Salvation

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Salvation is the gift of God the Father by His grace and is granted to the believer through faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation cannot be earned by works of law, but there are conditions that must be met in order to receive the gift of salvation. God requires that one repent of sin, which is the transgression of His laws and commandments, and believe on His Son Jesus Christ, Whose blood paid the penalty for the sins of all mankind. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Author and Finisher of eternal salvation for all who believe on Him. Through the blood of Jesus Christ and the acceptance of His sacrifice, the believer is reconciled to God the Father, having his or her sins completely forgiven and forgotten. By the grace of God, the believer is saved from the penalty of sin, which is eternal death, and is granted the gift of eternal life through the begettal of the Holy Spirit from God the Father.

Salvation begins when God the Father opens a person’s mind to spiritual understanding, which leads to repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ as personal Savior. After being baptized by full immersion in water, the believer is granted the gift of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands. The believer then begins a new life of obedience to God through faith, working out his or her own salvation by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit and in harmony with God’s Word. It is a lifelong process of spiritual growth. The Scriptures reveal that there are three distinct stages in the process of salvation: 1) The believer has been saved from past sins and from Satan the devil (Eph. 2:1-10). 2) The believer is now being saved as he or she continues in the Word of God—the gospel—in loving obedience by faith (I Cor. 1:18; 15:2). 3) The believer will ultimately be saved at the resurrection (Rom. 7:24-25; I Cor. 15:12- 57; I Tim. 3:14-16). The believer’s salvation will not be completed until he or she is resurrected from the dead through the power of God and is born again as a spirit being into the Family of God. In God’s time and plan, everyone will have an opportunity for salvation.

Scriptural References

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