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Salvation involves the redemption of the
whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and
Saviour, 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.
A. 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
Saviour.
B. 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.
C. 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.
D. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed
and abiding state of the redeemed.
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; 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;
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; 5:22-25; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16;
Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-22; 3:1ff.; 1
Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11-14;
Hebrews 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 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.