The Biblical Order of Salvation
1.ELECTION 2.THE CALL 3.REGENERATION 4.CONVERSION
5.JUSTIFICATION 6.ADOPTION 7.SANCTIFICATION
8.PERSEVERANCE 9.DEATH 10.GLORIFICATION
We continue with the next step in the biblical order of salvation - The Call.
There are two kinds of calls that come from God:
1. General call or outward call, is the call proclaiming the message of the Gospel to all
mankind. It may bring a certain intellectual knowledge of the truth and cause a person to
curb his tendencies to sin, but will not lead him to unite with Christ in salvation.
He may make an outward profession of faith, join a church body, and may even be
baptized, but will lack a saving faith that comes only from God.
Through this general call, God reveals Himself in His own creation, and all people
are without excuse, and should honor and glorify God. They refuse to acknowledge God as their
Creator, and thank Him for all they have, and instead worship idols of their own making.
"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and
wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known
about God is plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities -
his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what
has been made, so that men are without excuse" (Romans 1:18-20).
"But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will
be wrath and anger" (Romans 2:8).
God will judge and condemn anyone who does not turn from his evil ways and trust in
Jesus Christ for salvation.
**********************************
2. Effectual call or inward call, is the call of the Holy Spirit, which is an act of God the
Father speaking through the human proclamation of the gospel, in which he summons people
to Himself in such a way that they irresistibly respond in saving faith.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who
have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to
be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.
And those He predestined, he also called; those He called, He also justified; those He
justified, He also glorified" (Romans 8:28-30).
When God "foreknows" someone, it means He chooses to enter into a deep, personal
relationship with that person. God predestines; God calls; God justifies; and God glorifies.
God is active and accomplishes all these things.
John Samson, pastor and author, wrote, "'Foreknew' does not mean a passive gathering of
infallible knowledge (by God) of the future actions of free creatures, but it reveals that from start to
finish, salvation is a divine accomplishment. It is God and God alone who saves, to the
praise of His glory alone."
*********************************
The London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689) has this to say about predestination:
"Those of mankind who are predestinated to life, God chose before the foundation of the
world was laid, in accordance with His eternal and immutable purpose and the secret
counsel and good pleasure of His will. God chose them in Christ for everlasting glory,
solely out of His gree grace and love, without anything in the creature as a condition or
cause moving Him to choose."
"The doctrine of this mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence
and care, in order that men who are heeding the will of God revelaed in His word, and
who are yielding obedience to it may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be
assured of their eternal election."
************************************
An example of the effectual call of God is found in the second chapter of Acts.
Peter was proclaiming the gospel to a crowd of Jews and Gentiles in Jerusalem.
"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you
by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you
yourselves know."
"This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you
put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the agony of
death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him."
"God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact."
"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified,
both Lord and Christ. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to
Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'"
"Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for
the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise
is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God
will call.'"
"Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to
their number that day" (Acts 2:22-24, 32, 36-39, &41).
God's effectual call was sent through the proclamation of the gospel, and all who
repented and trusted in Jesus Christ were saved.
********************************
John 6:44 is further proof that God is sovereign in calling us to a saving faith in Him.
(Jesus said), "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I
will raise him up at the last day."
God enables only those He draws to Himself to come to Jesus, and all those He draws,
Jesus will raise up at the last day. All others are unable to come to Jesus because they do
not belong to God (they belong to the Devil) and are unable to hear Him (Jesus said," He
who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not
belong to God" John 8:47).
*********************************
Concerning the "effectual call" of God to His people, the London Baptist Confession
of Faith states this:
"Those whom God hath predestined unto life, He is pleased in His appointed, and
accepted time, effectually to call, by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death
in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ; enlightening their
minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God; taking away their heart of
stone, and giving them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by His almighty power
determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ;
yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace."
"This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all
forseen in man, nor from any power or agency in the creature, being wholly passive
therein, being dead in sins and trespasses, until being quickened and renewed by the
Holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered
and conveyed in it, and that by no less power than that which raised up Christ from the dead."
Sources: The Bible, John Samson, Mark Kielar, and London Baptist Confession
of Faith (1689).
********************************
Next time - Regeneration (The New Birth).
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Biblical Order Of Salvation - Election
Previously, we looked at a general outline of the biblical order of salvation.
Now, we'll go a little deeper into each step, beginning with God's "Election."
ELECTION
Election is the act of God, before creation, in which He chooses some people
to be saved, not on account of any unforeseen merit in them, but only because of His
sovereign good pleasure.
Election is found throughout the New Testament, and one verse that illustrates
the doctrine is 2 Thessalonians 2:13, as Paul is writing to the church at Thessalonica.
"But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because
from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of
the Spirit and through belief in the truth."
The trinity is in view in this passage as the Lord Jesus Christ loved His people,
and the Father chose them to be saved, through the sanctifying work of the Holy
Spirit and belief in the truth.
For many Christians, the Doctrine of Election is largely ignored and/or mis-
understood. The idea that God chooses some, but not all for salvation, is abhorrent
to them.
However, God's Election is never arbitrary or capricious, but always according
to His good pleasure and in conformity with the purpose of His will.
Some believe this doctrine teaches that God forces a
person to believe in Him, even if that person doesn't wish to do so. That's a
misunderstanding of election.
Charles Spurgeon, known as the "Prince of Preachers," wrote this about God's
Election: "A man is not saved against his will, but he is made willing by the operation
of the Holy Spirit. A mighty grace which he does not wish to resist, enters into the
man, disarms him, makes a new creature of him, and he is saved." This is the new birth
or regeneration, which we'll address in step three.
In his letter to the believers in Ephesus, Paul taught the doctrine to the saints.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ
with every spritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before
the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him."
"In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the
purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in
the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our
trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom
and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which
He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in
heaven and things on earth."
"In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose
of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, so that we who were the
first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also, when you heard
the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
who is the guarantee of out inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of
His glory" (Ephesians 1:3-14).
God's chosen people belonged to Him from the beginning. John MacArthur said, "The
words of Jesus, 'They were yours,' in John 17:6, asserts that even before conversion, the elect
were God's possession, because of His election."
God the Father gives them to Jesus, He accepts them as a love gift from the Father, they
come to Him, and He will never drive them away.
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive
away" (John 6:37).
It is the Father's will that Jesus lose none of them, but to raise them to eternal life at the last
day. "And this will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given me,
but raise them up at the last day" (John 6:39).
God has chosen, predestined, adopted, and redeemed His people, according to His
purpose and will. Furthermore, the Holy spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance, salvation,
and eternal life with God, to the praise of His glory.
***************************************
Next time we'll look at the next step in the biblical order of salvation - God's "Call."
Now, we'll go a little deeper into each step, beginning with God's "Election."
ELECTION
Election is the act of God, before creation, in which He chooses some people
to be saved, not on account of any unforeseen merit in them, but only because of His
sovereign good pleasure.
Election is found throughout the New Testament, and one verse that illustrates
the doctrine is 2 Thessalonians 2:13, as Paul is writing to the church at Thessalonica.
"But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because
from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of
the Spirit and through belief in the truth."
The trinity is in view in this passage as the Lord Jesus Christ loved His people,
and the Father chose them to be saved, through the sanctifying work of the Holy
Spirit and belief in the truth.
For many Christians, the Doctrine of Election is largely ignored and/or mis-
understood. The idea that God chooses some, but not all for salvation, is abhorrent
to them.
However, God's Election is never arbitrary or capricious, but always according
to His good pleasure and in conformity with the purpose of His will.
Some believe this doctrine teaches that God forces a
person to believe in Him, even if that person doesn't wish to do so. That's a
misunderstanding of election.
Charles Spurgeon, known as the "Prince of Preachers," wrote this about God's
Election: "A man is not saved against his will, but he is made willing by the operation
of the Holy Spirit. A mighty grace which he does not wish to resist, enters into the
man, disarms him, makes a new creature of him, and he is saved." This is the new birth
or regeneration, which we'll address in step three.
In his letter to the believers in Ephesus, Paul taught the doctrine to the saints.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ
with every spritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before
the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him."
"In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the
purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in
the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our
trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom
and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which
He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in
heaven and things on earth."
"In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose
of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, so that we who were the
first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also, when you heard
the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
who is the guarantee of out inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of
His glory" (Ephesians 1:3-14).
God's chosen people belonged to Him from the beginning. John MacArthur said, "The
words of Jesus, 'They were yours,' in John 17:6, asserts that even before conversion, the elect
were God's possession, because of His election."
God the Father gives them to Jesus, He accepts them as a love gift from the Father, they
come to Him, and He will never drive them away.
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive
away" (John 6:37).
It is the Father's will that Jesus lose none of them, but to raise them to eternal life at the last
day. "And this will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given me,
but raise them up at the last day" (John 6:39).
God has chosen, predestined, adopted, and redeemed His people, according to His
purpose and will. Furthermore, the Holy spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance, salvation,
and eternal life with God, to the praise of His glory.
***************************************
Next time we'll look at the next step in the biblical order of salvation - God's "Call."
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Biblical Order Of Salvation
Our salvation, from beginning to end, is the work of a gracious and sovereign God!
The following is a general outline of the biblical order of salvation.
1.ELECTION From the beginning 2 Thess 2:13
Before the foundation of the world Eph 2:3-14
God chose us IN HIM (Jesus)
God gives us to Jesus Jn 17:6; 6:37
Jesus ACCEPTS US as a love gift Jn 6:37,39
from the Father
2.THE CALL (Foreknown, Predestined) and Called Rom 8:28,30
God draws us to Jesus through hearing Jn 6:44
the gospel 1 Cor 15:1-2
3.REGENERATION God changes our heart of stone into Ez 36:26-27
(Born Again) a heart of flesh Jn 5:24-25
Col 2:13
4.CONVERSION God makes us willing and able to 1 Jn 5:20
understand how to know him 1 Cor 2:9-10
1 Cor 2:14
God grants us repentance and faith 2 Tim 2:25
Eph 2:8-9
Rom 2:4
We repent and believe (trust) in Jesus Acts 2:19-21
2 Cor 7:10
We receive him as Lord and Savior Jn 1:12
5.JUSTIFICATION God forgives our sins and declares us Rom 8:30
righteous because of Jesus' atonement 2 Cor 5:21
6.ADOPTION God makes us members of his family Eph 1:5
Jn 1:12-13
7.SANCTIFICATION In a process that continues throughout 1 Cor 6:11
life, God sets us apart to be more like Jn 17:17-19
Christ
8.PERSEVERANCE Through God's power and grace we 1 Pet 1:3-5
remain in him forever Jude 24-25
Phil 1:6
9.DEATH Going to be with God 2 Cor 5:6-8
10.GLORIFICATION Receiving glorified body Rom 8:30
like Christ's Phil 3:20-21
1 Cor 15:42-44
*****************************
1 Election - happened in the past (from the beginning).
2-6 The Call, Regeneration, Conversion, Justification, and
Adoption happen instantaneously.
God's choosing, calling, and regenerating us precedes
our belief in him.
7-8 Sanctification and Perseverance are ongoing processes.
9-10 Death and Glorification are guaranteed future events.
God begins our salvation and ensures that it is completed!
*************************
Next time: More in depth on the Biblical Order Of Salvation.
The following is a general outline of the biblical order of salvation.
1.ELECTION From the beginning 2 Thess 2:13
Before the foundation of the world Eph 2:3-14
God chose us IN HIM (Jesus)
God gives us to Jesus Jn 17:6; 6:37
Jesus ACCEPTS US as a love gift Jn 6:37,39
from the Father
2.THE CALL (Foreknown, Predestined) and Called Rom 8:28,30
God draws us to Jesus through hearing Jn 6:44
the gospel 1 Cor 15:1-2
3.REGENERATION God changes our heart of stone into Ez 36:26-27
(Born Again) a heart of flesh Jn 5:24-25
Col 2:13
4.CONVERSION God makes us willing and able to 1 Jn 5:20
understand how to know him 1 Cor 2:9-10
1 Cor 2:14
God grants us repentance and faith 2 Tim 2:25
Eph 2:8-9
Rom 2:4
We repent and believe (trust) in Jesus Acts 2:19-21
2 Cor 7:10
We receive him as Lord and Savior Jn 1:12
5.JUSTIFICATION God forgives our sins and declares us Rom 8:30
righteous because of Jesus' atonement 2 Cor 5:21
6.ADOPTION God makes us members of his family Eph 1:5
Jn 1:12-13
7.SANCTIFICATION In a process that continues throughout 1 Cor 6:11
life, God sets us apart to be more like Jn 17:17-19
Christ
8.PERSEVERANCE Through God's power and grace we 1 Pet 1:3-5
remain in him forever Jude 24-25
Phil 1:6
9.DEATH Going to be with God 2 Cor 5:6-8
10.GLORIFICATION Receiving glorified body Rom 8:30
like Christ's Phil 3:20-21
1 Cor 15:42-44
*****************************
1 Election - happened in the past (from the beginning).
2-6 The Call, Regeneration, Conversion, Justification, and
Adoption happen instantaneously.
God's choosing, calling, and regenerating us precedes
our belief in him.
7-8 Sanctification and Perseverance are ongoing processes.
9-10 Death and Glorification are guaranteed future events.
God begins our salvation and ensures that it is completed!
*************************
Next time: More in depth on the Biblical Order Of Salvation.
Friday, February 10, 2012
The Good Shepherd
The Shepherd
The Palestinian shepherd leads his sheep (doesn't drive them like cattle),
and they follow him.
He calls them, they hear him, and come to him.
The sheep who don't belong to him do not come when he calls.
The shepherd does not call sheep randomly, only the ones who belong to him.
The shepherd chooses his sheep.
"I am the good shepherd."
Jesus is The good shepherd, and he lays down his life for his sheep (John 10:11).
He knows his sheep and they know him. When he calls them, they come to him and
follow him (John 10:27-28).
Those sheep who don't belong to his flock do not come to him and follow him
(John 10:26).
****************************************************************
THE GOOD SHEPHERD:
Searches for his sheep (Ezekiel 34:11) Protects his sheep (Ezekiel 34:12)
Rescues his sheep (Ezekiel 34:12) Calls his sheep (John 10:27)
Searches for lost sheep (Ezekiel 34:16) Binds up the injured (Ezekiel 34:16)
Strengthens the weak (Ezekiel 34:16) Knows his sheep (John 10:14)
Holds his sheep in his hand (John 10:28) Gives his sheep abundant life (John 10:10)
Dies for his sheep (John 10:11) Saves his sheep (John 10:28)
Gives his sheep eternal life (John 10:28) Preserves his sheep eternally (John 10:28)
*****************************************************************
His sheep listen to the good shepherd and follow him (John 10:27).
The sheep believe in the good shepherd. Those who are not his sheep do not believe
in him because they are not his sheep (John 10:26). They are unable to hear him because
they belong to the devil (John 8:43-44).
Those who belong to him - his sheep - hear what he says (John 8:47).
*******************************************************************
The good shepherd chooses his sheep (Ephesians 1:4).
The good shepherd atoned and propitiated for his sheep, and reconciled them to God the
Father (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17).
No one can snatch his sheep out of the good shepherd's hand (John 10:28).
The good shepherd is the gate - the only way to salvation (John 10:9)!!
The Palestinian shepherd leads his sheep (doesn't drive them like cattle),
and they follow him.
He calls them, they hear him, and come to him.
The sheep who don't belong to him do not come when he calls.
The shepherd does not call sheep randomly, only the ones who belong to him.
The shepherd chooses his sheep.
"I am the good shepherd."
Jesus is The good shepherd, and he lays down his life for his sheep (John 10:11).
He knows his sheep and they know him. When he calls them, they come to him and
follow him (John 10:27-28).
Those sheep who don't belong to his flock do not come to him and follow him
(John 10:26).
****************************************************************
THE GOOD SHEPHERD:
Searches for his sheep (Ezekiel 34:11) Protects his sheep (Ezekiel 34:12)
Rescues his sheep (Ezekiel 34:12) Calls his sheep (John 10:27)
Searches for lost sheep (Ezekiel 34:16) Binds up the injured (Ezekiel 34:16)
Strengthens the weak (Ezekiel 34:16) Knows his sheep (John 10:14)
Holds his sheep in his hand (John 10:28) Gives his sheep abundant life (John 10:10)
Dies for his sheep (John 10:11) Saves his sheep (John 10:28)
Gives his sheep eternal life (John 10:28) Preserves his sheep eternally (John 10:28)
*****************************************************************
His sheep listen to the good shepherd and follow him (John 10:27).
The sheep believe in the good shepherd. Those who are not his sheep do not believe
in him because they are not his sheep (John 10:26). They are unable to hear him because
they belong to the devil (John 8:43-44).
Those who belong to him - his sheep - hear what he says (John 8:47).
*******************************************************************
The good shepherd chooses his sheep (Ephesians 1:4).
The good shepherd atoned and propitiated for his sheep, and reconciled them to God the
Father (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17).
No one can snatch his sheep out of the good shepherd's hand (John 10:28).
The good shepherd is the gate - the only way to salvation (John 10:9)!!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Has Jesus Accepted US?
A question often asked of people Christians may be witnessing to is,
"Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?"
Maybe another one to ask is, "Has Jesus accepted you (and me)?"
Let me explain what I mean by that.
(Jesus said), "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever
comes to me I will never cast out" (John 6:37). God, who ordained his people
for salvation before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-14;
2 Thessalonians 2:13), gives his children to Jesus. They come to him. HE
ACCEPTS THEM as a love gift from the Father, redeems them, records their
names in the Lamb's Book of Life, never forsakes them, and raises them to
eternal life.
*********************************************************
"I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the
world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
Now they know everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given
them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to
know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me"
(John 17:6-8).
The phrase, "Yours they were," asserts that even before conversion, his chosen
people belonged to God, because of his election. When God gives them to Jesus,
they receive him and his word, and trust in him for salvation.
******************************************************
Words have meaning, so what do we mean when we say, "I've accepted Jesus as
my Lord and Savior?"
If by "accepted" we mean that God has granted us repentance and saving faith,
miraculously regenerated us with a new birth in Jesus, and we have trusted in him, and
him alone, and received him as Lord and Savior, then the word "accepted" has real
meaning.
If on the other hand, by "accepted" we mean that based on our own knowledge,
intellect, reasoning, and "faith" that comes from within us and not from God, and not relying totally
on God's redeeming and saving power and grace, and the Holy Spirit, we have made a "decision" to "
become a Christian," then that means that WE are the "ultimate decider" in our own salvation -
not God.
However, John's gospel tells us that salvation comes totally from God and not from within us.
"Yet 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" (John 6:37).
The Bible says that salvation is in God's hands, and that he "causes" us to be born again.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! ACCORDING TO HIS GREAT MERCY,
HE HAS CAUSED US TO BE BORN AGAIN to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in
heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a SALVATION ready to be
revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5).
If I say with my mouth, "I've accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior," but ignore his word and
refuse to obey him, have I really been regenerated (born again)? If so, then those are just empty
words, without real meaning.
************************************************************************
In reality, Jesus accepts us (as a love gift from the Father) as much as we accept him and
his word and salvation!
When God changes our heart of stone into a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26-27), we are
regenerated (born again), and come to him in repentance and faith for our salvation, which
he keeps securely in his hands for eternity.
So, whether we use the word "accepted" or "received," or some other word to describe our
conversion to Christ, what we mean by those words is what's important.
"Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?"
Maybe another one to ask is, "Has Jesus accepted you (and me)?"
Let me explain what I mean by that.
(Jesus said), "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever
comes to me I will never cast out" (John 6:37). God, who ordained his people
for salvation before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-14;
2 Thessalonians 2:13), gives his children to Jesus. They come to him. HE
ACCEPTS THEM as a love gift from the Father, redeems them, records their
names in the Lamb's Book of Life, never forsakes them, and raises them to
eternal life.
*********************************************************
"I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the
world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
Now they know everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given
them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to
know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me"
(John 17:6-8).
The phrase, "Yours they were," asserts that even before conversion, his chosen
people belonged to God, because of his election. When God gives them to Jesus,
they receive him and his word, and trust in him for salvation.
******************************************************
Words have meaning, so what do we mean when we say, "I've accepted Jesus as
my Lord and Savior?"
If by "accepted" we mean that God has granted us repentance and saving faith,
miraculously regenerated us with a new birth in Jesus, and we have trusted in him, and
him alone, and received him as Lord and Savior, then the word "accepted" has real
meaning.
If on the other hand, by "accepted" we mean that based on our own knowledge,
intellect, reasoning, and "faith" that comes from within us and not from God, and not relying totally
on God's redeeming and saving power and grace, and the Holy Spirit, we have made a "decision" to "
become a Christian," then that means that WE are the "ultimate decider" in our own salvation -
not God.
However, John's gospel tells us that salvation comes totally from God and not from within us.
"Yet 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" (John 6:37).
The Bible says that salvation is in God's hands, and that he "causes" us to be born again.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! ACCORDING TO HIS GREAT MERCY,
HE HAS CAUSED US TO BE BORN AGAIN to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in
heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a SALVATION ready to be
revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5).
If I say with my mouth, "I've accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior," but ignore his word and
refuse to obey him, have I really been regenerated (born again)? If so, then those are just empty
words, without real meaning.
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In reality, Jesus accepts us (as a love gift from the Father) as much as we accept him and
his word and salvation!
When God changes our heart of stone into a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26-27), we are
regenerated (born again), and come to him in repentance and faith for our salvation, which
he keeps securely in his hands for eternity.
So, whether we use the word "accepted" or "received," or some other word to describe our
conversion to Christ, what we mean by those words is what's important.
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