Salvation begins with the judicial act of Justification, proceeds through the life  long process of Sanctification, and is completed when we meet Christ in an act of  glorification. 

(1) Salvation From the Penalty of Sin – Justification 

The first stage of salvation is called Justification, salvation from the penalty of sin.  Justification is an instantaneous, past act of God by which one is saved from the  guilt and penalty of sin – his record is cleared and he is guiltless before the Judge.  (Romans 8:1) 

The Blessings of Salvation 

Justification – has been saved – from the guilt of sin (Ephesians 2:8) Sanctification – is been saved – from the power of sin (1 Corinthians 1:18) Glorification – will be saved – from the presence of sin (Acts 15:11)

The heart cry of the Reformation was “Justification by faith alone.” This formula  was strongly opposed by the Roman Catholic counter reformation that insisted on  “Justification by faith and work.” 

The term justification means “a declaring just” 

Psalm 32:1 “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is  covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in  whose spirit there is no deceit.” Psalm of David 

2 Corinthians 5:19 “In Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself not  counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of  reconciliation.” 

Charles Hodge indicated that sin has predisposed humanity against any move  toward God and His wonderous salvation. Hence, every man should bow down  before God under the humiliating consciousness that he is a member of an  apostate race, the son of a rebellious parents; born estranged from God and  exposed to His displeasure.” 

John Calvin, the need for justification follows from the spiritual reality of total  depravity, and this justification is judicial, or forensic in nature. 

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not  your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may  boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,  which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” 

1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing,  but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”  

(2) Sanctification – Salvation from the Power of Sin 

The process by which God gets sin out of us. The second stage of salvation is  called sanctification, salvation from the power of sin. Unlike justification,  sanctification is not an act of God declaring us righteous; rather, it is a continual  process in the present by which God is making us righteous. 

*Justification is the act by which God gets us out of sin (legally). *Sanctification is the process by which God gets sin out of us – actually.

There are three areas of Victory over the power of sin: 

1. a) Victory over the world (1 John 5:4) 

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the  victory that has overcome the world – our faith.5 Who is it that overcomes the  world except the one who believe that Jesus is the Son of God?” 

1. b) Victory over the flesh (Romans 7:24-25) 

“Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks  be to God through Jesus Christ our LORD! So then, I myself serve the law of God  with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.” 

1. c) Victory over the devil (James 4:7) 

“Submit yourself therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8  Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” 

Three steps to Sanctification 

The path to sanctification is set forth in Romans 6: 

1. Romans 6:6 Knowing we are dead to sin through Christ. 
2. Romans 6:11 Reckoning this to be a fact; and 
3. Romans 6:13 Yielding ourselves to God’s righteous demands. 

Thus, purification and sanctification does not follow automatically from  Justification. It involves co-operation on our part; we must yield to God’s  sanctifying grace. This is the only part of the plan of Salvation that we need to  participate. 

(3) Glorification – Salvation from the Presence of Sin (future act) 

The third stage of salvation is called glorification. Unlike Justification which saved  us from the past penalty of sin, and sanctification which is saving us from the  present power of sin, glorification is the future act that will save us from the very  presence of sin. 

A few primary passages make the point: 

Romans 8:18-23 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing  with “the glory that will be revealed in us”. The creation waits in eager 

expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected  to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it,  in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and  brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the  whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the  present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the  Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption  of our bodies.” (Romans 8: 18-23) 

Apostle John’s vision of our future salvation includes this glorious description: 

I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were  passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new  Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned  for her husband. And I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, the  tabernacle of God is with man, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His  people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall  wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither  sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things  are passed away… 

And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed  me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,  having the glory of God; and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even  like a jasper stone, clear as crystal… And the building of the wall of it was jasper;  and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall  of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones …And the twelve  gates were twelve pearls; every several gates was of one pearl; and the street of  the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein;  for the LORD God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. Revelations 21:1-4,  10-11, 18-19, 21-22 KJV) 

Acts 15:11 “We believe that we will be saved through the grace of the LORD  Jesus, just as they will (Gentiles).” 

The Bible is a soteriological book that begins in eternity with our Triune God’s acts  of foreknowledge, predestination, and election. Even before we are saved God is  at work in prevenient grace and conviction. When by faith one receives the 

initial act of salvation (justification), at that very instant he/she is sealed by the  Holy Spirit, baptized into the body of Christ, redeemed, regenerated, born again,  adopted into God’s family, reconciled to God and forgiven of sin based on the  mediation and atonement of the blood of Christ. All of these saving acts are  made possible only because of the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on behalf  of our sins, whereby the Just died for the unjust in order that God’s justice may be  satisfied and His mercy justify the unjust. 

Salvation does not end with a single act of justification, this is only the first stage,  by which one is saved from the penalty of sin. Salvation also involves a lifelong  process of sanctification by which we are saved from the power of sin. At death,  our redemption climaxes with an act of glorification that saves us from the very presence of sin. At this point we will see God face-to-face and become like Him,  then we shall see Him as He is!! 

Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to the LORD our God.”

These pre-salvation acts of God are important for our understanding of the salvific  process; but since they are plan of God or acts of God, we may not understand  everything about them. Therefore in our study, dogmatic (opinionated) and  emphatic (vehement) points of view are not called for or helpful. 

(1) Election. This word election or elect occurs 14 times in the New Testament.  An elect person is a chosen one. Election of a believer is the decision of  God from all eternity whereby He chose those who would be saved. 

1 Peter 1:2 Peter said that the elect are those “who have been chosen according  to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” 

2 Timothy 2:10 Paul said: “Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect,  that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” 

(2) Chosen (or chose) Soteriologically, a chosen one is a person elected to  salvation by God. 

Ephesians 1:11 “In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according  to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his  will.”

We can see the overlapping meaning of “Election” and “chosen”. It is the work of  God, not men’s. 

(3) Predestined. Just as God predetermined from all eternity that Christ would  die for our sins (Acts 2:23), He also predestined who would be saved. As  Paul says “Those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the  likeness of His Son.” (Romans 8:29) 

Ephesians 1:4-5 “He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy  and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons  through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will.” 

(4) Foreknowledge. Being omniscient, God also eternally foreknew those who  would be saved: “Those God foreknew He also predestined.” (Romans 8:29)  Indeed, they were “elect according to the foreknowledge of God.” (1 Peter  1:2 KJV). Since His foreknowledge is infallible, whatever God foreknows will  indeed come to pass. Hence, His foreknowledge of who would be saved  assure that they will be. 

(5) Calling. God’s calling of persons to salvation is found in many passages.  Paul summarizes the place of calling in salvation in Romans 8:28-30:  28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for  good, for those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom  He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son,  in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those  whom He predestined he also called and those whom He called He also  justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified. 

(6) Conviction. So far, we touched upon acts that are eternal in salvation by  God. Conviction is God’s act in convincing sinners of his sin (Genesis 6:3;  John 8:9). In John 16:8 Jesus promised “When the Holy Spirit come, he will  convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness and judgment. The act  of convicting, then, is that by which God persuade a person that he is a  sinner and thus, is in need of the Savior. 

(7) Prevenient Grace. Prevenient means “before”, and prevenient grace refers  to God’s unmerited work in the human heart prior to salvation, which  direct people to this end through Christ. Paul speaks of it in Titus 2:11  “The grace of God that bring salvation has appeared to all men.” He adds in 

2 Corinthians 8:9 “You know the grace of our LORD Jesus Christ, that  though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through  His poverty might become rich.” 

This grace is also seen in the fact that “the goodness of God leads you to  repentance.” (Romans 2:4) Thus, prevenient grace is God’s grace exerted  on our behalf even before He bestows salvation on us. God’s grace is  unfathomable and incomprehensible. 

(8) Effectual Grace. God’s grace is not only prevenient (before salvation) but it  is also efficacious or effectual in producing salvation in the elect. That is, it  accomplishes in the lives of believers the salvation God has foredetermined  for them and by which He accomplishes what He has ordained. Isaiah 55:11 “So is My word that goes out from My mouth. It will not  return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the  purpose for which I sent it.” 

(9) Sealing. Paul speaks of being sealed with the Holy spirit as a salvific act that  guarantees our ultimate salvation. He told the Ephesians that the Holy  Spirit’s presence in their life “is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until  the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of His  glory.” (Ephesians 1:14) Later he added: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of  God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians  4:30). This seal of the Holy Spirit comes at the moment of Justification (Romans 8:9) and is the guarantee of our ultimate glorification. 

(10) Redemption. A broad term, often used as the equivalent of  Salvation. Several Greek words are translated redemption: “to redeem”,  “to ransom” or “to deliver” or “to buy back”. Its spiritual application  pictures sinners being redeemed (purchased) from the market place of sin.  Revelation 14:3-4 

“They sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its  seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men  from God from every tribe and language and people and nations.” (11) Regeneration means “rebirth” or “spiritual renovation”.  

Titus 3:5 “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but  according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of  the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our 

Savior, 7 so that being justified by the grace we might become heirs according  to the hope of eternal life.” 

Regeneration is the impartation of spiritual life by God to the souls of those  who were “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1) and who were “saved”  made alive by God “through faith” in Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8) 

The source of regeneration is God, the result of regeneration is sonship, the  means of regeneration is the Holy Spirit, and the duration of regeneration is  eternal. 

John 1:12-13 “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He  gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural  descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” 

(12) Born Again. Being born again or born from above is parallel to  regeneration. Rebirth is the point at which a person “dead in trespasses  and sins” (Ephesians 2:1) receives spiritual life. Jesus said “Flesh gives birth  to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit, you should not be surprised at  my saying “You must be born again.” (John 3:6-7) 

(13) Adoption means “placing as a son”, it signifies, literally “a legal child”  (Exodus 2:10) and is used five times in the New Testament. Theologically,  “adoption” refers to the act of God that places a person as a son in God’s  family (Galatians 4:5). Adoption is a term of position whereby one  becomes a son by the new birth (John 1:12-13), is redeemed from the  bondage of the law (Galatians 4:1-5), and, although only a child is by  adoption made an adult son, which is fully manifested at the resurrection of  the body. (Romans 8:23) 

(14) Reconciliation means “to reconcile” or “to bring together”.  Hebrews 2:17 KJV “In all things it behooved him to be made like unto his  brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things  pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 “All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself  through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was  reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sin against  them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are 

therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal  through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be Reconciled to God.” (15) Forgiveness means “to forgive” or “to remit one’s sins”. Hebrews 9:22 God cannot forgive without atonement, for “the law requires  that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of  blood there is no forgiveness.” 

Forgiveness does not erase the sin; history cannot be changed. But  forgiveness does erase the “record of the sin”. Like a pardon, the crime of  the accused is not expunged from history but it deleted from his account or  record. Hence, it is “in Christ Jesus that we have redemption through His  blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s  grace.” (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14) 

The Plan of Salvation is God’s plan – not man’s – it is God’s. The Biblical basis for  the nature of salvation is substitutionary atonement – all done by God. Human  being contributes nothing to the plan of salvation. We need to humbly accept  God’s plan of salvation with thanksgiving to our all loving, merciful and  omnipotent, omniscience and omnipresent God. 

God uses vastly different circumstances and experiences to bring people to  Himself. As Charles H. Spurgeon said, “God’s Holy Spirit calls men to Jesus in  diverse ways. Some are drawn so gently that they scarcely know when the  drawing began, and others are so suddenly affected that their conversion stand  out with noonday clearance.” The best evidence of true salvation is not having  raised a hand or prayed a prayer, or having been baptized or christened. Instead, the true test of an authentic work of God in one’s life is sanctification as God  continues the moral transformation He began in regeneration. This  transformation will continue until the redeemed person is resurrected and made  completely holy in heaven – glorification (Romans 8:28-30). 

God’s sanctifying work is seen in growing Christlike character, increasing love for  God and people, and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25). The proof that a  person has been made a new creation in Christ is the ongoing work of the Holy  Spirit in making one more and more like Jesus Christ! 

While a Christian should never be satisfied with his current state of holiness, he  should be confident that through God’s sovereign, sanctifying grace he will one 

day have totally won the victory over sin once and for all. This will be the  moment of entering by death into a holy life in which our sinful heart is finally  purified. Meanwhile living with this precious hope as we battle sin daily is true  “Christlike Perseverance”, which is itself a sign that one has been born again. (1  Corinthians 1:8-9; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 1 Peter 1:4-5; 1  John 2:19) 

The Plan of Salvation is God’s Plan – not man’s. 

When we come to the seven facts of Salvation with an open mind, humility,  thanksgiving, and a receptive heart, then God may bring Salvation to our soul. 

(1) It is a fact that God loves you 

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that  whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God  did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that  the world might be saved through Him.” 

We often forget that this statement was made by the Son of God, Jesus  Christ Himself! 

(2) It is a fact that you are a sinner 

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and  are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ  Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be  received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness because in His  divine forbearance He had passed over former sins.” 

(3) It is a fact that you are now dead in sin 

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is  eternal life in Christ Jesus our LORD.” 

(4) It is a fact that Christ died for you 

Romans 5:6-8 “For while we were still weak, at the right time, Christ died  for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person – though  perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die -8 but God shows  

His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (5) It is a fact that you can be saved by faith in the LORD Jesus Christ

Acts 16:30 “Then he (the Philippian Jailer) brought them (Paul and Silas) out  and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they (Paul and Silas)  said, “Believe in the LORD Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your  household.” 32 And they (Paul and Silas) spoke the word of the LORD to him  (the Jailer) and to all who were in his house. 33 And he (the Jailer) took them  (Paul and Silas) the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and  he (the Jailer) was baptized at once, he and all his family.” 

(6) It is a fact that you can be saved and know it 

1 John 5:10-13 “Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in  himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he  has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning His Son. 11  And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His  Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of  God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the  name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14  And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything  according to His will He hears us.” 

(7) It is a fact that you are now a child of God and you are to obey Him Acts 5:29 “But Peter and the apostles answered (the high priest), “We must  obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom  you killed by hanging Him on a tree. 31 God exalted Him at His right hand as  Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32  And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God  has given to those who obey Him.” 

May God grant us an open mind, humility, and a receptive heart to thank God for  the salvation and to thank God and receive the salvation that is bestowed upon  us! 

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the Power of God for  salvation to everyone who believe. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is  revealed from faith for faith.” 

In discussing predestination vs free will, many people argue so strongly prefer one  side that they virtually reject the possibility of the other’s having even a hint of 

truth. Those who strongly emphasizing the sovereignty of God in predestination  who will be saved sometime take a position that resembles fatalism. (there is  nothing we can do about) Those who emphasize the free will of humanity come  close to denying the sovereignty of God. That is why right from the beginning we  emphasize a balanced view, dogmatic, opinionated, emphatic and vehement  points of view not encouraged. However, if the terms are properly understood  biblically, the discussion should not be predestination vs free will, but rather  predestination working together with God-given free will. 

Romans 8:29-30 and Ephesians 1:5-11 explicitly teach that God predestines some  to salvation. God predestining who will be saved is based on His sovereignty,  unchanging character (Malachi 3:6), foreknowledge (Romans 8:29; 11:2), love  (Ephesians 1:4-5) and plan and pleasure (Ephesians 1:5). God’s desire is that all  would be saved and come to repentance (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). He offers  salvation to everyone (Titus 2:11), yet we know that not everyone will be saved. 

How this all works together is beyond our understanding with our finite mind,  therefore debating the unknowable is not very fruitful. But predestination itself  is absolutely a biblical teaching. Numerous other New Testament passages also  refer to believers’ being chosen or elected to salvation. (Matthew 24:22; Mark  13:20; Romans 8:33; 11:5-7, 28; Ephesians 1:11; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians  1:4; 1 Timothy 5:21; 2 Timothy 2:10; 1 Peter 1:1-2; 2:9; 2 Peter 1:10) 

Yet, the Bible also teaches that people are accountable for what they choose  (Joshua 24:14-15; Luke 10:42; Hebrews 11:24-25). How does that work with “free  will”? One difficulty in the discussion of predestination vs free will is the common  understanding in USA of free will being the absolute freedom to do anything we  choose. This is not how the Bible presents free will, nor does the Biblical free will  has no limitation. Our freedom is always limited by our circumstances,  surrounding and nature. E.g. we are limited in our “freedom” to fly because not,  by nature, birds; and we are subject to physical laws such as gravity and  aerodynamics. The Bible teaches that without Christ we are “dead in our  trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). If we are spiritually dead, surely that  impacts our decision-making. John 6:44 says that, unless God draws us, no one  can come to Christ for salvation. If the decision whether to trust in Christ is  impossible without God’s “interference”, our will is not totally and absolutely 

“free”. Yet God offers salvation everyone (Titus 2:11) and has made Himself plain  to everyone so that everyone is without excuse (Romans 1:19-20). 

We have a free will in the sense that we are capable of making moral choices.  Our decision-making is impacted by numerous factors: 

– Our sin nature 

– Our upbringing 

– Our intellect 

– Our training and education 

– Our biology 

– Our psychology 

So, the “free will” of human beings is not absolute, limitless, as popularly defined  in this country. We can make decision. Biblically speaking, we have the  responsibility to respond to what God has revealed to us, including His call and  command to read and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (John 1:12; 3:16; Acts  16:31; Romans 10:9-10; Revelation 22:17). But again, our will is not “absolutely  free” because we have constraints that shape our decisions. 

Conclusion: 

Predestination is an explicitly biblical doctrine. God is indeed sovereign over  everything, including who is saved. Concurrently, we are genuinely responsible  for our decision related to salvation. These are not mutually exclusive or  irreconcilable truths. In the Bible, God repeatedly calls on us to exercise our will  and trust in Christ for salvation, and we should pursue obediently to these  commands regardless of how well we do or don’t understand predestination. 

While there are numerous ideas of precisely what election mean in regard to  salvation, the fact that believers are elected is indisputable. (Romans 8:29-30;  Ephesians 1:4-5; 1 Thessalonians 1:4). Simply put, the doctrine of election is that  God chooses/determines/elects/predestines who will be saved. How this work is  beyond our comprehension. The question is “How can I know if I am one of the  elect or chosen? The answer is exceedingly simple: Believe!

No where in the Bible instructs us to be concerned regarding our status of elect vs  non-elect. Rather, God calls us to believe the sacrificial atonement death of our  LORD Jesus Christ and to receive Him as Savior, by grace through faith in Him.  (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9) If a person truly trusts in Jesus alone for salvation,  that person is one of the elect. Whether belief secures election, or election  causes belief is up to God. But what is sure is that belief is evidence of election.  No one can receive Jesus as Savior and LORD until God the Father draws him. (John 6:44) “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.  And I will raise him up on the last day.” God calls/draws those whom He has  predestined/elected (Romans 8:29-30). Saving faith is not possible without divine  election. Therefore, saving faith is evidence of Election. 

The idea of a person wanting to be saved but being unable – due to not being one of the elect, is absolutely foreign to the Bible. No one can seek after God’s plan of  salvation on his own accord (Romans 3:10-18). Those without Christ are blind to  their need for salvation (2 Corinthians 4:4). This, only changes when God begins  drawing a person to Himself. It is God who opens eyes and enlightens minds to  the need for Jesus Christ as Savior. A person cannot repent – change the mind  about sin and the need for salvation – unless God grants repentance as a gift.  (Acts 11:18) 

Therefore, if you understand God’s plan of salvation, then believe, and you are  saved. Repentance is so important that God commands that “all, everyone  should repent” (Acts 17:30). Because God has fixed a day in which He will judge  the world in righteousness through a Man (Jesus Christ) whom He has appointed  having furnished proof to all man by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17:31).  Repentance is a changing of the mind, the heart, and the will. The proof of  repentance is (1) turning away from transgressions (2) turning to God (3) followed  by good deeds (Acts 26:20). 

If you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior, trusting Him alone for salvation,  believing that His sacrifice is the full payment for your sins, then you are one of  the elect, elected and saved for good work with thanksgiving and worship. 

 Congratulations: No More excuse! 

Job 19:25 “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon  the earth.”

Everyone is in need of redemption. Our natural condition was characterized by  guilt: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). Christ’s  redemption has freed us from guilt being “justified freely by His grace through the  redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:24) 

The benefits of Redemption include: 

(1) Eternal life (Revelations 5:9-10) 

(2) Forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7) 

(3) Righteousness (Romans 5:17) 

(4) Freedom from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13) 

(5) Adoption into God’s family as sons and daughters (Galatians 4:5) (6) Deliverance from sins bondage (Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:14-18) (7) Peace with God (Colossians 1:18-20) 

(8) The indwelling of and sealing by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) 

The word “redeem” means “to buy out”. The term was used specifically in  reference to the purchase of a slave’s freedom. The application of this term to  Christ’s death on the cross is quite telling. If we were “redeemed”, then our prior  condition was one of slavery. God has purchased our freedom, and we are no  longer in bondage to sin or to the Old Testament law. This metaphorical use of  “redemption” is the teaching of Galatians 3:13 and 4:5. 

Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse  for us, for it is written “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”. 

Related to Christian concept of redemption is the word “ransom”. Jesus paid the  price for our release from sin and its punishment (Matthew 20:28). His death was  in exchange for our life. In fact, Scripture is quite clear that redemption is only  possible “through the blood of Christ” this is, by His death (Colossians 1:14) 

The street of heavens will be filled with former captives who through no merit of  their own, find themselves redeemed, forgiven, and free. Slaves to sin have  become saints of God. No wonder we will sing a new song – a song of praise to  the Redeemer who was slain (Revelations 5:9). We were slaves to sins,  condemned to eternal separation from God. Jesus paid the price to redeem us,  to purchase us, resulting in our freedom from slavery to sin and our rescue from  the eternal consequences of that sin.