Salvation

The bible teaches that salvation is wholly of God by His grace on the basis of the redemption of Jesus Christ, the merit of His death and His bodily resurrection, not on the basis of any human merit or works (John 1:12; Eph. 1:4-7; 2:8-10; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19).

Salvation encompasses election, regeneration, justification, sanctification and glorification. It includes all that God does in saving the elect from the penalty, power and presence of sin and in restoring them to a right relationship with Him. Faith and repentance are evidence of true salvation (Eph. 1:4-11; John 6:37-40; 3:3-8; Titus 3:5; Rom. 8:30, 33; 1 Thes. 4; 3, 4).

All those who so trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are forgiven and saved from their sins, are declared righteous before God, and are born into the family of God by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. God’s purpose for saving His elect is so that they bring glory to Him by their lives (Ro.4:3-8; Eph.1:7; 2:8-9; John 1:12; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 1:6; Titus 2.11-14).

All the saved – those in whom God has accomplished His transforming work of grace – are kept by His power and are secure in Christ forever. This assurance, however, is not the occasion for sin, for God in His holiness cannot tolerate persistent sin in His children, and in infinite love, He corrects them. True faith in Christ is expressed by a fruitful, God-pleasing life (John 10:27-29; Rom. 8:29-39; 1 John 5:13; Heb. 12:6; Matt. 7:20; James 2:20).