baptism into death” (6:4). Here Paul says Christ not only died for me, but as me! The word “baptism” simply means “identification.”
2) That we have been “planted together in the likeness of his resurrection” (6:5).
The believer has now been “transplanted” three times:
a) To the Garden of Eden, where he sinned with Adam.
b) To the cross, where he died with Christ.
c) To the tomb, where he arose with Christ.
3) That because of these two facts, the believer is:
a) “Dead to sin” (6:2).
b) “Freed from sin” (6:7).
b. “Reckon ye!” (Rom. 6:11, 12)
This simply means that by faith we are to act upon these facts regardless of any personal feelings.
c. “Yield ye!” (Rom. 6:16-23).
1) We are to stop yielding (present tense) our body members as instruments of unrighteousness.
2) We are to once for all (aorist tense) yield our body members as instruments of righteousness.
d. “Obey ye!”
1) Whom are we to obey?
a) The Christian is to obey his new Master and to ignore his old one (Romans 6:16). We can serve but one master at a time (Matthew 6:24).
b) The Christian is to obey that form of doctrine into which he has been delivered. He was originally saved by being poured into the mold of salvation. He is now to obey the precepts of this mold and let it fashion and shape his new life.
2) Why are we to obey?
a) Because we are “freed from sin” (Romans 6:22).
Before Christ, we were “not able not to sin.”
After Christ, we are “able not to sin.”
In Heaven, we will be “not able to sin.”
b) Because God desires the fruits of justification from believers which can only come through obedience (Romans 6:21, 22).
K. Adoption.
Galatians 4:4-5--“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
1. Adoption defined.
The word literally means the placing of a son. Adoption logically follows regeneration. Regeneration gives one his nature as a child of God, whereas adoption gives him his position as a son of God.
(Romans 8:15-23; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 4:4-6; Ephesians 1:5)
2. How spiritual adoption differs from civil adoption.
a. We never adopt our own children, but God never adopts any other.
b. Civil adoption often provides comfort for the childless, but God had a beloved Son (Matthew 3:17; 17:5) prior to adopting us.
c. There are usually many pleasing characteristics in a civil adopted child, but not in God’s children prior to their adoption.
(Romans 3:10-18).
d. Civil adoption could never give the child the nature of the father, but God’s adopted are given the very mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) and are partakers of God’s divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4).
e. In some cases, civil adoption could be declared null and void, but God’s adopted are absolutely secure.
3. How spiritual adoption compares with civil adoption.
a. The Father must begin the action leading to adoption.
(Isaiah 1:18; John 3:16)
b. Both adoptions give an inheritance to one who previously had none. (Romans 8:17; 1 Peter 1:1-9)
c. Both adoptions provide a new name. (John 1:42; Revelation 2:17)
4. The Trinity in adoption.
a. There is an intimacy toward the Father.
Romans 8:15–“Whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” This is a very personal name for one’s Father. Only Jesus himself had used this until now. (See Matthew 26:42; Mark 14:36)
b. There is an illumination by the Spirit.
He both leads us (Romans 8:14) and assures us (8:16).
c. There is an inheritance with the Son.
Romans 8:17–“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; ” (Also see Hebrews 2:11)
L. Glorification.
Romans 8:30–“Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
Romans 5:2–“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God”
Romans 8:18– “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).
(See also Romans 5:2; 1 Corinthians 15:43; Colossians 3:4; 1 Peter 5:1)
1. The meaning of glorification.
It refers to the ultimate and absolute physical, mental, and spiritual perfections of all believers. (See Romans 8:22, 23; 1 Corinthians 15:41-44, 51-55; 2 Corinthians 4:14-18; 5:1-4; Jude 1:24, 25)
2. The time of glorification.
It will begin at the rapture and continue throughout all eternity.
(1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
3. The purpose of glorification.
Glorification is both the logical and necessary final side of salvation.
It completes justification and sanctification. Note:
a. In the past, Christ the Prophet saved us from the penalty of sin through justification.
b. In the present, Christ the Priest saves us from the power of sin through sanctification.
c. In the future, Christ the King shall save us from the presence of sin through glorification.
4. The results of glorification. What kind of body will the believer possess?
a. It will be a body like Christ’s body.
(Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2)
b. It will be a body of flesh and bone. (Luke 24:39)
c. It will be a recognizable body. (1 Corinthians 13:12)
d. It will be a body in which the Spirit predominates.
(1 Corinthians 15:44, 49; Cf. Mark 14:38)
e. It will be a body unlimited by time, gravity, or space.
(Luke 24:31; John 20:19, 26)
f. It will be an eternal body. (2 Corinthians 5:1)
g. It will be a glorious body. (Romans 8:18; 1 Corinthians 15:43)
The believer’s glorified body will be supernaturally enriched and empowered to serve God in an appointed position by radiating the brightness of grace to angels and the universe.
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