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SALVATION IS NOT A CONVERSION EXPERIENCE

It is not a one time event, but a lifetime of preparing to be like Christ.

The Four Parts to Salvation:

Part 1) Election

God has always planned to save me.

"Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes."
EPHESIANS 1:4 (NLT)

This is where it all starts, because the wages of sin is death. This is an absolute law. He is the Master, the Creator, and the Ruler of the universe. Everyone is a sinner and no one can avoid sinning against God, being an enemy of God. Really I deserve nothing more from God then his wrath. Yet he has made a sovereign choice to save me and provide a path to holiness. All because he caused me to have faith in Jesus Christ.

"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God."
EPHESIANS 2:8 (NLT)

Faith is a gift from God. He did not HAVE TO give this gift to me. If I did not receive this ability to have faith in Him I would not be eligible for Salvation. A very humbling notion.

 

Part 2) Justification

God converts me through faith in Jesus. Because Jesus was the sacrifice for our sins I am free from eternal condemnation. Jesus's sacrifice makes me right in God's eyes. I am saved from the punishment for my sins by God's grace.

"Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us."
ROMANS 5:1 (NLT)

"By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus.

And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise."
ROMANS 5:1-2 (The Message)

 

Part 3) Sanctification

God changes me into the image of Christ. Through the Holy Spirit constantly working within me, HE makes me holy (sanctifies me) setting me and my life apart for His divine purpose.

Jesus prayed:

"Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy.

I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.

I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.

They do not belong to this world any more than I do.

Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.

And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth."
JOHN 17:13-19 (NLT)

Even though I am saved by God's grace, my sin-lead nature will continue to fight against the new Spirit-lead nature. This spiritual battle is the process of sanctification within me. This life-long process helps me to prevent sin and produce spiritual growth.

I am not trying to be sinless to earn favour with God, remember, I am already justified by my faith in Jesus Christ. This process for my benefit as it brings God's blessing's into my life.

 

Part 4) Glorification

When he appears we will be like him for we will see him as he is.

"And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory."
Romans 8:30 (NLT)

Also:

"It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.

For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies."
1 Corinthians 15:52-53

This is the goal. The gold medal prize. After I die an earthly death and the Lord returns, I will be reborn into a new body with out my sin-nature. I will be in the actual physical presence of God; Holy, whole and pure for eternity.

"When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!"

'When We All Get To Heaven'
Words by: Eliza E. Hewitt

 

Closing Thoughts

It is God and God alone that makes this all possible.

I need to focus daily on doing my part in the salvation process. God gives me the opportunities, I need to have faith and work along with Him daily as He remakes me more in Christ's image.

 

Sources:

http://blog.harvestbiblefellowship.org/?p=3775

http://www.gospeloutreach.net/unconditional_election.html

http://www.allaboutfollowingjesus.org/sanctification.htm

http://www.gospeloutreach.net/glorification.html