Salvation and Life

Memory verse:  “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his son. He who has the son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11,12)

“In whom you also trusted after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation- having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” (Ephesians 1:13)

It is the hearing of faith that brings salvation. So hearing, faith and salvation are immediately followed by the sealing of the Holy Spirit. The “seal “ can be applied in various ways, all of which are instructive as applied to the Holy Spirit. The “seal “ was applied to a document to guarantee its genuiness. The “seal “ was attached to goods and articles being transported, to indicate ownership and ensure safety and protection. The seal of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer can be likened to an engagement ring as God’s first installment of the Christian’s inheritance. At the end of the age God will redeem his pledge and open the treasuries of heaven to all who are His in Christ.

1. Let examine some facts from 1 John 5:11,12

a.       Who gives eternal life? [God].

b.      What does it mean to have the son? [To have eternal life].

c.       Who does not have eternal life? [Those who do not have the son].

God gives us life eternal. John 17:3 reads [and this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. God gives eternal life and that life is to have a relationship with him and to enjoy him forever. Death means separation. Not accepting Christ is to be separated from the holiness and grace of god eternally. Those who do not receive Christ in life will not have him after they die. Jesus came to give us life in abundance. The kind of life god has for you eternally. Oh! Blessed be the name of God.

2. Salvation is defined as keeping from harm, to preserve, to rescue. From this understanding what are we rescued from? [In the garden when Adam partook of the fruit sin entered the world. Sin did not only enter mankind but as Gods representative on the earth Adams sin contaminated all of creation. Mankind can not regain what was lost on his own. Sin killed us in body, soul and spirit. Only Jesus can save us from our fallen condition and restore us to our rightful state in which we were made to be in.

3. According to Romans 5:8 how has God shown that he loves you. [God shows his love that while we were still sinners Christ died for us]. Jesus said greater love has no one then this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends (John 15:13). Jesus did not wait till we decided to like him before he died. He died while we were still in our sin and enemies of God. We may be willing to die for our children but would you die for a rapist or a drug dealer. Would you die for someone who killed your friends or your children? Jesus did. No matter how bad you were in the past Jesus died for you.

4. According to Isaiah 59:2 what two ways does sin affect mans relationship with God.

Our sin separates us from god and closes God ears to our prayers. God is absolutely holy. He will not dwell in the midst of sin. Through sin we break not our union but our communion with God. Sin effects our relationship with God. God gives us the ability to obey him. He saved us and we have his Spirit inside us. He expects his children to live by his ways since he empowers us to do it.

5. How did God provide a means of salvation for man?

a.       John 3:3-8 [born again]              

b.      1Peter 2:24  [he bore our sins in his own body that we may die to sins and live for righteousness. By his stripes we are healed]

c.       John 3:14-18  [gave his son so whoever believes in him will not perish…].

d.      1 Peter 3: 18 [the just died for the unjust. That he may bring us to God…].

To receive Gods salvation, one must do two things based on Romans 10:9

      What are they?

a.       confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus + believe with your heart God raised him from the dead  =  salvation

6. What should happen to the person who accepts Jesus Christ as his/her personal Lord and Savior based on 2 Corinthians 5:17. [He becomes a new creation]. Upon accepting Christ we receive a new life. Its not a changing of the old but something brand new that we never had before. The old nature still exists but we are empowered to conquer it. We are received into our new family, the family of Christ. We leave the old life behind and start a new life living for Christ.

Jesus Christ is our “propitiation “ which properly signifies the removal of wrath. It reminds us that the divine anger was exercised towards mans sin, and that it was Christ propitiatory death that put the situation right, and made it possible for man to come back to God.

7. Read, study and meditate on Ephesians 2: 1-9 then fill in the missing facts in the verses below concerning salvation.

    God, who is rich in mercy.

    For by grace you are saved through faith.

    It is not of yourselves it is gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast.

8. Explain the following terms from the verses below.

A.    Justification:  Romans 3:21-26[ being declared righteous before God]

B.     Sanctification: 1 Peter 1:13-16[set apart, the process in which God conforms you to the image of his son].

C.     Glorification 1 Corinthians 15:42-49[the new sinless incorruptible bodies we will receive at the resurrection].

9. What promises do the following verses give regarding salvation?

A.    John 10:27-29[Jesus gives his sheep eternal life they shall never perish. No one can snatch them out of Jesus’ hand or the father’s hand] no one includes you. You can be secure that what ever happens if Jesus has you that you can’t be lost.

B.     John 5:24[if you believe you have everlasting life and are not under judgement. Having passed from death to life]. As a believer you will not face Gods wrath on the day of judgement. You being formerly dead to God are now alive in Christ.

C.     Romans 8:31-39[nothing can separate you from the love of God] god will always love you and take care of you. Nothing can separate you from his love. As a believer you already have victory.

D.    Philippians 1:6[Jesus will complete what he started in you]. God will not leave you incomplete or unfinished. It is his desire to work in you and through you. His work will not stop in you he will be with you always even to the end of the age.