 2 Cor. 5:17-21. John 3:16. Gal. 1:4. Gal. 4:4-7. Titus 3:3-7. John 16:8. Gal. 3:13, 14. 1 Peter 2:21, 22. Rom. 10:17. Luke 17:5. Mark 9:23, 24. Eph. 2:5-10. Rom. 3:21-26. Col. 1:13, 14. Rom. 8:14-17. Gal. 3:26. John 3:3-8. 1 Peter 1:23. Rom. 12:2. Heb.
8:7-12. Eze. 36:25-27. 2 Peter 1:3, 4. Rom. 8:1-4. Rom. 5:6-10 |
10. The Experience of Salvation |
| In infinite love and mercy God made Christ,
who knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him we might be made the righteousness of
God. Led by the Holy Spirit we sense our need, acknowledge our sinfulness, repent of our
transgressions, and exercise faith in Jesus as Lord and Christ, as Substitute and Example.
This faith which receives salvation comes through the divine power of the Word and is the
gift of God's grace. Through Christ we are justified, adopted as God's sons and daughters,
and delivered from the lordship of sin. Through the Spirit we are born again and
sanctified; the Spirit renews our minds, writes God's law of love in our hearts, and we
are given the power to live a holy life. Abiding in Him we become partakers of the divine
nature and have the assurance of salvation now and in the judgment. Additional material from the Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide (November 1, 2000): By what are all people judged, and according to what are they rewarded? Why? Prov. 12:14; 24:12; James 2:12, 13; Rev. 22:12. We are saved by grace, not by works of the law. (See Rom. 3:20; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-10.) The experience of salvation by grace, however, results in obedience to God's law. (See Rom. 8:1-4.) Works of faith demonstrate that Christ's grace is operating in the life to bring us into accord with the righteous principles of His law. We are judged by the law, the great standard of righteousness because Christ's grace has been made available as the power to obey it. Our works are judged because grace makes possible works that are acceptable to God. Obedience is a sign of our love for God (John 14:15) and of our willingness to render Him true worship. Obedience through the power of the Holy Spirit is not legalism. "Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us" (1 John 3:24, NIV). |
