How are we saved?
And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if
it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work (Romans
11:6).
This saving grace is wonderful news. But does it free us from obedience to God’s law? No. In fact, grace establishes the law. The law cannot save us, but it can warn us by telling us what sin is.
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law
(Romans 3:31).
Romans 6:14-16 tells us this:
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Simply then, sin (transgressing God’s law) leads to eternal death, but grace leads to eternal life.
Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good (Romans
7:12).
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20).
It is by grace that we are saved, delivered from sin, justified, sanctified, and eventually glorified (incorruptible-1 Cor. 15:52). On one hand, grace sets right our relationship with God. On the other hand, the law tells us what sin is so that we may avoid it by the grace of God. A true conversion will fill the heart with gratitude and the restored person will want to live in harmony with the law of God.
Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments…If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love” (John 14:15, 15:10).
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (1 John 5:3).
A Story of Grace
In John 8, we read the account of Mary Magdalene when she was caught in adultery and brought before Jesus. She stood before Him condemned to death by the law (verses 3-5):
And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
The law could not save her, but Jesus could. “So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” (verse 7). All of the accusers fell short of the glory of God. Convicted of their own sinfulness, they left one by one. Only the trembling, guilty, repentant Mary remained.
Jesus turned to her and said, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (verses 10-11).
The condemned sinner was forgiven and placed under grace, but then she was obligated to henceforth keep the law, to “go, and sin no more.” To be saved by grace does not relieve anyone from the duty of obedience to God’s law. Grace takes away the condemnation of the law, but it does not do away with the law.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1).
We know that we are saved by grace because Jesus was crucified to pay for our sins. But what about God’s people who lived before the time of Jesus? How were they saved?
Why Did Jesus Die?
The New Testament teaches that Jesus Christ died for our sins so that we may inherit eternal life through Him.
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:15).
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our
sins according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3).
When Paul said that “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,” he was referring to the Old Testament, which predicted that Jesus would die for the sins of humanity. Isaiah spells out the affliction and suffering that the Messiah would have to go through to atone for our sins:
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:3-6).
Justification Through Faith
We are saved by faith in the blood of the Lamb…Jesus Christ. You accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as your atonement, that is your justification. The evidence of justification is sanctification. Sanctification is a change in your life where the indwelling Holy Spirit changes our character to reflect that of Christ. The change brings forth “good fruits”. The Holy Spirit convicts our hearts; brings us to repentance; guides us into all truth; fills us with joy; peace and hope; comforts us, leads us to bear fruits of the Spirit, provides spiritual gifts (scripture).
If a righteous man turn away from his righteousness, none of his former righteousness will be remembered. If an unrighteous man turns from his unrighteousness and does what is right, then none of his former unrighteousness will be remembered.
The Bible speaks to books in heaven, we will study these in more depth later. But for now, one of those books is called The Book of Life. We know that the whole of humanity is written therein, whether it remains is up to the individual person. It either remains or is blotted out. So, the two individuals above – one will remain in the Book of Life and the other will be removed.
Right Doing
So, right doing is part of the equation. Right doing doesn’t save, but evidences one’s justification. Another words, right doing doesn’t justify you. The blood of Christ and the atoning sacrifice justifies you. It is an alien righteousness, meaning not our own, but from Christ, and it is imputed righteousness.
Warfare
Sanctification is an imparted righteousness. It becomes part of our nature to want to do the will of God. When you decide you want to do the will of God, you enter into a warfare. That warfare is with self. That “old man” refuses to die.
So, every day when you get up in the morning, you take a club which is the word of God and you clobber him (that ‘old man’) to death. And remind him that he no longer has any right to exist because you have been washed, like Peter says – you do not want to return like a pig to its wallow and be full of mud or like a dog to its vomit.
Application of Christ’s Righteousness
Before we continue, let’s look at Christ’s righteousness in the light of justification and sanctification. There are two distinct phases in the process of our salvation—two complementary aspects of the plan of redemption—which are in a certain sense successive, but at the same time simultaneous; two different operations of the same righteousness of Christ, which alone can satisfy the demands of divine justice and make saints of us. Let’s further analyze in outline form these two phases:
A. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST BY WHICH WE ARE JUSTIFIED.
1. It is imputed to us, which is, credited, granted freely without our earning it.
2. It provides our right to heaven. It is the only merit we can claim.
3. It justifies us, that is, by it we are reckoned righteous in God’s sight …
B. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST BY WHICH WE ARE SANCTIFIED.
1. It is imparted in a gradual, invisible process of Christian growth.
2. It provides our fitness, or preparation, for heaven.
3. It sanctifies us, or changes us into saints, transforming our characters.
Imputed Righteousness – Saves You
Imputed righteousness is usually presented as the righteousness of Christ that is put not in us, but is accredited to us when we repent and believe. We are told that imputed righteousness gives us only a legal standing based on the death of Christ for our sins. We may be unrighteous, but God declares us righteous still. Thus, the “righteousness from God” is, first of all, an imputed righteousness. That is, we are given legal standing before God as righteous persons. We may in fact be sinners, but on the basis of Jesus’ death for our sins, God acquits those who believe in him and pronounces them righteous. The first part of Romans deals with righteousness in a forensic and judicial sense—human beings are in fact unrighteous, but God through Christ’s death has found a legal basis in which to declare the believer righteous anyway.
Imparted Righteousness – Changes You
Imparted righteousness is usually presented as the righteousness of Christ that is imparted actually into us. This is used to mean that we are given obedience to the Law of God as an active change from sin.
Now let’s look at imparted righteousness. What’s in the middle of imparted? Part. Imparted righteousness is righteousness that becomes a part of you. It’s the same as sanctification. It’s becoming like Christ. But it does not save you. The imputed righteousness (justification) saves you. The imparted righteousness (sanctification) changes you. And it will continue to change you forever.
He credits us with that perfect, righteous, obedient life. In ourselves, we are still sinners. But God doesn’t look at us in ourselves. He looks at us in the robes of Christ’s righteousness. He looks at us with Christ’s righteousness imputed to us. And how does He judge us now? Not guilty! Innocent! And that’s what imputed means. Though we are still sinners. We still fail. We may fall. But God doesn’t see that. As we trust in Jesus, He sees Christ’s perfect obedience in place of our imperfect obedience.”
Dying Daily
There is no such thing in the Bible as “once saved always saved”, or saved by any type of works or merit. We can do NOTHING to earn any type of merit towards our salvation or others. The Bible is clear.
Paul said, “I die daily. This is a constant warfare. Eventually, that which is very hard becomes habitual. God brings you into situations to help you realize who and what you really are…a filthy rag (Isa. 64:6). Realizing that we are filthy, wretched, miserable, blind, poor (in spirit), and naked (Rev. 3:17) should point us to Christ, who is the only source that can and will cover us with His righteousness and then we are seen as blameless. This is why we must seek Him daily.
Once Saved Always Saved? Think Not.
If once saved, always saved was true…then Israel would have never been told by Jesus that “your house has left you desolate”, for they would have been perfect.
It’s a narrow road, but it is the road of righteousness (Matt. 7:13-14). My logic tells me, to walk in harmony with God’s commandments…it’s logical, it’s love to God, it’s love and respect to my neighbor. Where I am not in harmony with His will, which is like a mirror and when I look at myself it shows my “defects. Then, I work on them.
So, at any particular moment while I am in my sphere striving to do what is right, I’m covered by the righteousness of Christ. When I go my own way, I reject him and turn from the righteous walk then I cannot expect to be covered by the grace of Christ.
Baptism – Memorial of Christ’s Death, Burial, and Resurrection
Once a person accepts Jesus, they can become baptized. Baptism is a public acknowledgment of a decision that has been made by a conscious mind (Acts 8:37, Romans 10:9). Do you believe with your whole heart then you may be baptized. You have to believe with your whole heart and give a public display and acknowledgment of inner faith. That is what God requires of us. Once you have done that, then the warfare starts. That’s when the walk starts with God. Your biggest enemy is yourself. God brings us into tight spots, so our “old self” can be revealed – so we can deal with it.
Baptism is a symbol of our partaking of the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It cannot save a person. It is putting to death “old self”, making room for character reflective of Jesus (image bearing). Look at Luke 23:42, Acts 9:17-18, 1 Jn. 1:9, and Romans 10:9)
Beautiful Examples:
Both the thief on the cross (Luke 23:42) and Saul (Acts 9:17-18) were saved first. The thief never baptized, but Saul (Paul) was. 1 John 1:9 states the only required condition is to confess our sins, and Romans 10:9 states confess with our mouth Jesus Christ, believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead, and we will be saved (justification occurs).
Why Some Are Lost
We often ask God why He will not save everyone. The Bible is clear that Jesus’ sacrifice was complete enough for all to be saved:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:16-17).
The key is in the words “whosoever believeth in Him.” And this has always been the condition of our eternal existence with God.
When God placed the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the midst of the garden, He gave humankind one of the most important gifts of all; He gave us the power of choice. Throughout the centuries of hardship and the results of sin ravaging the planet, many have asked why a loving God would permit these things. Why did He not just prevent Satan from tempting Adam and Eve? God allowed Adam and Eve to be tested to allow them the freedom of choosing to serve God out of love and not force.
Throughout His Word, the Lord constantly entreats us to serve Him, not because we have to, but because we love Him and understand that His form of government is fair and the only way we can be truly happy. When we trust God by obeying Him, we show that we believe in Him and everything He stands for.
Why some are lost and some are saved is really very simple. We ourselves chose our destiny. In the most loving and compassionate way, God calls His children:
I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live (Deuteronomy 30:19).
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD (Joshua 24:15).
So then why do some choose not to believe in Jesus? The Bible gives us the reason for this as well:
For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices (Proverbs 1:29-31)
It is not God who decides who will be lost and who will be saved, it is we ourselves who will choose this individually. ‘They eat of the fruit of their own way’, they determined to define for themselves what is right and wrong apart from God. They refuse the Tree of Life, which is Jesus Christ, where mercy and salvation are found.
God has given us a fair example of what happens when we choose to rebel against His law and government. He wants everyone to be warned about the results their choices will have in this life and in the life to come.
Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good (Isaiah 7:15).
But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out (Numbers 32:23).
If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers (1 Samuel 12:14-15).
The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you (2 Chronicles 15:2).
God loves us too much not to respect our freedom of choice. He has done everything He can to prove His love by sending His Son to take our punishment and giving us a second chance to believe in Him so that we may be saved.
Those that refuse His mercy, ‘the hand of the Lord be against you’ simply means that those folks will stand in judgment without the mercy seat that covers. You see, those that accept His mercy, they are covered with Jesus’ righteousness and their sins have been blotted out. Whereas those they reject mercy, stand guilty and the verdict is their record of sin remains resulting in the blotting out of their name from the Book of Life and ends by being consumed in the lake of fire which is the second and final death.
Glorification Comes When Jesus Returns
Glorification occurs when:
“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:52-55).
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him [a promise, those that sleep in Jesus will God bring back to heaven with Jesus once they are gathered from the graves]. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel,, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
[comment added]
Grace in the Old Testament
Our salvation centers in the cross of Jesus Christ. Have you ever wondered what people did about their sins before Jesus was crucified on Calvary? How were sins atoned for in Old Testament times?
Dispensationalist believe that before Christ, salvation came through the law, and now, after Christ, salvation is by grace. But as we saw above, all are obligated to keep the law of God. Therefore, salvation for those living before Christ must also have been by grace. In fact, grace existed even in the time of Noah, who “found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8).
In 2 Peter 2:5, Noah is called a “preacher of righteousness.” Righteousness comes by faith in Jesus Christ. The New Testament makes it quite clear that all salvation is through Christ Jesus. Hence, Christ is the Saviour of those that lived before the crucifixion.
The sacrificial system of the Old Testament pointed to the coming death of the promised Messiah. The Gospel was presented in the form of typology—an enactment of God’s salvation plan using symbols.
The sacrificial lamb of the Jewish system represented Jesus, the innocent Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the guilty world. He abolishes even the record of our sins through His sacrifice and grants the repentant sinner eternal life in Him and through Him. The blood shed by the lamb represents the blood of Christ that would be shed. Paul writes, “without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22).
The Bible teaches salvation through Christ from the time of the Fall to the time of the Second Coming of Christ. The blood of the lamb—the first sacrificial animal—saved Adam and Eve. When sin stripped the holy pair of their robes of righteousness and left them naked, God Himself covered their nakedness with animal skins (Genesis 3), symbolizing the righteousness that is available to all through Christ.
The animal that gave its life represented the Lamb of God that would be slain for them. Since God Himself clothed them with these pelts, representing the promise of righteousness restored, he must have explained to them this way to salvation—the Messiah who would come to pay the price for sin so that they could regain eternal life.
The difference between relying on one’s own merits for salvation and relying on the merits of the Messiah who was to come was demonstrated in the lives of Adam and Eve’s sons, Cain and Abel.
Cain brought to God an offering only of farm produce, the fruit of his own labor. His offering did not receive the approval of God, because by bringing only this sacrifice Cain showed that he relied only on his own merits rather than the blood of the Lamb for salvation. However, “without shedding of blood is no remission.” Salvation lies outside oneself in Christ.
Abel’s offering, on the other hand, included the blood offering (Genesis 4:4). His sacrifice was accepted because it pointed to the coming Redeemer. Abel thus understood that salvation was only to be obtained through faith in the blood of the Lamb. His testimony stands to this day.
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh (Hebrews 11:4).
To read further about God’s grace through the ages, see the next article. It tells the story of Abraham, a man of faith who followed God’s law and saw God’s grace in a very real way.
Abraham: An Example of Grace
Abraham, like all the patriarchs, offered the sacrificial lamb. Throughout all history, the only means of salvation has been through sacrificial bloodshed—never through what humans can achieve.
Abraham was instructed by God to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on an altar (Genesis 22). It was an enactment of the plan of salvation, God showing the world His method of dealing with sin. As Abraham was about to kill his beloved son, God supplied the sacrificial animal Himself.
This predicted in type* that God would give His own Son as a sacrifice. [*type: A person, thing or event that shadows a later, often more important, antitype of fulfillment]
Abraham’s willingness to obey God displays a faith that could move mountains. He knew God had promised that salvation would come through His and Isaac’s seed (Genesis 21:12). Abraham knew that even if he should offer Isaac, God would have to raise him from the dead to fulfill His promise (Hebrews 11:17-19). Abraham knew that God would never lie. In Genesis 22:5, Abraham says to his companions, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you” (NKJV).
Do we have that kind of unshakeable faith in the Word of God? No wonder the Bible says in Galatians 3:8 that the Gospel was preached unto Abraham. No wonder Christ referred to Abraham’s faith when He said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day [by faith he saw the day of Christ’s sacrifice as the Lamb of God], and he saw it and was glad” (John 8:56).
Abraham was saved by faith in the Son of God, but this did not free him of the obligation to keep God’s law:
Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws (Genesis 26:5).
It was on Mount Moriah that Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his beloved son. It was on Mount Moriah that Solomon built the temple and where the altar of burnt offerings stood. And it was at the northern edge of Mount Moriah, at the place called Golgotha, where the Son of God laid down His life.
For further study: Read or listen to Pastor Ivor Myers beautiful explanation of justification, sanctification, and glorification using the analogy of water, rivers to be specific. You will surly be blessed. Click here: https://theplainword.com/the-flow-of-the-gospel-justification-sanctification-and-glorification-by-pastor-ivor-myers/