Jennifer Rothnie Supporter Housewife, Artist, Perpetually Curious

Salvation is, in essence, deliverance. We are delivered from sin and death, we are delivered unto righteousness and eternal life.

It was God who planned this salvation, and God who entirely accomplished this salvation through Christ. It is God who revealed this salvation to man through Christ, offered salvation through faith in Christ, and God who fulfills all the promises this salvation brings.

What then, of man? We can do no work to earn salvation, nor would we have recognized our need without God revealing it to us, nor do we even in part save ourselves.

Yet God has set one gracious condition for man to be granted salvation: have faith! This is no action or dead work of man, but our belief in response to the gospel. It is our acknowledgement of our sin, our belief that Jesus has come as Messiah to save us, our dying with Christ to self and rising with Christ to put on His righteousness.

God set the plan of salvation up in such a way that we must do 'the work that God requires' and believe in Jesus Christ. (John 6:28-29) Only those who believe in Jesus will receive eternal life. (John 1:12, John 3:16)

If one viewed salvation as a stage play, then we humans play the part of the people needing rescue (fallen humanity). As individuals of faith we play the part of recognizing the need for rescue (acknowledging our sin, needing help, crying out to God), and accepting rescue (faith) rather than rejecting it. 

The one playing the part of 'accomplishing' salvation would be Christ. The one playing the part of creating the plan for salvation would be God. The one playing the part of sending Christ to die for us would be God the Father. The one giving grace and offering pardon would be God. God would be the one offering reconciliation through Christ. The Holy Spirit would play the part of the 'downpayment' of God's promises that He gives to those with faith to show He will grant them an inheritance of eternal life in future. The Holy Spirit also would play the seal, guaranteeing that God will fulfill the terms of the covenant, and legally guarding the covenant contract from any outside interference. 

As for the sequence:

1) God creates the plan of salvation through Christ
2) God creates man
3) Man rebels
4) God promises man a redeemer
5) Some men have faith the redeemer will come
6) The redeemer is revealed (Christ)
7) Christ dies and rises again, offering forgiveness, redemption, and reconciliation by His blood
8) The gospel of Christ spreads
9) Some respond to the gospel in faith
10) God gives believers the Holy Spirit
11) Christ returns at the Second coming
12) Believers are resurrected with spiritual bodies and given eternal life as God's adopted sons


See also:

https://ebible.com/questions/3273-how-are-predestination-and-election-connected-with-foreknowledge

https://ebible.com/questions/12111-what-is-predestined-referring-to-in-ephesians-1#answer-19101

https://ebible.com/questions/15669-what-does-it-mean-that-it-is-by-grace-we-have-been-saved-through-faith-and-that-this-is-not-of-ourselves-but-is-the-gift-of-god#answer-24715

https://ebible.com/questions/3317-how-does-god-s-sovereignty-work-together-with-free-will#answer-17091

https://ebible.com/answers/22568 [Is human will capable of choosing or rejecting Jesus]

https://ebible.com/questions/6750-how-do-christians-make-their-calling-and-election-certain-2-peter-1-10

https://ebible.com/questions/265-what-is-predestination-is-predestination-biblical#answer-15328

https://ebible.com/questions/7882-is-salvation-created-by-faith-or-is-faith-created-by-salvation#answer-14614

https://ebible.com/questions/72-does-rom-9-mean-god-predestined-some-to-heaven-while-created-others-with-no-chance-of-escaping-hell#answer-20797

https://ebible.com/questions/678-what-does-it-mean-that-jesus-is-the-author-and-perfecter-of-our-faith#answer-20250

https://ebible.com/questions/1528-is-unconditional-election-biblical#answer-17856

March 26 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

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