Salvation, Regeneration, Sanctification
It is easy, almost second nature to fall into a false concept of salvation. Conversion, justification, regeneration and sanctification are not the result of belief, dedication, worship or devotion. It is human nature to believe one or more of these events, if you will, save us, sanctify us and preserve us.
Salvation is an act of God for one very obvious reason, He is love; He did not “need” anything but wanted and desired to create; therefore, He loves His creation and desires only its well being and welfare. God decreed,1 prior to creation, his only Son to reclaim that which man forfeited. The Apostle Paul explained it these words:
“Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned…”(Romans 5:12)
(1)But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. (Romans 5:15) (2)For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) (Romans 5:17) (3)For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:19)
The Apostle John revealed in his gospel:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3: 17- 18)
The need for salvation is that in “Adam all have sinned” and “death passed upon all men.” This is the cause of death.
The cause for redemption is the substitutionary atonement Jesus Christ purchased through his perfect sacrifice (One perfect life freely offered for the sins of all mankind.)
Belief, dedication, worship and sanctification are the results of sacrifice on the cross not the cause of salvation. Confession of Jesus as the Christ, the one promised of God before the creation allows God to forgive sins. A new creature is the result of salvation. The new creature receives the Holy Spirit of God to teach and guide him follow the example that leads to truth and righteousness Jesus Christ.
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.” (John 16:13)
The life that was in Jesus in His earthly ministry comes (is imputed) and lives (reside/dwell) in the believer. Thus the saying, “What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? (I Corinthians 6:19)
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