Sunday, July 28, 2013
The Difference Between Being Born Again and Being Saved (Part two)
Yesterday, we showed that regeneration (also "born again," "born from above,"
"the new birth," or "born of God,") and salvation are not synonymous, but are two
different terms.
Regeneration was defined as the spiritual transformation in a person, brought
about by the Holy Spirit, that brings the individual from being spiritually dead to
becoming a spiritually alive human being (Definition by Theopedia).
"The Bible conceives salvation as the redemptive renewal of man on the basis
of a restored relationship with God in Christ, and presents it as involving a radical
and complete transformation wrought in the soul, by virtue of which we become
new men, no longer conformed to this world, but in knowledge and holiness of
the truth created after the image of God."
J.I. Packer
**********************
Today, we will take a closer look at salvation.
As you can see from the definition above, salvation goes far beyond the conversion
of a sinner into a believer. Salvation does not begin or end with conversion.
In fact, it began "before the creation of the world, from the beginning."
Salvation is a process, and it begins with the unconditional election of God's people
from the beginning of time.
I know Christians have different views on this subject, but I believe the Bible clearly
reveals that God elected a particular people to be His, based on His "good pleasure and will,"
and not because of any good works of any kind by the person chosen.
1. ELECTION - God chose His people for salvation before they were born,
not because of anything they would do, but according to His purpose and sovereign will,
for the praise of His glory.
" ... from the beginning God chose you to be
saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit
and through belief in the truth."
2 Thessalonians 2:13b
"For 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.
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, in order
that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be
for the praise of His glory."
Ephesians 1:4-5,11-12
"Yet, before the twins (Jacob and Esau) were born
or had done anything good or bad - in order that
God's purpose in election might stand: not by works
but by Him who calls - she (Rebekah) was told,
'The older will serve the younger.'"
Romans 9:11-13
2. THE EFFECTUAL CALL OF GOD - God draws His people to Jesus
through their hearing the gospel.
"He called you to this (salvation) through our
gospel, that you might share in the glory of
our Lord Jesus Christ."
2 Thessalonians 2:14
"And you also were included in Christ when you
heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation."
Ephesians 1:13a
3. REGENERATION (Born Again) - God grants new life to those He calls
by changing their heart of stone into a heart of flesh, enabling them to come to
Him for salvation.
"I will give them an undivided heart
and put a new spirit in them; I will
remove from them their heart of
stone and give them a heart of flesh.
Then they will follow my decrees
and be careful to keep my laws.
They will be my people, and I will
be their God."
Exodus 11:19-20
"When you were dead in your sins
and in the uncircumcision of your
sinful nature, God made you alive
with Christ."
Colossians 2:13a
4. CONVERSION - God grants His people understanding, faith and repentance,
and they trust in Jesus, and confess and receive Him as Lord and Savior.
"We also know that the Son of God has
come and has given us understanding,
so that we may know Him who is true."
1 John 5:20a
"For it has been granted to you on behalf
of Christ not only to believe on Him,
but also to suffer for Him ..."
Philippians 1:29
" ... God's kindness leads you toward repentance."
Romans 2:4b
"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,'
and believe in your heart that God raised Him from
the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 10:9
5. JUSTIFICATION - God forgives His people's sins and declares them
righteous because of our faith in Jesus and His work on the cross.
"God made Him who had no sin
to be sin for us, so that in Him we
might become the righteousness of God."
2 Corinthians 5:21
"But the words 'it was counted to him (Abraham),'
were not written for his sake alone, but for ours
also.
It will be counted to us who believe in Him who
raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was
delivered up for our trespassed and raised for
our justification."
Romans 4:23-25
6. ADOPTION - God makes people members of His family through
faith in Jesus.
"In love He predestined us to be adopted as His
sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with
His pleasure and will - to the praise of His glorious
grace, which He has freely given us in the One He
loves."
Ephesians 1:4b-6
7. SANCTIFICATION - In a process that continues throughout life,
God sets His people apart to be more like Christ. The believer takes part in his
own sanctification by seeking to remove actions that are not pleasing to God.
" ... But you were washed, you were sanctified,
you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
1 Corinthians 6:11b
"Therefore get rid of all moral filth and the evil
that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word
planted in you, which can save you."
James 1:21
8. PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS - Through God's power
and grace, God's people remain in Christ forever.
"To Him who is able to keep you from falling
and to present you before His glorious presence
without fault and with great joy - to the only
God our Savior be glory, majesty, power,
and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord,
before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."
Jude 24-25
" ... He has given us new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish,
spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you, who through
faith are shielded by God's power until the coming
of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the
last time."
1 Peter 1:3b-5
9. DEATH - Though life on earth will end, everyone who is in Christ,
will live with Him for eternity.
"Just as man is destined to die once,
and after that to face judgment,
so Christ was sacrificed once to take
away the sins of many people; and He
will appear a second time, not to bear
sin, but to bring salvation to those who
are waiting for Him."
Hebrews 9:27-28
10. GLORIFICATION - After they die, believers receive a glorified
body like Christ's.
"But our citizenship is in heaven.
And we eagerly await a Savior
from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
who, by the power that enables Him
to bring everything under His control,
will transform our lowly bodies so that
they will be like His glorious body."
Philippians 3:20-21
*******************
So we can see that regeneration (being born again) and being saved are not the same
thing, but are both important actions of a sovereign God.
Regeneration is one necessary part of the process of salvation.
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