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What is "Salvation?"
according to the Bible

Part 2


The Bible promises more than heaven. In fact the Bible says very little about heaven, and far more about being "saved from our sins" in this life. And as we put to death our "old man" and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, we mend the torn fabric of life and restore the earth to Edenic conditions. These promises are summed up in the term "sanctification."

In the 1640's the Westminster Larger Catechism was painstakingly crafted by some of the greatest theologians in the history of the Church. They knew the benefits of the New Covenant were not limited to the life hereafter.

If you are a Christian, the Bible says it is because you were chosen before the foundation of the world to be a Christian. But your election means more than going to heaven when you die. Question 75 of the Westminster Larger Catechism says there's more:


“They . . . are
in time
. . . renewed.”


The Westminster Larger Catechism (1648) describes the benefits of "salvation" as defined by the greatest Reformed theologians:

Q. 75. What is sanctification?
A. Sanctification is a work of God's grace, whereby
they
whom God hath, before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy,
are
in time, through the powerful operation of His Spirit[b] applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them,[c]
renewed
in their whole man after the image of God;[d] having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put into their hearts,[e] and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened,[f] as that
they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life.[g]

Let's examine the Scripture proof texts for the exciting promises of God for us in time, not just in eternity.


A. Sanctification is a work of God's grace, whereby they whom God hath, before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy, are in time, through the powerful operation of his Spirit (Eph. 1:4; 1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Thess. 2:13)

Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, We were not chosen simply to strum a harp on some celestial cloud for eternity. We shall be holy.
1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future. But our future is here on earth, not just in heaven, and our future is one of ethical transformation, from rebel to ambassador, from outlaw to priest and king under Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, Salvation through sanctification.

Faith without works is dead.

applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them, (Rom. 6:4-6)

Romans 6:4-6 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. {5} For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, {6} knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Christ had a passionate dedication to following His Father's will. If we are "in Christ" we partake of this passion. We must cultivate that desire, and put to death all desires that stand in the way of Christ's perfect obedience.

renewed in their whole man after the image of God; (Eph. 4:23-24)

Ephesians 4:23-24 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, {24} and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. The old man must be put to death. We must put on Christ.
Our whole life must be renewed in time and in history.
A society of Christians will likewise be renewed, as each individual puts on Christ.

having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put into their hearts, (Acts 11:18; 1 John 3:9)

Acts 11:18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life." "Repentance" means total repudiation of an autonomous (self-determined) lifestyle and whole-hearted dedication to Theonomic (God-directed) living.
1 John 3:9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. When some theologians hear this verse, they do not "become silent" (see verse above). "But, but, but," they say. It may be true that no Christian can be sinless in this life, but anyone who is not passionately dedicated to following God's Law and becoming perfect should question his salvation.

and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened, (Jude 20; Heb. 6:11-12; Eph. 3:16-19; Col. 1:10-11)

Jude 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, The Catechism correctly states that it is the Holy Spirit that "stirs up, increases, and strengthens" the grace of God in us. But Jude calls on us to worship God with all our heart, mind, soul, and might, and "build yourselves up."
Hebrews 6:11-12 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, {12} that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Too many Christians today are "sluggish" and do not "show the same diligence" to conform their lives to the perfect Standard of God's Law. Are they "saved?"
Ephesians 3:16-19 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, {17} that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, {18} may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height; {19} to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. The Westminster divines emphasize personal holiness and Theonomic obedience in a way that is not evident in most churches today.
Colossians 1:10-11 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; {11} strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; Do you walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him? Are you fruitful in every good work? If you are not, don't be distressed; be renewed! Put your old man to death and put on Christ! The glorious power of Christ can make you patient and fill you with joy!

as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life. (Rom. 6:4, 6, 14; Gal. 5:24)

Romans 6:4,6,14 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. {6} knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.{14} For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Here is how to kill your old man and put on Christ.
Galatians 5:24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. And those who are not, have not.
Make a firm resolution right now to crucify the old man. A friend of the world is an enemy of God. (James 4:4)

Can believers ever be "sinless?" Can we be "perfect" in this life?
Find out here.


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