The Doctrine of Salvation
I. The Nature of Salvation
Salvation is the complete work of God by which He delivers sinners from sin and restores them to fellowship with Himself.
Justification is God’s act as Judge by which He declares the believing sinner righteous. Regeneration and adoption are God’s acts as Father by which He gives new life and brings the believer into His family. Sanctification is God’s ongoing work as the Holy One by which He makes the believer holy in life and conduct.
Salvation is both outward and inward. Outwardly, it changes a person’s legal standing before God. Inwardly, it transforms the heart, nature, and desires.
Salvation is entirely by grace and is received through faith in Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith together express the human response to God’s saving work.
Conversion is the conscious turning from sin to God through repentance and faith.
II. Justification
Justification is a divine act in which God declares the sinner righteous based on Christ’s righteousness.
Justification is necessary because all people are guilty before God and stand under His condemnation.
The source of justification is God’s grace, and the ground of justification is the finished work of Jesus Christ.
The means of justification is faith, which receives God’s gift of righteousness.
III. Regeneration
Regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit by which spiritual life is given to the believer.
Regeneration is described as a new birth, a cleansing from sin, a quickening of spiritual life, a new creation, and a resurrection from spiritual death.
Regeneration is necessary because humanity is spiritually dead and unable to please God apart from divine intervention.
The Holy Spirit accomplishes regeneration through the Word of God.
Regeneration produces clear effects. The believer receives a new position before God, new spiritual desires, and a transformed manner of life.
IV. Sanctification
Sanctification is the work of God by which the believer is set apart from sin and devoted to God.
Sanctification involves separation from sin, dedication to God, purification of life, consecration for holy use, and faithful service.
Sanctification is both positional and practical. Positionally, the believer is sanctified at salvation. Practically, sanctification is progressive throughout the Christian life.
God sanctifies believers through the blood of Christ, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God.
False views of sanctification include eradication of the sin nature, legalism, and asceticism.
The true method of sanctification is a life of faith and obedience empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Entire sanctification refers to full devotion and maturity in Christ, not sinless perfection.
V. The Security of Salvation
The security of salvation concerns the believer’s assurance of eternal life.
Calvinism emphasizes God’s power to preserve the believer. Arminianism emphasizes the believer’s responsibility to continue in faith.
Scripture teaches a balanced view in which God faithfully keeps His people, and true believers persevere in faith and obedience
