Itrsquos not just for unbelievers

THE GOSPEL FOR CHRISTIANS

In Paulrsquos letter to the church in Rome he said he is eager to come and proclaim the Gospel to them ldquoSo for my part I am eager to preach the gospel to you also

who are in Romerdquo Romans 115 (NASB)Why proclaim the Gospel to a group that is already

composed of believers as Paul stated earlier in his letter ldquoFirst I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all because

your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole worldrdquo Romans 18 (NASB)

Paul then proceeded to write a letter proclaiming the Gospel in great detail and with deep theology Paulrsquos letter to the Romans contain a detailed proclamation of

the Gospel of Jesus Christ I believe the Holy Spirit of God through the apostle

Paul is communicating that believers also need the Gospel preached to them

WHY PREACH THE GOSPEL TO BELIEVERS

We need constant reminders ldquoDo this hellip in remembrance of merdquo

I believe we could study the Gospel everyday for the rest of our lives and never fully plumb its depth

The Gospel is the basis for our livingmdashour hope our relationship to God our assurance the reason for our rejoicing

It is not taught enough because it canrsquot be taught too much in my opinion

It is rare in my observation to find a sermon series or even a book on ldquoWhat exactly is the Gospelrdquo

The Gospel is foundational to Christianity It is the basic message of Christianity It is what makes Christianity unique compared to the

religions of the world

WHY STUDY THE GOSPEL

Studying the Gospel renews our hope but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts always being ready

to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you yet with gentleness and reverence 1 Peter 315 (NASB)

The better we understand the Gospel the better we can ldquodo the work of an evangelistrdquo 2 Timothy 45

We absolutely need to get it right Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

2 Cor 113 (NASB) But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ

2 Tim 215 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed accurately handling the word of truth

WHY STUDY THE GOSPEL

Christians may have come to think of the Gospel as a brief message proclaimed only to non-believers Eg ldquoThe Four Spiritual Lawsrdquo or the ldquoRomans Roadrdquo

(Romans 323 623 58 109-10)And then after coming to Christ a new believer no

longer needs the Gospel but needs to be ldquodiscipledrdquo I submit that understanding the Gospel in its full

depth and glory is ldquosolid foodrdquo and is required by a mature believer For though by this time you ought to be teachers you

have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God and you have come to need milk and not solid food Hebrews 512 (NASB)

WHY STUDY THE GOSPEL

THE GOSPEL IS VAST

The Gospel presented to unbelievers

The Gospel that Christians need to study and be constantly reminded of

ldquoWe can spend the rest of lives studying the Gospel and never fully plumb its depthsrdquo Paul Lasher

The Gospel can be viewed from many diff erent aspectsYet it is one message of Godrsquos Good News to manThe Gospel is the message of what God has done for us

through the Lord Jesus Christ

THE GOSPEL IS MULTIFACETED

forgiveness

regeneration

justification

righteousness

propitiation

reconciliation

Eternal life

In Christ

redemption

sanctification

The Objectives of this presentation are To summarize the fullness of the message of the Gospel To produce a sense of awe wonder and amazement at the

wisdom power and love of God in what He accomplished for us through the cross of Christ

To develop precise terminology of the theological concepts within the Gospel

To provide a basis for ldquoHow should we then liverdquo

PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION

Gospel means ldquogood newsrdquo Historically the Greek word meant a message of victory or good news

from the battlefield The Gospel is proclaimed throughout Scripture

Gal 38 The Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham saying ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOUrdquo

Gen 315 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman And between your seed and her seed He shall bruise you on the head And you shall bruise him on the heel

1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures 4 and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

Rev 146-7 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people and he said with a loud voice Fear God and give Him glory because the hour of His judgment has come worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters

THE GOSPEL

The word is not used in a religious sense in the Old Testament The Greek word for Gospel and verb form to preach the Gospel

occurs sporadically throughout the New Testament Concentrated in Paulrsquos epistles (60 times) In Matthew and Mark Luke only has the verb form not at all in John A couple of times in Acts and Revelation

The Gospel is not explicitly defi ned anywhere as to exactly what constitutes the Gospel 1 Cor 153-5 is a concise summary of the Gospel Romans 1-11 is a detailed presentation of the Gospel The Gospel is proclaimed in Acts many times but the presentation

varies according to the audience A simple defi nition of the Gospel the Person and Work of Christ The Gospel in its fullness includes Who God is and What God

has done for us in and through Christ (and is doing and will do) who we are in Christ what we possess in Christ including the gifts He has given us and the promises for what is yet future for us

THE GOSPEL

There is a God who eternally exists and has created everything including every person

Although man had perfect fellowship with God man rebelled and was plunged into darkness sin rebellion and hopelessness

Although God would have been just in separating man from Himself eternally because of His great love for us He sent His one and only Son Jesus the prophesied Messiah fully man and fully God to die for our sins in order to purchase us for Himself

God raised Christ from the dead demonstrating Godrsquos complete satisfaction of His just wrath against sin in Christrsquos sacrifi cial death

In Acts 1730 God commands all men everywhere to repent (change your direction how you think about God who He is and what He has done) believe in His complete provisions for you in Christrsquos death burial and resurrection and be fully identifi ed with Christ His suff ering death and resurrection for you

Be aware there is a cost to discipleshipmdashthere will be those who hate us as they hated Christ

THE GOSPEL ndash A BRIEF SUMMARY

1 Corinthians 15 1-8 (NASB) ldquoNow I make known to you brethren the gospel which I preached to you which also you received in which also you stand by which also you are saved if you hold fast the word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain For I delivered to you as of fi rst importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and that He appeared to Cephas then to the twelve After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time most of whom remain until now but some have fallen asleep then He appeared to James then to all the apostles and last of all as to one untimely born He appeared to me alsordquo

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed mdashnamely the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe For there is no distinction for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time so that he would be just and the justifi er of the one who lives because of Jesusrsquo faithfulness Romans 321-26 (NET1) (all one sentence in the Greek text )

Romans Chapters 1-5 introduces the Gospel Galatians 215 ndash 431 expands on the theme introduced in Romans

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

Ephesians 13-14 (NASB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spir itual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His wi l l to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the r iches of His grace which He lavished on us In al l wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His wi l l according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the ful lness of the t imes that is the summing up of al l things in Christ things in the heavens and things on the earth In Him also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose who works al l things after the counsel of His wi l l to the end that we who were the fi rst to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also bel ieved you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spir it of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory (al l one sentence in the Greek text )

Colossians 113-29 1 Peter 12-5 2 Peter 12-4 are paral lel passages

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

One Gospel Many Facets

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Redemption JustificationRighteousnessRegenerationReconciliationPropitiationSubstitutionForgivenessEternal LifeAdoption InheritanceGlorification

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Set FreeRescuedAccessPeaceRest JoyLoveHopeSecureChosenPredestinedSalvation

SanctificationSaints In ChristUnder GraceThe New ManOur Certain FutureThe Christian Life

Redemption ldquoTo secure the release of someone from slavery or captivity by

the payment of a ransomrdquo The ldquoransomrdquo is the payment (price) paid The result is ldquoredemptionrdquo set free from slavery

λύτρον lutron noun ransom redemption price For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to

serve and to give His life a ransom for many Mark 1045 (NASB)

The price paid to redeem us was the blood of Christ knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like

silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless the blood of Christ 1 Peter 118-19 (NASB)

The blood of Christ implies the shedding of blood to the point of deathmdashan infi nite price giving all that He had to give

REDEEM REDEMPTION

λύτρωσις ( lutrōsis) noun to pay the price and to set free Blessed be the Lord God of Israel For He has visited us and

accomplished redemption for His people Luke 168 (NASB) Heb 912 Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his

own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us

ἀπολύτρωσις (apolutrōsis) noun to ransom in full to pay the price completely once and for all Ro 324 Being justified freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus 1Co 130 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made

unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

Eph 17 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace

Col 114 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins

REDEEM REDEMPTION

ἀγοράζω (agorazō) verb Buy purchase in the marketplace Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you whom you have from God and that you are not your own For you have been bought with a price therefore glorify God in your bodyrdquo 1 Corinthians 619-20 (NASB)

And they sang a new song saying Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation Revelation 59 (NASB)

ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō) verb to be taken out of the market place that is as a prized possession never to be bought and sold again Taken out of marketability Ga 313 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law

being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree

Ga 45 To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons

REDEEM REDEMPTION

περιποιέομαι peripoieomai verb Purchase gain save preserve obtain Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood Acts 2028 (NASB)

REDEEM REDEMPTION

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

In Paulrsquos letter to the church in Rome he said he is eager to come and proclaim the Gospel to them ldquoSo for my part I am eager to preach the gospel to you also

who are in Romerdquo Romans 115 (NASB)Why proclaim the Gospel to a group that is already

composed of believers as Paul stated earlier in his letter ldquoFirst I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all because

your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole worldrdquo Romans 18 (NASB)

Paul then proceeded to write a letter proclaiming the Gospel in great detail and with deep theology Paulrsquos letter to the Romans contain a detailed proclamation of

the Gospel of Jesus Christ I believe the Holy Spirit of God through the apostle

Paul is communicating that believers also need the Gospel preached to them

WHY PREACH THE GOSPEL TO BELIEVERS

We need constant reminders ldquoDo this hellip in remembrance of merdquo

I believe we could study the Gospel everyday for the rest of our lives and never fully plumb its depth

The Gospel is the basis for our livingmdashour hope our relationship to God our assurance the reason for our rejoicing

It is not taught enough because it canrsquot be taught too much in my opinion

It is rare in my observation to find a sermon series or even a book on ldquoWhat exactly is the Gospelrdquo

The Gospel is foundational to Christianity It is the basic message of Christianity It is what makes Christianity unique compared to the

religions of the world

WHY STUDY THE GOSPEL

Studying the Gospel renews our hope but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts always being ready

to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you yet with gentleness and reverence 1 Peter 315 (NASB)

The better we understand the Gospel the better we can ldquodo the work of an evangelistrdquo 2 Timothy 45

We absolutely need to get it right Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

2 Cor 113 (NASB) But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ

2 Tim 215 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed accurately handling the word of truth

WHY STUDY THE GOSPEL

Christians may have come to think of the Gospel as a brief message proclaimed only to non-believers Eg ldquoThe Four Spiritual Lawsrdquo or the ldquoRomans Roadrdquo

(Romans 323 623 58 109-10)And then after coming to Christ a new believer no

longer needs the Gospel but needs to be ldquodiscipledrdquo I submit that understanding the Gospel in its full

depth and glory is ldquosolid foodrdquo and is required by a mature believer For though by this time you ought to be teachers you

have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God and you have come to need milk and not solid food Hebrews 512 (NASB)

WHY STUDY THE GOSPEL

THE GOSPEL IS VAST

The Gospel presented to unbelievers

The Gospel that Christians need to study and be constantly reminded of

ldquoWe can spend the rest of lives studying the Gospel and never fully plumb its depthsrdquo Paul Lasher

The Gospel can be viewed from many diff erent aspectsYet it is one message of Godrsquos Good News to manThe Gospel is the message of what God has done for us

through the Lord Jesus Christ

THE GOSPEL IS MULTIFACETED

forgiveness

regeneration

justification

righteousness

propitiation

reconciliation

Eternal life

In Christ

redemption

sanctification

The Objectives of this presentation are To summarize the fullness of the message of the Gospel To produce a sense of awe wonder and amazement at the

wisdom power and love of God in what He accomplished for us through the cross of Christ

To develop precise terminology of the theological concepts within the Gospel

To provide a basis for ldquoHow should we then liverdquo

PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION

Gospel means ldquogood newsrdquo Historically the Greek word meant a message of victory or good news

from the battlefield The Gospel is proclaimed throughout Scripture

Gal 38 The Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham saying ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOUrdquo

Gen 315 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman And between your seed and her seed He shall bruise you on the head And you shall bruise him on the heel

1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures 4 and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

Rev 146-7 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people and he said with a loud voice Fear God and give Him glory because the hour of His judgment has come worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters

THE GOSPEL

The word is not used in a religious sense in the Old Testament The Greek word for Gospel and verb form to preach the Gospel

occurs sporadically throughout the New Testament Concentrated in Paulrsquos epistles (60 times) In Matthew and Mark Luke only has the verb form not at all in John A couple of times in Acts and Revelation

The Gospel is not explicitly defi ned anywhere as to exactly what constitutes the Gospel 1 Cor 153-5 is a concise summary of the Gospel Romans 1-11 is a detailed presentation of the Gospel The Gospel is proclaimed in Acts many times but the presentation

varies according to the audience A simple defi nition of the Gospel the Person and Work of Christ The Gospel in its fullness includes Who God is and What God

has done for us in and through Christ (and is doing and will do) who we are in Christ what we possess in Christ including the gifts He has given us and the promises for what is yet future for us

THE GOSPEL

There is a God who eternally exists and has created everything including every person

Although man had perfect fellowship with God man rebelled and was plunged into darkness sin rebellion and hopelessness

Although God would have been just in separating man from Himself eternally because of His great love for us He sent His one and only Son Jesus the prophesied Messiah fully man and fully God to die for our sins in order to purchase us for Himself

God raised Christ from the dead demonstrating Godrsquos complete satisfaction of His just wrath against sin in Christrsquos sacrifi cial death

In Acts 1730 God commands all men everywhere to repent (change your direction how you think about God who He is and what He has done) believe in His complete provisions for you in Christrsquos death burial and resurrection and be fully identifi ed with Christ His suff ering death and resurrection for you

Be aware there is a cost to discipleshipmdashthere will be those who hate us as they hated Christ

THE GOSPEL ndash A BRIEF SUMMARY

1 Corinthians 15 1-8 (NASB) ldquoNow I make known to you brethren the gospel which I preached to you which also you received in which also you stand by which also you are saved if you hold fast the word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain For I delivered to you as of fi rst importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and that He appeared to Cephas then to the twelve After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time most of whom remain until now but some have fallen asleep then He appeared to James then to all the apostles and last of all as to one untimely born He appeared to me alsordquo

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed mdashnamely the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe For there is no distinction for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time so that he would be just and the justifi er of the one who lives because of Jesusrsquo faithfulness Romans 321-26 (NET1) (all one sentence in the Greek text )

Romans Chapters 1-5 introduces the Gospel Galatians 215 ndash 431 expands on the theme introduced in Romans

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

Ephesians 13-14 (NASB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spir itual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His wi l l to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the r iches of His grace which He lavished on us In al l wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His wi l l according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the ful lness of the t imes that is the summing up of al l things in Christ things in the heavens and things on the earth In Him also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose who works al l things after the counsel of His wi l l to the end that we who were the fi rst to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also bel ieved you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spir it of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory (al l one sentence in the Greek text )

Colossians 113-29 1 Peter 12-5 2 Peter 12-4 are paral lel passages

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

One Gospel Many Facets

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Redemption JustificationRighteousnessRegenerationReconciliationPropitiationSubstitutionForgivenessEternal LifeAdoption InheritanceGlorification

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Set FreeRescuedAccessPeaceRest JoyLoveHopeSecureChosenPredestinedSalvation

SanctificationSaints In ChristUnder GraceThe New ManOur Certain FutureThe Christian Life

Redemption ldquoTo secure the release of someone from slavery or captivity by

the payment of a ransomrdquo The ldquoransomrdquo is the payment (price) paid The result is ldquoredemptionrdquo set free from slavery

λύτρον lutron noun ransom redemption price For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to

serve and to give His life a ransom for many Mark 1045 (NASB)

The price paid to redeem us was the blood of Christ knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like

silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless the blood of Christ 1 Peter 118-19 (NASB)

The blood of Christ implies the shedding of blood to the point of deathmdashan infi nite price giving all that He had to give

REDEEM REDEMPTION

λύτρωσις ( lutrōsis) noun to pay the price and to set free Blessed be the Lord God of Israel For He has visited us and

accomplished redemption for His people Luke 168 (NASB) Heb 912 Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his

own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us

ἀπολύτρωσις (apolutrōsis) noun to ransom in full to pay the price completely once and for all Ro 324 Being justified freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus 1Co 130 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made

unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

Eph 17 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace

Col 114 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins

REDEEM REDEMPTION

ἀγοράζω (agorazō) verb Buy purchase in the marketplace Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you whom you have from God and that you are not your own For you have been bought with a price therefore glorify God in your bodyrdquo 1 Corinthians 619-20 (NASB)

And they sang a new song saying Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation Revelation 59 (NASB)

ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō) verb to be taken out of the market place that is as a prized possession never to be bought and sold again Taken out of marketability Ga 313 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law

being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree

Ga 45 To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons

REDEEM REDEMPTION

περιποιέομαι peripoieomai verb Purchase gain save preserve obtain Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood Acts 2028 (NASB)

REDEEM REDEMPTION

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

We need constant reminders ldquoDo this hellip in remembrance of merdquo

I believe we could study the Gospel everyday for the rest of our lives and never fully plumb its depth

The Gospel is the basis for our livingmdashour hope our relationship to God our assurance the reason for our rejoicing

It is not taught enough because it canrsquot be taught too much in my opinion

It is rare in my observation to find a sermon series or even a book on ldquoWhat exactly is the Gospelrdquo

The Gospel is foundational to Christianity It is the basic message of Christianity It is what makes Christianity unique compared to the

religions of the world

WHY STUDY THE GOSPEL

Studying the Gospel renews our hope but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts always being ready

to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you yet with gentleness and reverence 1 Peter 315 (NASB)

The better we understand the Gospel the better we can ldquodo the work of an evangelistrdquo 2 Timothy 45

We absolutely need to get it right Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

2 Cor 113 (NASB) But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ

2 Tim 215 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed accurately handling the word of truth

WHY STUDY THE GOSPEL

Christians may have come to think of the Gospel as a brief message proclaimed only to non-believers Eg ldquoThe Four Spiritual Lawsrdquo or the ldquoRomans Roadrdquo

(Romans 323 623 58 109-10)And then after coming to Christ a new believer no

longer needs the Gospel but needs to be ldquodiscipledrdquo I submit that understanding the Gospel in its full

depth and glory is ldquosolid foodrdquo and is required by a mature believer For though by this time you ought to be teachers you

have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God and you have come to need milk and not solid food Hebrews 512 (NASB)

WHY STUDY THE GOSPEL

THE GOSPEL IS VAST

The Gospel presented to unbelievers

The Gospel that Christians need to study and be constantly reminded of

ldquoWe can spend the rest of lives studying the Gospel and never fully plumb its depthsrdquo Paul Lasher

The Gospel can be viewed from many diff erent aspectsYet it is one message of Godrsquos Good News to manThe Gospel is the message of what God has done for us

through the Lord Jesus Christ

THE GOSPEL IS MULTIFACETED

forgiveness

regeneration

justification

righteousness

propitiation

reconciliation

Eternal life

In Christ

redemption

sanctification

The Objectives of this presentation are To summarize the fullness of the message of the Gospel To produce a sense of awe wonder and amazement at the

wisdom power and love of God in what He accomplished for us through the cross of Christ

To develop precise terminology of the theological concepts within the Gospel

To provide a basis for ldquoHow should we then liverdquo

PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION

Gospel means ldquogood newsrdquo Historically the Greek word meant a message of victory or good news

from the battlefield The Gospel is proclaimed throughout Scripture

Gal 38 The Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham saying ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOUrdquo

Gen 315 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman And between your seed and her seed He shall bruise you on the head And you shall bruise him on the heel

1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures 4 and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

Rev 146-7 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people and he said with a loud voice Fear God and give Him glory because the hour of His judgment has come worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters

THE GOSPEL

The word is not used in a religious sense in the Old Testament The Greek word for Gospel and verb form to preach the Gospel

occurs sporadically throughout the New Testament Concentrated in Paulrsquos epistles (60 times) In Matthew and Mark Luke only has the verb form not at all in John A couple of times in Acts and Revelation

The Gospel is not explicitly defi ned anywhere as to exactly what constitutes the Gospel 1 Cor 153-5 is a concise summary of the Gospel Romans 1-11 is a detailed presentation of the Gospel The Gospel is proclaimed in Acts many times but the presentation

varies according to the audience A simple defi nition of the Gospel the Person and Work of Christ The Gospel in its fullness includes Who God is and What God

has done for us in and through Christ (and is doing and will do) who we are in Christ what we possess in Christ including the gifts He has given us and the promises for what is yet future for us

THE GOSPEL

There is a God who eternally exists and has created everything including every person

Although man had perfect fellowship with God man rebelled and was plunged into darkness sin rebellion and hopelessness

Although God would have been just in separating man from Himself eternally because of His great love for us He sent His one and only Son Jesus the prophesied Messiah fully man and fully God to die for our sins in order to purchase us for Himself

God raised Christ from the dead demonstrating Godrsquos complete satisfaction of His just wrath against sin in Christrsquos sacrifi cial death

In Acts 1730 God commands all men everywhere to repent (change your direction how you think about God who He is and what He has done) believe in His complete provisions for you in Christrsquos death burial and resurrection and be fully identifi ed with Christ His suff ering death and resurrection for you

Be aware there is a cost to discipleshipmdashthere will be those who hate us as they hated Christ

THE GOSPEL ndash A BRIEF SUMMARY

1 Corinthians 15 1-8 (NASB) ldquoNow I make known to you brethren the gospel which I preached to you which also you received in which also you stand by which also you are saved if you hold fast the word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain For I delivered to you as of fi rst importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and that He appeared to Cephas then to the twelve After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time most of whom remain until now but some have fallen asleep then He appeared to James then to all the apostles and last of all as to one untimely born He appeared to me alsordquo

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed mdashnamely the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe For there is no distinction for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time so that he would be just and the justifi er of the one who lives because of Jesusrsquo faithfulness Romans 321-26 (NET1) (all one sentence in the Greek text )

Romans Chapters 1-5 introduces the Gospel Galatians 215 ndash 431 expands on the theme introduced in Romans

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

Ephesians 13-14 (NASB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spir itual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His wi l l to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the r iches of His grace which He lavished on us In al l wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His wi l l according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the ful lness of the t imes that is the summing up of al l things in Christ things in the heavens and things on the earth In Him also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose who works al l things after the counsel of His wi l l to the end that we who were the fi rst to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also bel ieved you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spir it of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory (al l one sentence in the Greek text )

Colossians 113-29 1 Peter 12-5 2 Peter 12-4 are paral lel passages

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

One Gospel Many Facets

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Redemption JustificationRighteousnessRegenerationReconciliationPropitiationSubstitutionForgivenessEternal LifeAdoption InheritanceGlorification

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Set FreeRescuedAccessPeaceRest JoyLoveHopeSecureChosenPredestinedSalvation

SanctificationSaints In ChristUnder GraceThe New ManOur Certain FutureThe Christian Life

Redemption ldquoTo secure the release of someone from slavery or captivity by

the payment of a ransomrdquo The ldquoransomrdquo is the payment (price) paid The result is ldquoredemptionrdquo set free from slavery

λύτρον lutron noun ransom redemption price For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to

serve and to give His life a ransom for many Mark 1045 (NASB)

The price paid to redeem us was the blood of Christ knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like

silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless the blood of Christ 1 Peter 118-19 (NASB)

The blood of Christ implies the shedding of blood to the point of deathmdashan infi nite price giving all that He had to give

REDEEM REDEMPTION

λύτρωσις ( lutrōsis) noun to pay the price and to set free Blessed be the Lord God of Israel For He has visited us and

accomplished redemption for His people Luke 168 (NASB) Heb 912 Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his

own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us

ἀπολύτρωσις (apolutrōsis) noun to ransom in full to pay the price completely once and for all Ro 324 Being justified freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus 1Co 130 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made

unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

Eph 17 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace

Col 114 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins

REDEEM REDEMPTION

ἀγοράζω (agorazō) verb Buy purchase in the marketplace Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you whom you have from God and that you are not your own For you have been bought with a price therefore glorify God in your bodyrdquo 1 Corinthians 619-20 (NASB)

And they sang a new song saying Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation Revelation 59 (NASB)

ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō) verb to be taken out of the market place that is as a prized possession never to be bought and sold again Taken out of marketability Ga 313 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law

being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree

Ga 45 To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons

REDEEM REDEMPTION

περιποιέομαι peripoieomai verb Purchase gain save preserve obtain Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood Acts 2028 (NASB)

REDEEM REDEMPTION

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

Studying the Gospel renews our hope but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts always being ready

to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you yet with gentleness and reverence 1 Peter 315 (NASB)

The better we understand the Gospel the better we can ldquodo the work of an evangelistrdquo 2 Timothy 45

We absolutely need to get it right Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

2 Cor 113 (NASB) But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ

2 Tim 215 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed accurately handling the word of truth

WHY STUDY THE GOSPEL

Christians may have come to think of the Gospel as a brief message proclaimed only to non-believers Eg ldquoThe Four Spiritual Lawsrdquo or the ldquoRomans Roadrdquo

(Romans 323 623 58 109-10)And then after coming to Christ a new believer no

longer needs the Gospel but needs to be ldquodiscipledrdquo I submit that understanding the Gospel in its full

depth and glory is ldquosolid foodrdquo and is required by a mature believer For though by this time you ought to be teachers you

have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God and you have come to need milk and not solid food Hebrews 512 (NASB)

WHY STUDY THE GOSPEL

THE GOSPEL IS VAST

The Gospel presented to unbelievers

The Gospel that Christians need to study and be constantly reminded of

ldquoWe can spend the rest of lives studying the Gospel and never fully plumb its depthsrdquo Paul Lasher

The Gospel can be viewed from many diff erent aspectsYet it is one message of Godrsquos Good News to manThe Gospel is the message of what God has done for us

through the Lord Jesus Christ

THE GOSPEL IS MULTIFACETED

forgiveness

regeneration

justification

righteousness

propitiation

reconciliation

Eternal life

In Christ

redemption

sanctification

The Objectives of this presentation are To summarize the fullness of the message of the Gospel To produce a sense of awe wonder and amazement at the

wisdom power and love of God in what He accomplished for us through the cross of Christ

To develop precise terminology of the theological concepts within the Gospel

To provide a basis for ldquoHow should we then liverdquo

PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION

Gospel means ldquogood newsrdquo Historically the Greek word meant a message of victory or good news

from the battlefield The Gospel is proclaimed throughout Scripture

Gal 38 The Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham saying ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOUrdquo

Gen 315 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman And between your seed and her seed He shall bruise you on the head And you shall bruise him on the heel

1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures 4 and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

Rev 146-7 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people and he said with a loud voice Fear God and give Him glory because the hour of His judgment has come worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters

THE GOSPEL

The word is not used in a religious sense in the Old Testament The Greek word for Gospel and verb form to preach the Gospel

occurs sporadically throughout the New Testament Concentrated in Paulrsquos epistles (60 times) In Matthew and Mark Luke only has the verb form not at all in John A couple of times in Acts and Revelation

The Gospel is not explicitly defi ned anywhere as to exactly what constitutes the Gospel 1 Cor 153-5 is a concise summary of the Gospel Romans 1-11 is a detailed presentation of the Gospel The Gospel is proclaimed in Acts many times but the presentation

varies according to the audience A simple defi nition of the Gospel the Person and Work of Christ The Gospel in its fullness includes Who God is and What God

has done for us in and through Christ (and is doing and will do) who we are in Christ what we possess in Christ including the gifts He has given us and the promises for what is yet future for us

THE GOSPEL

There is a God who eternally exists and has created everything including every person

Although man had perfect fellowship with God man rebelled and was plunged into darkness sin rebellion and hopelessness

Although God would have been just in separating man from Himself eternally because of His great love for us He sent His one and only Son Jesus the prophesied Messiah fully man and fully God to die for our sins in order to purchase us for Himself

God raised Christ from the dead demonstrating Godrsquos complete satisfaction of His just wrath against sin in Christrsquos sacrifi cial death

In Acts 1730 God commands all men everywhere to repent (change your direction how you think about God who He is and what He has done) believe in His complete provisions for you in Christrsquos death burial and resurrection and be fully identifi ed with Christ His suff ering death and resurrection for you

Be aware there is a cost to discipleshipmdashthere will be those who hate us as they hated Christ

THE GOSPEL ndash A BRIEF SUMMARY

1 Corinthians 15 1-8 (NASB) ldquoNow I make known to you brethren the gospel which I preached to you which also you received in which also you stand by which also you are saved if you hold fast the word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain For I delivered to you as of fi rst importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and that He appeared to Cephas then to the twelve After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time most of whom remain until now but some have fallen asleep then He appeared to James then to all the apostles and last of all as to one untimely born He appeared to me alsordquo

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed mdashnamely the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe For there is no distinction for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time so that he would be just and the justifi er of the one who lives because of Jesusrsquo faithfulness Romans 321-26 (NET1) (all one sentence in the Greek text )

Romans Chapters 1-5 introduces the Gospel Galatians 215 ndash 431 expands on the theme introduced in Romans

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

Ephesians 13-14 (NASB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spir itual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His wi l l to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the r iches of His grace which He lavished on us In al l wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His wi l l according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the ful lness of the t imes that is the summing up of al l things in Christ things in the heavens and things on the earth In Him also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose who works al l things after the counsel of His wi l l to the end that we who were the fi rst to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also bel ieved you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spir it of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory (al l one sentence in the Greek text )

Colossians 113-29 1 Peter 12-5 2 Peter 12-4 are paral lel passages

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

One Gospel Many Facets

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Redemption JustificationRighteousnessRegenerationReconciliationPropitiationSubstitutionForgivenessEternal LifeAdoption InheritanceGlorification

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Set FreeRescuedAccessPeaceRest JoyLoveHopeSecureChosenPredestinedSalvation

SanctificationSaints In ChristUnder GraceThe New ManOur Certain FutureThe Christian Life

Redemption ldquoTo secure the release of someone from slavery or captivity by

the payment of a ransomrdquo The ldquoransomrdquo is the payment (price) paid The result is ldquoredemptionrdquo set free from slavery

λύτρον lutron noun ransom redemption price For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to

serve and to give His life a ransom for many Mark 1045 (NASB)

The price paid to redeem us was the blood of Christ knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like

silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless the blood of Christ 1 Peter 118-19 (NASB)

The blood of Christ implies the shedding of blood to the point of deathmdashan infi nite price giving all that He had to give

REDEEM REDEMPTION

λύτρωσις ( lutrōsis) noun to pay the price and to set free Blessed be the Lord God of Israel For He has visited us and

accomplished redemption for His people Luke 168 (NASB) Heb 912 Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his

own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us

ἀπολύτρωσις (apolutrōsis) noun to ransom in full to pay the price completely once and for all Ro 324 Being justified freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus 1Co 130 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made

unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

Eph 17 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace

Col 114 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins

REDEEM REDEMPTION

ἀγοράζω (agorazō) verb Buy purchase in the marketplace Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you whom you have from God and that you are not your own For you have been bought with a price therefore glorify God in your bodyrdquo 1 Corinthians 619-20 (NASB)

And they sang a new song saying Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation Revelation 59 (NASB)

ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō) verb to be taken out of the market place that is as a prized possession never to be bought and sold again Taken out of marketability Ga 313 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law

being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree

Ga 45 To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons

REDEEM REDEMPTION

περιποιέομαι peripoieomai verb Purchase gain save preserve obtain Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood Acts 2028 (NASB)

REDEEM REDEMPTION

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

Christians may have come to think of the Gospel as a brief message proclaimed only to non-believers Eg ldquoThe Four Spiritual Lawsrdquo or the ldquoRomans Roadrdquo

(Romans 323 623 58 109-10)And then after coming to Christ a new believer no

longer needs the Gospel but needs to be ldquodiscipledrdquo I submit that understanding the Gospel in its full

depth and glory is ldquosolid foodrdquo and is required by a mature believer For though by this time you ought to be teachers you

have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God and you have come to need milk and not solid food Hebrews 512 (NASB)

WHY STUDY THE GOSPEL

THE GOSPEL IS VAST

The Gospel presented to unbelievers

The Gospel that Christians need to study and be constantly reminded of

ldquoWe can spend the rest of lives studying the Gospel and never fully plumb its depthsrdquo Paul Lasher

The Gospel can be viewed from many diff erent aspectsYet it is one message of Godrsquos Good News to manThe Gospel is the message of what God has done for us

through the Lord Jesus Christ

THE GOSPEL IS MULTIFACETED

forgiveness

regeneration

justification

righteousness

propitiation

reconciliation

Eternal life

In Christ

redemption

sanctification

The Objectives of this presentation are To summarize the fullness of the message of the Gospel To produce a sense of awe wonder and amazement at the

wisdom power and love of God in what He accomplished for us through the cross of Christ

To develop precise terminology of the theological concepts within the Gospel

To provide a basis for ldquoHow should we then liverdquo

PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION

Gospel means ldquogood newsrdquo Historically the Greek word meant a message of victory or good news

from the battlefield The Gospel is proclaimed throughout Scripture

Gal 38 The Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham saying ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOUrdquo

Gen 315 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman And between your seed and her seed He shall bruise you on the head And you shall bruise him on the heel

1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures 4 and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

Rev 146-7 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people and he said with a loud voice Fear God and give Him glory because the hour of His judgment has come worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters

THE GOSPEL

The word is not used in a religious sense in the Old Testament The Greek word for Gospel and verb form to preach the Gospel

occurs sporadically throughout the New Testament Concentrated in Paulrsquos epistles (60 times) In Matthew and Mark Luke only has the verb form not at all in John A couple of times in Acts and Revelation

The Gospel is not explicitly defi ned anywhere as to exactly what constitutes the Gospel 1 Cor 153-5 is a concise summary of the Gospel Romans 1-11 is a detailed presentation of the Gospel The Gospel is proclaimed in Acts many times but the presentation

varies according to the audience A simple defi nition of the Gospel the Person and Work of Christ The Gospel in its fullness includes Who God is and What God

has done for us in and through Christ (and is doing and will do) who we are in Christ what we possess in Christ including the gifts He has given us and the promises for what is yet future for us

THE GOSPEL

There is a God who eternally exists and has created everything including every person

Although man had perfect fellowship with God man rebelled and was plunged into darkness sin rebellion and hopelessness

Although God would have been just in separating man from Himself eternally because of His great love for us He sent His one and only Son Jesus the prophesied Messiah fully man and fully God to die for our sins in order to purchase us for Himself

God raised Christ from the dead demonstrating Godrsquos complete satisfaction of His just wrath against sin in Christrsquos sacrifi cial death

In Acts 1730 God commands all men everywhere to repent (change your direction how you think about God who He is and what He has done) believe in His complete provisions for you in Christrsquos death burial and resurrection and be fully identifi ed with Christ His suff ering death and resurrection for you

Be aware there is a cost to discipleshipmdashthere will be those who hate us as they hated Christ

THE GOSPEL ndash A BRIEF SUMMARY

1 Corinthians 15 1-8 (NASB) ldquoNow I make known to you brethren the gospel which I preached to you which also you received in which also you stand by which also you are saved if you hold fast the word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain For I delivered to you as of fi rst importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and that He appeared to Cephas then to the twelve After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time most of whom remain until now but some have fallen asleep then He appeared to James then to all the apostles and last of all as to one untimely born He appeared to me alsordquo

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed mdashnamely the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe For there is no distinction for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time so that he would be just and the justifi er of the one who lives because of Jesusrsquo faithfulness Romans 321-26 (NET1) (all one sentence in the Greek text )

Romans Chapters 1-5 introduces the Gospel Galatians 215 ndash 431 expands on the theme introduced in Romans

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

Ephesians 13-14 (NASB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spir itual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His wi l l to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the r iches of His grace which He lavished on us In al l wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His wi l l according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the ful lness of the t imes that is the summing up of al l things in Christ things in the heavens and things on the earth In Him also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose who works al l things after the counsel of His wi l l to the end that we who were the fi rst to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also bel ieved you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spir it of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory (al l one sentence in the Greek text )

Colossians 113-29 1 Peter 12-5 2 Peter 12-4 are paral lel passages

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

One Gospel Many Facets

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Redemption JustificationRighteousnessRegenerationReconciliationPropitiationSubstitutionForgivenessEternal LifeAdoption InheritanceGlorification

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Set FreeRescuedAccessPeaceRest JoyLoveHopeSecureChosenPredestinedSalvation

SanctificationSaints In ChristUnder GraceThe New ManOur Certain FutureThe Christian Life

Redemption ldquoTo secure the release of someone from slavery or captivity by

the payment of a ransomrdquo The ldquoransomrdquo is the payment (price) paid The result is ldquoredemptionrdquo set free from slavery

λύτρον lutron noun ransom redemption price For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to

serve and to give His life a ransom for many Mark 1045 (NASB)

The price paid to redeem us was the blood of Christ knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like

silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless the blood of Christ 1 Peter 118-19 (NASB)

The blood of Christ implies the shedding of blood to the point of deathmdashan infi nite price giving all that He had to give

REDEEM REDEMPTION

λύτρωσις ( lutrōsis) noun to pay the price and to set free Blessed be the Lord God of Israel For He has visited us and

accomplished redemption for His people Luke 168 (NASB) Heb 912 Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his

own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us

ἀπολύτρωσις (apolutrōsis) noun to ransom in full to pay the price completely once and for all Ro 324 Being justified freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus 1Co 130 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made

unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

Eph 17 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace

Col 114 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins

REDEEM REDEMPTION

ἀγοράζω (agorazō) verb Buy purchase in the marketplace Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you whom you have from God and that you are not your own For you have been bought with a price therefore glorify God in your bodyrdquo 1 Corinthians 619-20 (NASB)

And they sang a new song saying Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation Revelation 59 (NASB)

ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō) verb to be taken out of the market place that is as a prized possession never to be bought and sold again Taken out of marketability Ga 313 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law

being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree

Ga 45 To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons

REDEEM REDEMPTION

περιποιέομαι peripoieomai verb Purchase gain save preserve obtain Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood Acts 2028 (NASB)

REDEEM REDEMPTION

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

THE GOSPEL IS VAST

The Gospel presented to unbelievers

The Gospel that Christians need to study and be constantly reminded of

ldquoWe can spend the rest of lives studying the Gospel and never fully plumb its depthsrdquo Paul Lasher

The Gospel can be viewed from many diff erent aspectsYet it is one message of Godrsquos Good News to manThe Gospel is the message of what God has done for us

through the Lord Jesus Christ

THE GOSPEL IS MULTIFACETED

forgiveness

regeneration

justification

righteousness

propitiation

reconciliation

Eternal life

In Christ

redemption

sanctification

The Objectives of this presentation are To summarize the fullness of the message of the Gospel To produce a sense of awe wonder and amazement at the

wisdom power and love of God in what He accomplished for us through the cross of Christ

To develop precise terminology of the theological concepts within the Gospel

To provide a basis for ldquoHow should we then liverdquo

PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION

Gospel means ldquogood newsrdquo Historically the Greek word meant a message of victory or good news

from the battlefield The Gospel is proclaimed throughout Scripture

Gal 38 The Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham saying ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOUrdquo

Gen 315 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman And between your seed and her seed He shall bruise you on the head And you shall bruise him on the heel

1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures 4 and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

Rev 146-7 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people and he said with a loud voice Fear God and give Him glory because the hour of His judgment has come worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters

THE GOSPEL

The word is not used in a religious sense in the Old Testament The Greek word for Gospel and verb form to preach the Gospel

occurs sporadically throughout the New Testament Concentrated in Paulrsquos epistles (60 times) In Matthew and Mark Luke only has the verb form not at all in John A couple of times in Acts and Revelation

The Gospel is not explicitly defi ned anywhere as to exactly what constitutes the Gospel 1 Cor 153-5 is a concise summary of the Gospel Romans 1-11 is a detailed presentation of the Gospel The Gospel is proclaimed in Acts many times but the presentation

varies according to the audience A simple defi nition of the Gospel the Person and Work of Christ The Gospel in its fullness includes Who God is and What God

has done for us in and through Christ (and is doing and will do) who we are in Christ what we possess in Christ including the gifts He has given us and the promises for what is yet future for us

THE GOSPEL

There is a God who eternally exists and has created everything including every person

Although man had perfect fellowship with God man rebelled and was plunged into darkness sin rebellion and hopelessness

Although God would have been just in separating man from Himself eternally because of His great love for us He sent His one and only Son Jesus the prophesied Messiah fully man and fully God to die for our sins in order to purchase us for Himself

God raised Christ from the dead demonstrating Godrsquos complete satisfaction of His just wrath against sin in Christrsquos sacrifi cial death

In Acts 1730 God commands all men everywhere to repent (change your direction how you think about God who He is and what He has done) believe in His complete provisions for you in Christrsquos death burial and resurrection and be fully identifi ed with Christ His suff ering death and resurrection for you

Be aware there is a cost to discipleshipmdashthere will be those who hate us as they hated Christ

THE GOSPEL ndash A BRIEF SUMMARY

1 Corinthians 15 1-8 (NASB) ldquoNow I make known to you brethren the gospel which I preached to you which also you received in which also you stand by which also you are saved if you hold fast the word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain For I delivered to you as of fi rst importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and that He appeared to Cephas then to the twelve After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time most of whom remain until now but some have fallen asleep then He appeared to James then to all the apostles and last of all as to one untimely born He appeared to me alsordquo

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed mdashnamely the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe For there is no distinction for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time so that he would be just and the justifi er of the one who lives because of Jesusrsquo faithfulness Romans 321-26 (NET1) (all one sentence in the Greek text )

Romans Chapters 1-5 introduces the Gospel Galatians 215 ndash 431 expands on the theme introduced in Romans

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

Ephesians 13-14 (NASB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spir itual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His wi l l to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the r iches of His grace which He lavished on us In al l wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His wi l l according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the ful lness of the t imes that is the summing up of al l things in Christ things in the heavens and things on the earth In Him also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose who works al l things after the counsel of His wi l l to the end that we who were the fi rst to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also bel ieved you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spir it of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory (al l one sentence in the Greek text )

Colossians 113-29 1 Peter 12-5 2 Peter 12-4 are paral lel passages

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

One Gospel Many Facets

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Redemption JustificationRighteousnessRegenerationReconciliationPropitiationSubstitutionForgivenessEternal LifeAdoption InheritanceGlorification

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Set FreeRescuedAccessPeaceRest JoyLoveHopeSecureChosenPredestinedSalvation

SanctificationSaints In ChristUnder GraceThe New ManOur Certain FutureThe Christian Life

Redemption ldquoTo secure the release of someone from slavery or captivity by

the payment of a ransomrdquo The ldquoransomrdquo is the payment (price) paid The result is ldquoredemptionrdquo set free from slavery

λύτρον lutron noun ransom redemption price For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to

serve and to give His life a ransom for many Mark 1045 (NASB)

The price paid to redeem us was the blood of Christ knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like

silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless the blood of Christ 1 Peter 118-19 (NASB)

The blood of Christ implies the shedding of blood to the point of deathmdashan infi nite price giving all that He had to give

REDEEM REDEMPTION

λύτρωσις ( lutrōsis) noun to pay the price and to set free Blessed be the Lord God of Israel For He has visited us and

accomplished redemption for His people Luke 168 (NASB) Heb 912 Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his

own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us

ἀπολύτρωσις (apolutrōsis) noun to ransom in full to pay the price completely once and for all Ro 324 Being justified freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus 1Co 130 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made

unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

Eph 17 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace

Col 114 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins

REDEEM REDEMPTION

ἀγοράζω (agorazō) verb Buy purchase in the marketplace Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you whom you have from God and that you are not your own For you have been bought with a price therefore glorify God in your bodyrdquo 1 Corinthians 619-20 (NASB)

And they sang a new song saying Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation Revelation 59 (NASB)

ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō) verb to be taken out of the market place that is as a prized possession never to be bought and sold again Taken out of marketability Ga 313 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law

being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree

Ga 45 To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons

REDEEM REDEMPTION

περιποιέομαι peripoieomai verb Purchase gain save preserve obtain Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood Acts 2028 (NASB)

REDEEM REDEMPTION

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

The Gospel can be viewed from many diff erent aspectsYet it is one message of Godrsquos Good News to manThe Gospel is the message of what God has done for us

through the Lord Jesus Christ

THE GOSPEL IS MULTIFACETED

forgiveness

regeneration

justification

righteousness

propitiation

reconciliation

Eternal life

In Christ

redemption

sanctification

The Objectives of this presentation are To summarize the fullness of the message of the Gospel To produce a sense of awe wonder and amazement at the

wisdom power and love of God in what He accomplished for us through the cross of Christ

To develop precise terminology of the theological concepts within the Gospel

To provide a basis for ldquoHow should we then liverdquo

PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION

Gospel means ldquogood newsrdquo Historically the Greek word meant a message of victory or good news

from the battlefield The Gospel is proclaimed throughout Scripture

Gal 38 The Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham saying ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOUrdquo

Gen 315 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman And between your seed and her seed He shall bruise you on the head And you shall bruise him on the heel

1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures 4 and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

Rev 146-7 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people and he said with a loud voice Fear God and give Him glory because the hour of His judgment has come worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters

THE GOSPEL

The word is not used in a religious sense in the Old Testament The Greek word for Gospel and verb form to preach the Gospel

occurs sporadically throughout the New Testament Concentrated in Paulrsquos epistles (60 times) In Matthew and Mark Luke only has the verb form not at all in John A couple of times in Acts and Revelation

The Gospel is not explicitly defi ned anywhere as to exactly what constitutes the Gospel 1 Cor 153-5 is a concise summary of the Gospel Romans 1-11 is a detailed presentation of the Gospel The Gospel is proclaimed in Acts many times but the presentation

varies according to the audience A simple defi nition of the Gospel the Person and Work of Christ The Gospel in its fullness includes Who God is and What God

has done for us in and through Christ (and is doing and will do) who we are in Christ what we possess in Christ including the gifts He has given us and the promises for what is yet future for us

THE GOSPEL

There is a God who eternally exists and has created everything including every person

Although man had perfect fellowship with God man rebelled and was plunged into darkness sin rebellion and hopelessness

Although God would have been just in separating man from Himself eternally because of His great love for us He sent His one and only Son Jesus the prophesied Messiah fully man and fully God to die for our sins in order to purchase us for Himself

God raised Christ from the dead demonstrating Godrsquos complete satisfaction of His just wrath against sin in Christrsquos sacrifi cial death

In Acts 1730 God commands all men everywhere to repent (change your direction how you think about God who He is and what He has done) believe in His complete provisions for you in Christrsquos death burial and resurrection and be fully identifi ed with Christ His suff ering death and resurrection for you

Be aware there is a cost to discipleshipmdashthere will be those who hate us as they hated Christ

THE GOSPEL ndash A BRIEF SUMMARY

1 Corinthians 15 1-8 (NASB) ldquoNow I make known to you brethren the gospel which I preached to you which also you received in which also you stand by which also you are saved if you hold fast the word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain For I delivered to you as of fi rst importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and that He appeared to Cephas then to the twelve After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time most of whom remain until now but some have fallen asleep then He appeared to James then to all the apostles and last of all as to one untimely born He appeared to me alsordquo

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed mdashnamely the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe For there is no distinction for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time so that he would be just and the justifi er of the one who lives because of Jesusrsquo faithfulness Romans 321-26 (NET1) (all one sentence in the Greek text )

Romans Chapters 1-5 introduces the Gospel Galatians 215 ndash 431 expands on the theme introduced in Romans

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

Ephesians 13-14 (NASB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spir itual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His wi l l to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the r iches of His grace which He lavished on us In al l wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His wi l l according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the ful lness of the t imes that is the summing up of al l things in Christ things in the heavens and things on the earth In Him also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose who works al l things after the counsel of His wi l l to the end that we who were the fi rst to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also bel ieved you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spir it of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory (al l one sentence in the Greek text )

Colossians 113-29 1 Peter 12-5 2 Peter 12-4 are paral lel passages

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

One Gospel Many Facets

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Redemption JustificationRighteousnessRegenerationReconciliationPropitiationSubstitutionForgivenessEternal LifeAdoption InheritanceGlorification

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Set FreeRescuedAccessPeaceRest JoyLoveHopeSecureChosenPredestinedSalvation

SanctificationSaints In ChristUnder GraceThe New ManOur Certain FutureThe Christian Life

Redemption ldquoTo secure the release of someone from slavery or captivity by

the payment of a ransomrdquo The ldquoransomrdquo is the payment (price) paid The result is ldquoredemptionrdquo set free from slavery

λύτρον lutron noun ransom redemption price For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to

serve and to give His life a ransom for many Mark 1045 (NASB)

The price paid to redeem us was the blood of Christ knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like

silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless the blood of Christ 1 Peter 118-19 (NASB)

The blood of Christ implies the shedding of blood to the point of deathmdashan infi nite price giving all that He had to give

REDEEM REDEMPTION

λύτρωσις ( lutrōsis) noun to pay the price and to set free Blessed be the Lord God of Israel For He has visited us and

accomplished redemption for His people Luke 168 (NASB) Heb 912 Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his

own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us

ἀπολύτρωσις (apolutrōsis) noun to ransom in full to pay the price completely once and for all Ro 324 Being justified freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus 1Co 130 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made

unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

Eph 17 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace

Col 114 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins

REDEEM REDEMPTION

ἀγοράζω (agorazō) verb Buy purchase in the marketplace Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you whom you have from God and that you are not your own For you have been bought with a price therefore glorify God in your bodyrdquo 1 Corinthians 619-20 (NASB)

And they sang a new song saying Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation Revelation 59 (NASB)

ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō) verb to be taken out of the market place that is as a prized possession never to be bought and sold again Taken out of marketability Ga 313 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law

being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree

Ga 45 To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons

REDEEM REDEMPTION

περιποιέομαι peripoieomai verb Purchase gain save preserve obtain Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood Acts 2028 (NASB)

REDEEM REDEMPTION

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

The Objectives of this presentation are To summarize the fullness of the message of the Gospel To produce a sense of awe wonder and amazement at the

wisdom power and love of God in what He accomplished for us through the cross of Christ

To develop precise terminology of the theological concepts within the Gospel

To provide a basis for ldquoHow should we then liverdquo

PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION

Gospel means ldquogood newsrdquo Historically the Greek word meant a message of victory or good news

from the battlefield The Gospel is proclaimed throughout Scripture

Gal 38 The Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham saying ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOUrdquo

Gen 315 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman And between your seed and her seed He shall bruise you on the head And you shall bruise him on the heel

1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures 4 and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

Rev 146-7 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people and he said with a loud voice Fear God and give Him glory because the hour of His judgment has come worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters

THE GOSPEL

The word is not used in a religious sense in the Old Testament The Greek word for Gospel and verb form to preach the Gospel

occurs sporadically throughout the New Testament Concentrated in Paulrsquos epistles (60 times) In Matthew and Mark Luke only has the verb form not at all in John A couple of times in Acts and Revelation

The Gospel is not explicitly defi ned anywhere as to exactly what constitutes the Gospel 1 Cor 153-5 is a concise summary of the Gospel Romans 1-11 is a detailed presentation of the Gospel The Gospel is proclaimed in Acts many times but the presentation

varies according to the audience A simple defi nition of the Gospel the Person and Work of Christ The Gospel in its fullness includes Who God is and What God

has done for us in and through Christ (and is doing and will do) who we are in Christ what we possess in Christ including the gifts He has given us and the promises for what is yet future for us

THE GOSPEL

There is a God who eternally exists and has created everything including every person

Although man had perfect fellowship with God man rebelled and was plunged into darkness sin rebellion and hopelessness

Although God would have been just in separating man from Himself eternally because of His great love for us He sent His one and only Son Jesus the prophesied Messiah fully man and fully God to die for our sins in order to purchase us for Himself

God raised Christ from the dead demonstrating Godrsquos complete satisfaction of His just wrath against sin in Christrsquos sacrifi cial death

In Acts 1730 God commands all men everywhere to repent (change your direction how you think about God who He is and what He has done) believe in His complete provisions for you in Christrsquos death burial and resurrection and be fully identifi ed with Christ His suff ering death and resurrection for you

Be aware there is a cost to discipleshipmdashthere will be those who hate us as they hated Christ

THE GOSPEL ndash A BRIEF SUMMARY

1 Corinthians 15 1-8 (NASB) ldquoNow I make known to you brethren the gospel which I preached to you which also you received in which also you stand by which also you are saved if you hold fast the word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain For I delivered to you as of fi rst importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and that He appeared to Cephas then to the twelve After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time most of whom remain until now but some have fallen asleep then He appeared to James then to all the apostles and last of all as to one untimely born He appeared to me alsordquo

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed mdashnamely the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe For there is no distinction for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time so that he would be just and the justifi er of the one who lives because of Jesusrsquo faithfulness Romans 321-26 (NET1) (all one sentence in the Greek text )

Romans Chapters 1-5 introduces the Gospel Galatians 215 ndash 431 expands on the theme introduced in Romans

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

Ephesians 13-14 (NASB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spir itual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His wi l l to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the r iches of His grace which He lavished on us In al l wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His wi l l according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the ful lness of the t imes that is the summing up of al l things in Christ things in the heavens and things on the earth In Him also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose who works al l things after the counsel of His wi l l to the end that we who were the fi rst to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also bel ieved you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spir it of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory (al l one sentence in the Greek text )

Colossians 113-29 1 Peter 12-5 2 Peter 12-4 are paral lel passages

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

One Gospel Many Facets

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Redemption JustificationRighteousnessRegenerationReconciliationPropitiationSubstitutionForgivenessEternal LifeAdoption InheritanceGlorification

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Set FreeRescuedAccessPeaceRest JoyLoveHopeSecureChosenPredestinedSalvation

SanctificationSaints In ChristUnder GraceThe New ManOur Certain FutureThe Christian Life

Redemption ldquoTo secure the release of someone from slavery or captivity by

the payment of a ransomrdquo The ldquoransomrdquo is the payment (price) paid The result is ldquoredemptionrdquo set free from slavery

λύτρον lutron noun ransom redemption price For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to

serve and to give His life a ransom for many Mark 1045 (NASB)

The price paid to redeem us was the blood of Christ knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like

silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless the blood of Christ 1 Peter 118-19 (NASB)

The blood of Christ implies the shedding of blood to the point of deathmdashan infi nite price giving all that He had to give

REDEEM REDEMPTION

λύτρωσις ( lutrōsis) noun to pay the price and to set free Blessed be the Lord God of Israel For He has visited us and

accomplished redemption for His people Luke 168 (NASB) Heb 912 Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his

own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us

ἀπολύτρωσις (apolutrōsis) noun to ransom in full to pay the price completely once and for all Ro 324 Being justified freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus 1Co 130 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made

unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

Eph 17 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace

Col 114 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins

REDEEM REDEMPTION

ἀγοράζω (agorazō) verb Buy purchase in the marketplace Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you whom you have from God and that you are not your own For you have been bought with a price therefore glorify God in your bodyrdquo 1 Corinthians 619-20 (NASB)

And they sang a new song saying Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation Revelation 59 (NASB)

ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō) verb to be taken out of the market place that is as a prized possession never to be bought and sold again Taken out of marketability Ga 313 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law

being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree

Ga 45 To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons

REDEEM REDEMPTION

περιποιέομαι peripoieomai verb Purchase gain save preserve obtain Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood Acts 2028 (NASB)

REDEEM REDEMPTION

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

Gospel means ldquogood newsrdquo Historically the Greek word meant a message of victory or good news

from the battlefield The Gospel is proclaimed throughout Scripture

Gal 38 The Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham saying ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOUrdquo

Gen 315 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman And between your seed and her seed He shall bruise you on the head And you shall bruise him on the heel

1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures 4 and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

Rev 146-7 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people and he said with a loud voice Fear God and give Him glory because the hour of His judgment has come worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters

THE GOSPEL

The word is not used in a religious sense in the Old Testament The Greek word for Gospel and verb form to preach the Gospel

occurs sporadically throughout the New Testament Concentrated in Paulrsquos epistles (60 times) In Matthew and Mark Luke only has the verb form not at all in John A couple of times in Acts and Revelation

The Gospel is not explicitly defi ned anywhere as to exactly what constitutes the Gospel 1 Cor 153-5 is a concise summary of the Gospel Romans 1-11 is a detailed presentation of the Gospel The Gospel is proclaimed in Acts many times but the presentation

varies according to the audience A simple defi nition of the Gospel the Person and Work of Christ The Gospel in its fullness includes Who God is and What God

has done for us in and through Christ (and is doing and will do) who we are in Christ what we possess in Christ including the gifts He has given us and the promises for what is yet future for us

THE GOSPEL

There is a God who eternally exists and has created everything including every person

Although man had perfect fellowship with God man rebelled and was plunged into darkness sin rebellion and hopelessness

Although God would have been just in separating man from Himself eternally because of His great love for us He sent His one and only Son Jesus the prophesied Messiah fully man and fully God to die for our sins in order to purchase us for Himself

God raised Christ from the dead demonstrating Godrsquos complete satisfaction of His just wrath against sin in Christrsquos sacrifi cial death

In Acts 1730 God commands all men everywhere to repent (change your direction how you think about God who He is and what He has done) believe in His complete provisions for you in Christrsquos death burial and resurrection and be fully identifi ed with Christ His suff ering death and resurrection for you

Be aware there is a cost to discipleshipmdashthere will be those who hate us as they hated Christ

THE GOSPEL ndash A BRIEF SUMMARY

1 Corinthians 15 1-8 (NASB) ldquoNow I make known to you brethren the gospel which I preached to you which also you received in which also you stand by which also you are saved if you hold fast the word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain For I delivered to you as of fi rst importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and that He appeared to Cephas then to the twelve After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time most of whom remain until now but some have fallen asleep then He appeared to James then to all the apostles and last of all as to one untimely born He appeared to me alsordquo

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed mdashnamely the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe For there is no distinction for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time so that he would be just and the justifi er of the one who lives because of Jesusrsquo faithfulness Romans 321-26 (NET1) (all one sentence in the Greek text )

Romans Chapters 1-5 introduces the Gospel Galatians 215 ndash 431 expands on the theme introduced in Romans

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

Ephesians 13-14 (NASB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spir itual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His wi l l to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the r iches of His grace which He lavished on us In al l wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His wi l l according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the ful lness of the t imes that is the summing up of al l things in Christ things in the heavens and things on the earth In Him also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose who works al l things after the counsel of His wi l l to the end that we who were the fi rst to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also bel ieved you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spir it of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory (al l one sentence in the Greek text )

Colossians 113-29 1 Peter 12-5 2 Peter 12-4 are paral lel passages

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

One Gospel Many Facets

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Redemption JustificationRighteousnessRegenerationReconciliationPropitiationSubstitutionForgivenessEternal LifeAdoption InheritanceGlorification

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Set FreeRescuedAccessPeaceRest JoyLoveHopeSecureChosenPredestinedSalvation

SanctificationSaints In ChristUnder GraceThe New ManOur Certain FutureThe Christian Life

Redemption ldquoTo secure the release of someone from slavery or captivity by

the payment of a ransomrdquo The ldquoransomrdquo is the payment (price) paid The result is ldquoredemptionrdquo set free from slavery

λύτρον lutron noun ransom redemption price For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to

serve and to give His life a ransom for many Mark 1045 (NASB)

The price paid to redeem us was the blood of Christ knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like

silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless the blood of Christ 1 Peter 118-19 (NASB)

The blood of Christ implies the shedding of blood to the point of deathmdashan infi nite price giving all that He had to give

REDEEM REDEMPTION

λύτρωσις ( lutrōsis) noun to pay the price and to set free Blessed be the Lord God of Israel For He has visited us and

accomplished redemption for His people Luke 168 (NASB) Heb 912 Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his

own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us

ἀπολύτρωσις (apolutrōsis) noun to ransom in full to pay the price completely once and for all Ro 324 Being justified freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus 1Co 130 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made

unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

Eph 17 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace

Col 114 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins

REDEEM REDEMPTION

ἀγοράζω (agorazō) verb Buy purchase in the marketplace Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you whom you have from God and that you are not your own For you have been bought with a price therefore glorify God in your bodyrdquo 1 Corinthians 619-20 (NASB)

And they sang a new song saying Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation Revelation 59 (NASB)

ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō) verb to be taken out of the market place that is as a prized possession never to be bought and sold again Taken out of marketability Ga 313 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law

being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree

Ga 45 To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons

REDEEM REDEMPTION

περιποιέομαι peripoieomai verb Purchase gain save preserve obtain Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood Acts 2028 (NASB)

REDEEM REDEMPTION

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

The word is not used in a religious sense in the Old Testament The Greek word for Gospel and verb form to preach the Gospel

occurs sporadically throughout the New Testament Concentrated in Paulrsquos epistles (60 times) In Matthew and Mark Luke only has the verb form not at all in John A couple of times in Acts and Revelation

The Gospel is not explicitly defi ned anywhere as to exactly what constitutes the Gospel 1 Cor 153-5 is a concise summary of the Gospel Romans 1-11 is a detailed presentation of the Gospel The Gospel is proclaimed in Acts many times but the presentation

varies according to the audience A simple defi nition of the Gospel the Person and Work of Christ The Gospel in its fullness includes Who God is and What God

has done for us in and through Christ (and is doing and will do) who we are in Christ what we possess in Christ including the gifts He has given us and the promises for what is yet future for us

THE GOSPEL

There is a God who eternally exists and has created everything including every person

Although man had perfect fellowship with God man rebelled and was plunged into darkness sin rebellion and hopelessness

Although God would have been just in separating man from Himself eternally because of His great love for us He sent His one and only Son Jesus the prophesied Messiah fully man and fully God to die for our sins in order to purchase us for Himself

God raised Christ from the dead demonstrating Godrsquos complete satisfaction of His just wrath against sin in Christrsquos sacrifi cial death

In Acts 1730 God commands all men everywhere to repent (change your direction how you think about God who He is and what He has done) believe in His complete provisions for you in Christrsquos death burial and resurrection and be fully identifi ed with Christ His suff ering death and resurrection for you

Be aware there is a cost to discipleshipmdashthere will be those who hate us as they hated Christ

THE GOSPEL ndash A BRIEF SUMMARY

1 Corinthians 15 1-8 (NASB) ldquoNow I make known to you brethren the gospel which I preached to you which also you received in which also you stand by which also you are saved if you hold fast the word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain For I delivered to you as of fi rst importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and that He appeared to Cephas then to the twelve After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time most of whom remain until now but some have fallen asleep then He appeared to James then to all the apostles and last of all as to one untimely born He appeared to me alsordquo

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed mdashnamely the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe For there is no distinction for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time so that he would be just and the justifi er of the one who lives because of Jesusrsquo faithfulness Romans 321-26 (NET1) (all one sentence in the Greek text )

Romans Chapters 1-5 introduces the Gospel Galatians 215 ndash 431 expands on the theme introduced in Romans

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

Ephesians 13-14 (NASB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spir itual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His wi l l to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the r iches of His grace which He lavished on us In al l wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His wi l l according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the ful lness of the t imes that is the summing up of al l things in Christ things in the heavens and things on the earth In Him also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose who works al l things after the counsel of His wi l l to the end that we who were the fi rst to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also bel ieved you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spir it of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory (al l one sentence in the Greek text )

Colossians 113-29 1 Peter 12-5 2 Peter 12-4 are paral lel passages

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

One Gospel Many Facets

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Redemption JustificationRighteousnessRegenerationReconciliationPropitiationSubstitutionForgivenessEternal LifeAdoption InheritanceGlorification

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Set FreeRescuedAccessPeaceRest JoyLoveHopeSecureChosenPredestinedSalvation

SanctificationSaints In ChristUnder GraceThe New ManOur Certain FutureThe Christian Life

Redemption ldquoTo secure the release of someone from slavery or captivity by

the payment of a ransomrdquo The ldquoransomrdquo is the payment (price) paid The result is ldquoredemptionrdquo set free from slavery

λύτρον lutron noun ransom redemption price For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to

serve and to give His life a ransom for many Mark 1045 (NASB)

The price paid to redeem us was the blood of Christ knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like

silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless the blood of Christ 1 Peter 118-19 (NASB)

The blood of Christ implies the shedding of blood to the point of deathmdashan infi nite price giving all that He had to give

REDEEM REDEMPTION

λύτρωσις ( lutrōsis) noun to pay the price and to set free Blessed be the Lord God of Israel For He has visited us and

accomplished redemption for His people Luke 168 (NASB) Heb 912 Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his

own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us

ἀπολύτρωσις (apolutrōsis) noun to ransom in full to pay the price completely once and for all Ro 324 Being justified freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus 1Co 130 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made

unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

Eph 17 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace

Col 114 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins

REDEEM REDEMPTION

ἀγοράζω (agorazō) verb Buy purchase in the marketplace Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you whom you have from God and that you are not your own For you have been bought with a price therefore glorify God in your bodyrdquo 1 Corinthians 619-20 (NASB)

And they sang a new song saying Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation Revelation 59 (NASB)

ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō) verb to be taken out of the market place that is as a prized possession never to be bought and sold again Taken out of marketability Ga 313 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law

being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree

Ga 45 To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons

REDEEM REDEMPTION

περιποιέομαι peripoieomai verb Purchase gain save preserve obtain Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood Acts 2028 (NASB)

REDEEM REDEMPTION

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

There is a God who eternally exists and has created everything including every person

Although man had perfect fellowship with God man rebelled and was plunged into darkness sin rebellion and hopelessness

Although God would have been just in separating man from Himself eternally because of His great love for us He sent His one and only Son Jesus the prophesied Messiah fully man and fully God to die for our sins in order to purchase us for Himself

God raised Christ from the dead demonstrating Godrsquos complete satisfaction of His just wrath against sin in Christrsquos sacrifi cial death

In Acts 1730 God commands all men everywhere to repent (change your direction how you think about God who He is and what He has done) believe in His complete provisions for you in Christrsquos death burial and resurrection and be fully identifi ed with Christ His suff ering death and resurrection for you

Be aware there is a cost to discipleshipmdashthere will be those who hate us as they hated Christ

THE GOSPEL ndash A BRIEF SUMMARY

1 Corinthians 15 1-8 (NASB) ldquoNow I make known to you brethren the gospel which I preached to you which also you received in which also you stand by which also you are saved if you hold fast the word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain For I delivered to you as of fi rst importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and that He appeared to Cephas then to the twelve After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time most of whom remain until now but some have fallen asleep then He appeared to James then to all the apostles and last of all as to one untimely born He appeared to me alsordquo

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed mdashnamely the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe For there is no distinction for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time so that he would be just and the justifi er of the one who lives because of Jesusrsquo faithfulness Romans 321-26 (NET1) (all one sentence in the Greek text )

Romans Chapters 1-5 introduces the Gospel Galatians 215 ndash 431 expands on the theme introduced in Romans

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

Ephesians 13-14 (NASB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spir itual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His wi l l to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the r iches of His grace which He lavished on us In al l wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His wi l l according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the ful lness of the t imes that is the summing up of al l things in Christ things in the heavens and things on the earth In Him also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose who works al l things after the counsel of His wi l l to the end that we who were the fi rst to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also bel ieved you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spir it of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory (al l one sentence in the Greek text )

Colossians 113-29 1 Peter 12-5 2 Peter 12-4 are paral lel passages

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

One Gospel Many Facets

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Redemption JustificationRighteousnessRegenerationReconciliationPropitiationSubstitutionForgivenessEternal LifeAdoption InheritanceGlorification

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Set FreeRescuedAccessPeaceRest JoyLoveHopeSecureChosenPredestinedSalvation

SanctificationSaints In ChristUnder GraceThe New ManOur Certain FutureThe Christian Life

Redemption ldquoTo secure the release of someone from slavery or captivity by

the payment of a ransomrdquo The ldquoransomrdquo is the payment (price) paid The result is ldquoredemptionrdquo set free from slavery

λύτρον lutron noun ransom redemption price For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to

serve and to give His life a ransom for many Mark 1045 (NASB)

The price paid to redeem us was the blood of Christ knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like

silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless the blood of Christ 1 Peter 118-19 (NASB)

The blood of Christ implies the shedding of blood to the point of deathmdashan infi nite price giving all that He had to give

REDEEM REDEMPTION

λύτρωσις ( lutrōsis) noun to pay the price and to set free Blessed be the Lord God of Israel For He has visited us and

accomplished redemption for His people Luke 168 (NASB) Heb 912 Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his

own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us

ἀπολύτρωσις (apolutrōsis) noun to ransom in full to pay the price completely once and for all Ro 324 Being justified freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus 1Co 130 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made

unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

Eph 17 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace

Col 114 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins

REDEEM REDEMPTION

ἀγοράζω (agorazō) verb Buy purchase in the marketplace Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you whom you have from God and that you are not your own For you have been bought with a price therefore glorify God in your bodyrdquo 1 Corinthians 619-20 (NASB)

And they sang a new song saying Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation Revelation 59 (NASB)

ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō) verb to be taken out of the market place that is as a prized possession never to be bought and sold again Taken out of marketability Ga 313 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law

being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree

Ga 45 To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons

REDEEM REDEMPTION

περιποιέομαι peripoieomai verb Purchase gain save preserve obtain Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood Acts 2028 (NASB)

REDEEM REDEMPTION

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

1 Corinthians 15 1-8 (NASB) ldquoNow I make known to you brethren the gospel which I preached to you which also you received in which also you stand by which also you are saved if you hold fast the word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain For I delivered to you as of fi rst importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and that He appeared to Cephas then to the twelve After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time most of whom remain until now but some have fallen asleep then He appeared to James then to all the apostles and last of all as to one untimely born He appeared to me alsordquo

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed mdashnamely the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe For there is no distinction for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time so that he would be just and the justifi er of the one who lives because of Jesusrsquo faithfulness Romans 321-26 (NET1) (all one sentence in the Greek text )

Romans Chapters 1-5 introduces the Gospel Galatians 215 ndash 431 expands on the theme introduced in Romans

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

Ephesians 13-14 (NASB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spir itual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His wi l l to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the r iches of His grace which He lavished on us In al l wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His wi l l according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the ful lness of the t imes that is the summing up of al l things in Christ things in the heavens and things on the earth In Him also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose who works al l things after the counsel of His wi l l to the end that we who were the fi rst to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also bel ieved you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spir it of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory (al l one sentence in the Greek text )

Colossians 113-29 1 Peter 12-5 2 Peter 12-4 are paral lel passages

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

One Gospel Many Facets

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Redemption JustificationRighteousnessRegenerationReconciliationPropitiationSubstitutionForgivenessEternal LifeAdoption InheritanceGlorification

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Set FreeRescuedAccessPeaceRest JoyLoveHopeSecureChosenPredestinedSalvation

SanctificationSaints In ChristUnder GraceThe New ManOur Certain FutureThe Christian Life

Redemption ldquoTo secure the release of someone from slavery or captivity by

the payment of a ransomrdquo The ldquoransomrdquo is the payment (price) paid The result is ldquoredemptionrdquo set free from slavery

λύτρον lutron noun ransom redemption price For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to

serve and to give His life a ransom for many Mark 1045 (NASB)

The price paid to redeem us was the blood of Christ knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like

silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless the blood of Christ 1 Peter 118-19 (NASB)

The blood of Christ implies the shedding of blood to the point of deathmdashan infi nite price giving all that He had to give

REDEEM REDEMPTION

λύτρωσις ( lutrōsis) noun to pay the price and to set free Blessed be the Lord God of Israel For He has visited us and

accomplished redemption for His people Luke 168 (NASB) Heb 912 Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his

own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us

ἀπολύτρωσις (apolutrōsis) noun to ransom in full to pay the price completely once and for all Ro 324 Being justified freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus 1Co 130 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made

unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

Eph 17 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace

Col 114 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins

REDEEM REDEMPTION

ἀγοράζω (agorazō) verb Buy purchase in the marketplace Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you whom you have from God and that you are not your own For you have been bought with a price therefore glorify God in your bodyrdquo 1 Corinthians 619-20 (NASB)

And they sang a new song saying Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation Revelation 59 (NASB)

ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō) verb to be taken out of the market place that is as a prized possession never to be bought and sold again Taken out of marketability Ga 313 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law

being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree

Ga 45 To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons

REDEEM REDEMPTION

περιποιέομαι peripoieomai verb Purchase gain save preserve obtain Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood Acts 2028 (NASB)

REDEEM REDEMPTION

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed mdashnamely the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe For there is no distinction for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time so that he would be just and the justifi er of the one who lives because of Jesusrsquo faithfulness Romans 321-26 (NET1) (all one sentence in the Greek text )

Romans Chapters 1-5 introduces the Gospel Galatians 215 ndash 431 expands on the theme introduced in Romans

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

Ephesians 13-14 (NASB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spir itual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His wi l l to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the r iches of His grace which He lavished on us In al l wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His wi l l according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the ful lness of the t imes that is the summing up of al l things in Christ things in the heavens and things on the earth In Him also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose who works al l things after the counsel of His wi l l to the end that we who were the fi rst to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also bel ieved you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spir it of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory (al l one sentence in the Greek text )

Colossians 113-29 1 Peter 12-5 2 Peter 12-4 are paral lel passages

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

One Gospel Many Facets

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Redemption JustificationRighteousnessRegenerationReconciliationPropitiationSubstitutionForgivenessEternal LifeAdoption InheritanceGlorification

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Set FreeRescuedAccessPeaceRest JoyLoveHopeSecureChosenPredestinedSalvation

SanctificationSaints In ChristUnder GraceThe New ManOur Certain FutureThe Christian Life

Redemption ldquoTo secure the release of someone from slavery or captivity by

the payment of a ransomrdquo The ldquoransomrdquo is the payment (price) paid The result is ldquoredemptionrdquo set free from slavery

λύτρον lutron noun ransom redemption price For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to

serve and to give His life a ransom for many Mark 1045 (NASB)

The price paid to redeem us was the blood of Christ knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like

silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless the blood of Christ 1 Peter 118-19 (NASB)

The blood of Christ implies the shedding of blood to the point of deathmdashan infi nite price giving all that He had to give

REDEEM REDEMPTION

λύτρωσις ( lutrōsis) noun to pay the price and to set free Blessed be the Lord God of Israel For He has visited us and

accomplished redemption for His people Luke 168 (NASB) Heb 912 Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his

own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us

ἀπολύτρωσις (apolutrōsis) noun to ransom in full to pay the price completely once and for all Ro 324 Being justified freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus 1Co 130 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made

unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

Eph 17 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace

Col 114 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins

REDEEM REDEMPTION

ἀγοράζω (agorazō) verb Buy purchase in the marketplace Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you whom you have from God and that you are not your own For you have been bought with a price therefore glorify God in your bodyrdquo 1 Corinthians 619-20 (NASB)

And they sang a new song saying Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation Revelation 59 (NASB)

ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō) verb to be taken out of the market place that is as a prized possession never to be bought and sold again Taken out of marketability Ga 313 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law

being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree

Ga 45 To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons

REDEEM REDEMPTION

περιποιέομαι peripoieomai verb Purchase gain save preserve obtain Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood Acts 2028 (NASB)

REDEEM REDEMPTION

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

Ephesians 13-14 (NASB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spir itual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His wi l l to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the r iches of His grace which He lavished on us In al l wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His wi l l according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the ful lness of the t imes that is the summing up of al l things in Christ things in the heavens and things on the earth In Him also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose who works al l things after the counsel of His wi l l to the end that we who were the fi rst to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also bel ieved you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spir it of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory (al l one sentence in the Greek text )

Colossians 113-29 1 Peter 12-5 2 Peter 12-4 are paral lel passages

KEY GOSPEL PASSAGES

One Gospel Many Facets

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Redemption JustificationRighteousnessRegenerationReconciliationPropitiationSubstitutionForgivenessEternal LifeAdoption InheritanceGlorification

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Set FreeRescuedAccessPeaceRest JoyLoveHopeSecureChosenPredestinedSalvation

SanctificationSaints In ChristUnder GraceThe New ManOur Certain FutureThe Christian Life

Redemption ldquoTo secure the release of someone from slavery or captivity by

the payment of a ransomrdquo The ldquoransomrdquo is the payment (price) paid The result is ldquoredemptionrdquo set free from slavery

λύτρον lutron noun ransom redemption price For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to

serve and to give His life a ransom for many Mark 1045 (NASB)

The price paid to redeem us was the blood of Christ knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like

silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless the blood of Christ 1 Peter 118-19 (NASB)

The blood of Christ implies the shedding of blood to the point of deathmdashan infi nite price giving all that He had to give

REDEEM REDEMPTION

λύτρωσις ( lutrōsis) noun to pay the price and to set free Blessed be the Lord God of Israel For He has visited us and

accomplished redemption for His people Luke 168 (NASB) Heb 912 Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his

own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us

ἀπολύτρωσις (apolutrōsis) noun to ransom in full to pay the price completely once and for all Ro 324 Being justified freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus 1Co 130 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made

unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

Eph 17 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace

Col 114 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins

REDEEM REDEMPTION

ἀγοράζω (agorazō) verb Buy purchase in the marketplace Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you whom you have from God and that you are not your own For you have been bought with a price therefore glorify God in your bodyrdquo 1 Corinthians 619-20 (NASB)

And they sang a new song saying Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation Revelation 59 (NASB)

ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō) verb to be taken out of the market place that is as a prized possession never to be bought and sold again Taken out of marketability Ga 313 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law

being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree

Ga 45 To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons

REDEEM REDEMPTION

περιποιέομαι peripoieomai verb Purchase gain save preserve obtain Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood Acts 2028 (NASB)

REDEEM REDEMPTION

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

One Gospel Many Facets

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Redemption JustificationRighteousnessRegenerationReconciliationPropitiationSubstitutionForgivenessEternal LifeAdoption InheritanceGlorification

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Set FreeRescuedAccessPeaceRest JoyLoveHopeSecureChosenPredestinedSalvation

SanctificationSaints In ChristUnder GraceThe New ManOur Certain FutureThe Christian Life

Redemption ldquoTo secure the release of someone from slavery or captivity by

the payment of a ransomrdquo The ldquoransomrdquo is the payment (price) paid The result is ldquoredemptionrdquo set free from slavery

λύτρον lutron noun ransom redemption price For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to

serve and to give His life a ransom for many Mark 1045 (NASB)

The price paid to redeem us was the blood of Christ knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like

silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless the blood of Christ 1 Peter 118-19 (NASB)

The blood of Christ implies the shedding of blood to the point of deathmdashan infi nite price giving all that He had to give

REDEEM REDEMPTION

λύτρωσις ( lutrōsis) noun to pay the price and to set free Blessed be the Lord God of Israel For He has visited us and

accomplished redemption for His people Luke 168 (NASB) Heb 912 Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his

own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us

ἀπολύτρωσις (apolutrōsis) noun to ransom in full to pay the price completely once and for all Ro 324 Being justified freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus 1Co 130 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made

unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

Eph 17 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace

Col 114 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins

REDEEM REDEMPTION

ἀγοράζω (agorazō) verb Buy purchase in the marketplace Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you whom you have from God and that you are not your own For you have been bought with a price therefore glorify God in your bodyrdquo 1 Corinthians 619-20 (NASB)

And they sang a new song saying Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation Revelation 59 (NASB)

ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō) verb to be taken out of the market place that is as a prized possession never to be bought and sold again Taken out of marketability Ga 313 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law

being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree

Ga 45 To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons

REDEEM REDEMPTION

περιποιέομαι peripoieomai verb Purchase gain save preserve obtain Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood Acts 2028 (NASB)

REDEEM REDEMPTION

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

Redemption JustificationRighteousnessRegenerationReconciliationPropitiationSubstitutionForgivenessEternal LifeAdoption InheritanceGlorification

FACETS OF THE GOSPEL

Set FreeRescuedAccessPeaceRest JoyLoveHopeSecureChosenPredestinedSalvation

SanctificationSaints In ChristUnder GraceThe New ManOur Certain FutureThe Christian Life

Redemption ldquoTo secure the release of someone from slavery or captivity by

the payment of a ransomrdquo The ldquoransomrdquo is the payment (price) paid The result is ldquoredemptionrdquo set free from slavery

λύτρον lutron noun ransom redemption price For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to

serve and to give His life a ransom for many Mark 1045 (NASB)

The price paid to redeem us was the blood of Christ knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like

silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless the blood of Christ 1 Peter 118-19 (NASB)

The blood of Christ implies the shedding of blood to the point of deathmdashan infi nite price giving all that He had to give

REDEEM REDEMPTION

λύτρωσις ( lutrōsis) noun to pay the price and to set free Blessed be the Lord God of Israel For He has visited us and

accomplished redemption for His people Luke 168 (NASB) Heb 912 Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his

own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us

ἀπολύτρωσις (apolutrōsis) noun to ransom in full to pay the price completely once and for all Ro 324 Being justified freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus 1Co 130 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made

unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

Eph 17 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace

Col 114 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins

REDEEM REDEMPTION

ἀγοράζω (agorazō) verb Buy purchase in the marketplace Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you whom you have from God and that you are not your own For you have been bought with a price therefore glorify God in your bodyrdquo 1 Corinthians 619-20 (NASB)

And they sang a new song saying Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation Revelation 59 (NASB)

ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō) verb to be taken out of the market place that is as a prized possession never to be bought and sold again Taken out of marketability Ga 313 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law

being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree

Ga 45 To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons

REDEEM REDEMPTION

περιποιέομαι peripoieomai verb Purchase gain save preserve obtain Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood Acts 2028 (NASB)

REDEEM REDEMPTION

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

Redemption ldquoTo secure the release of someone from slavery or captivity by

the payment of a ransomrdquo The ldquoransomrdquo is the payment (price) paid The result is ldquoredemptionrdquo set free from slavery

λύτρον lutron noun ransom redemption price For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to

serve and to give His life a ransom for many Mark 1045 (NASB)

The price paid to redeem us was the blood of Christ knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like

silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless the blood of Christ 1 Peter 118-19 (NASB)

The blood of Christ implies the shedding of blood to the point of deathmdashan infi nite price giving all that He had to give

REDEEM REDEMPTION

λύτρωσις ( lutrōsis) noun to pay the price and to set free Blessed be the Lord God of Israel For He has visited us and

accomplished redemption for His people Luke 168 (NASB) Heb 912 Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his

own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us

ἀπολύτρωσις (apolutrōsis) noun to ransom in full to pay the price completely once and for all Ro 324 Being justified freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus 1Co 130 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made

unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

Eph 17 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace

Col 114 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins

REDEEM REDEMPTION

ἀγοράζω (agorazō) verb Buy purchase in the marketplace Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you whom you have from God and that you are not your own For you have been bought with a price therefore glorify God in your bodyrdquo 1 Corinthians 619-20 (NASB)

And they sang a new song saying Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation Revelation 59 (NASB)

ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō) verb to be taken out of the market place that is as a prized possession never to be bought and sold again Taken out of marketability Ga 313 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law

being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree

Ga 45 To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons

REDEEM REDEMPTION

περιποιέομαι peripoieomai verb Purchase gain save preserve obtain Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood Acts 2028 (NASB)

REDEEM REDEMPTION

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

λύτρωσις ( lutrōsis) noun to pay the price and to set free Blessed be the Lord God of Israel For He has visited us and

accomplished redemption for His people Luke 168 (NASB) Heb 912 Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his

own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us

ἀπολύτρωσις (apolutrōsis) noun to ransom in full to pay the price completely once and for all Ro 324 Being justified freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus 1Co 130 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made

unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

Eph 17 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace

Col 114 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins

REDEEM REDEMPTION

ἀγοράζω (agorazō) verb Buy purchase in the marketplace Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you whom you have from God and that you are not your own For you have been bought with a price therefore glorify God in your bodyrdquo 1 Corinthians 619-20 (NASB)

And they sang a new song saying Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation Revelation 59 (NASB)

ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō) verb to be taken out of the market place that is as a prized possession never to be bought and sold again Taken out of marketability Ga 313 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law

being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree

Ga 45 To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons

REDEEM REDEMPTION

περιποιέομαι peripoieomai verb Purchase gain save preserve obtain Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood Acts 2028 (NASB)

REDEEM REDEMPTION

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

ἀγοράζω (agorazō) verb Buy purchase in the marketplace Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you whom you have from God and that you are not your own For you have been bought with a price therefore glorify God in your bodyrdquo 1 Corinthians 619-20 (NASB)

And they sang a new song saying Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation Revelation 59 (NASB)

ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō) verb to be taken out of the market place that is as a prized possession never to be bought and sold again Taken out of marketability Ga 313 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law

being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree

Ga 45 To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons

REDEEM REDEMPTION

περιποιέομαι peripoieomai verb Purchase gain save preserve obtain Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood Acts 2028 (NASB)

REDEEM REDEMPTION

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

περιποιέομαι peripoieomai verb Purchase gain save preserve obtain Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood Acts 2028 (NASB)

REDEEM REDEMPTION

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

In order to redeem us God paid a ransom price but who did He pay the price to Some believe the price was paid to Satan since sinners are

under the authority and bondage to Satan eg Jesus sent Paul ldquoto open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me Acts 2618 (NASB)

God paid the ransom price to Himself the righteous Judge who wrote our certifi cate of debt and nailed it to the cross having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of

decrees against us which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross Colossians 214 (NASB)

God is the one who was offended it was His law we broke He determined the price (wage) of sin which is death it is He who condemns the sinner

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

Under the Law when one could not pay his debt a kinsman who was both able to pay the debt who was free from the guilt of the debt and willing to pay the debt could pay the price and set his kinsman free (Lev 2548-49)

The book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the work of the ldquokinsman redeemerrdquo Boaz was a kinsman of Naomirsquos husband and because of his love

for Ruth he was not only able but willing to redeem that which was Naomirsquos

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer We could not redeem ourselves He was willing and able to

redeem us by paying the price of shedding His blood and dying for us

Our kinsman redeemer had to be a man to be our kinsman Hebrews 217 Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all

things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people (NASB)

KINSMAN REDEEMER

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

Summary When you see ldquoredeemrdquo or ldquoredemptionrdquo in Scripture think

about God paying a high price to purchase us out of slavery setting us free

In redeeming us God paid an infinite price in the shed blood and death of His one and only Son

The price paid was the price demanded by Godrsquos perfect justice

Our redemption was done once we are His prized possession never to be sold again

Our redemption cost us nothing but cost God everything in sacrificing His one and only Son

To relate in some way to what our redemption cost God consider the narrative in Genesis 22 regarding Abrahamrsquos sacrifice of Isaac We can only imagine what must have gone through Abrahamrsquos

mind when God told him to go and sacrifice his only son

REDEEM REDEMPTION

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

Justifi cation and righteousness are closely related coming from the same Greek root word (the adjective for righteous)

To ldquojustifyrdquo means either to declare or show to be righteous In James Abraham was shown to be righteous by his works

God has declared us righteous 1 Cor 611 And some of you were these things but you were washed

but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God

How can God be righteous in calling us righteous if in fact we are unrighteous Prov 1715 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just

even they both are abomination to the LORD The answer is that He fi rst made us righteous before declaring

us righteous 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our

behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him Rom 519 For just as through one manrsquos disobedience the many were

made sinners so also through the one manrsquos obedience the many will be made righteous

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

When we were crucifi ed with Christ our old man who was unrighteous was put to death Rom 67 For the one that died has been justified from sin (LITV)

When we were raised with Christ God made our new man righteous Eph 424 and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has

been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth 1 John 229 If you know that He is righteous you know that everyone

also who does righteousness is born of Him 1 John 37 Little children make sure no one deceives you the one

who does righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous 1 John 39 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin because

His seed remains in him he is not able to sin because he has been born of God

Righteousness is a gift that we receive Rom 517 For if by the transgression of the one death reigned

through the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

Believers are 100 justifi ed and 100 righteous We have been made Godrsquos righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 521 Rom

519) ldquoand be found in him not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christrsquos faithfulness ndash a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christrsquos faithfulnessrdquo Phil 39 (NET)

Godrsquos righteousness can not be improved upon We can not add our righteousness based on works to His

righteousness Godrsquos righteousness can not be tarnished or diminished

The opposite of justifi cation is condemnation and there is NO condemnation for believers Rom 81 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus There is ZERO condemnation for believers not even a little

Justifi cation is not being made righteous God made us righteous in regeneration (see next slide)

JUSTIFICATIONRIGHTEOUSNESS

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

γεννάω gennaō verb Beget give birth to produce eff ect John 111-12 But as many as received Him to them He gave

the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God

John 33-8 (NASB) Jesus answered and said to him Truly truly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said to Him How can a man be born when he is old He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born can he Jesus answered Truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Do not be amazed that I said to you You must be born again The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit

REGENERATION

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

παλιγγενεσία palingenesia new birth rebirth regeneration Titus 35 He saved usmdash not by works of righteousness

that we had done but according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit

Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

ἀναγεννάω anagennaō verb Beget again to produce again Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Peter 13 (NASB)

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is through the living and enduring word of God 1 Peter 123 (NASB)

REGENERATION

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

κτίσις ktisis noun Creation creature Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new creation old

things have passed away and look new things have come 2 Corinthians 517 (HCSB)

For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation Galatians 615 (NASB)

κτίζω ktizō verb Create form shape found and to put on the new man which according to God was

created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 424 (LITV)

REGENERATION

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

Characteristics of the one having been born (perfect tense of γεννάω gennaō) of God Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born

of God and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him 1 John 51 (HCSB)

If you know that He is righteous know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of Him 1 John 229 (LITV)

Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he is not able to sin because he has been born of God 1 John 39 (LITV)

Beloved let us love one another because love is of God and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God 1 John 47 (LITV)

We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin but the one born of God keeps [him] and the evil does not touch him 1 John 518 (LITV)

Because everything having been born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory overcoming the world our faith 1 John 54 (LITV)

REGENERATION

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

When we were dead in our sins God made us alive Col 213 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses

When God made us alive He made us righteous Our new man is righteous (just as our old man was unrighteous) ldquoand to put on the new man which according to God was created

in righteousness and true holinessrdquo Ephesians 424 (LITV)Regeneration includes the old man being put to death with

Christ and our new man being raised with Christ Rom 64 Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life

ldquoFor I am confi dent of this very thing that He who began a good work in you [regeneration] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus [sanctifi cation]ldquo Philippians 16 (NASB)

REGENERATION

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

The old (creation) A new creation

The Old man The New man

A deceptively wicked heart A New heart

Dead in our sins Alive unto God and righteousness

Sinners that sin He that is righteous does righteousness

Our old man - crucified We have been raised to new life

From the realm of the flesh To the realm of the Spirit

From the realm of earth To the realm of Heaven

From the realm of sin To the realm of righteousness

From the realm of Law To the realm of Grace

From the realm of Adam To the realm of Christ

REGENERATION

Before Regeneration After Regeneration

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

ἱλαστήριον hilastērion adj place of propitiation ldquoMercy Seatrdquo Romans 325 God publicly displayed him at his death as the

mercy seat accessible through faith This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed (NET1) Hebrews 95 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat but of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NASB)

ἱλασμός hilasmos noun propitiation 1 John 22 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins

and not for ours only but also for those of the whole world 1 John 410 In this is love not that we loved God but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (NASB)

PROPITIATION

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

Godrsquos righteous anger against our sin was satisfied by the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ as He received the just punishment for our sin in our place

In the Day of Atonement sins where covered temporarily But Christ ldquonot through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood He entered the holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemptionrdquo Hebrews 912

Note ldquoExpiationrdquo is spoken of in the Bible but typically does not occur in English translations Expiation is the cancellation of sins contrasting with propitiation which is the appeasing of divine wrath

Propitiation and expiation are both illustrated in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus where Aaron takes two goats and casts lots for them one for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat

PROPITIATION

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

The goat for the Lord is a sin off ering He slaughters the goat and sprinkles its blood on the mercy seat (See Lev 1615) The first goat symbolizes Christrsquos work on the cross an innocent

victim taking the place of the offending sinner bearing the penalty of the sin they deserve

Jesus exhausted the wrath of God (propitiation) that we deserveAs all the people watched the High Priest would lay his

hands on the scapegoatrsquos head and he would confess the sins of the people of Israel They would watch as he released the scapegoat into the wilderness never to be seen again (See Lev 1620) The sins of the people were transferred to the scapegoat and were

carried away from the presence of the Lord and the people After exhausting Godrsquos wrath against our sins they were removed

(expiation) from our presence and Godrsquos presence never to be seen again ldquoAs far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from usrdquo Psalm 10312 (NASB)

PROPITIATION

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

God took our sin placed it on the Lord Jesus Christ poured out His wrath against that sin upon Jesus 2 Cor 521 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin

on our behalf in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him

The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place 1 Cor 153-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance

what I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

In the above verse the word ldquoforrdquo is translated from the Greek ὑπέρ huper a preposition meaning ldquoon behalf ofrdquo or ldquofor the sake ofrdquo

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father mdash and I lay down my life for the sheep John 1015 (NET1)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

SUBSTITUTION

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

χαρίζομαι (charizomai) verb to remit forgive release (legal) Eph 432 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each

other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you Col 213 When you were dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions

ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) verb to forgive pardon remit (relational) 1 Joh 212 I am writing to you little children because your sins

have been forgiven you for His names sakeAll of our sins are forgiven once for all past present and

future Heb 1012-14 but He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all

time SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified

Rom 610 For the death that He died He died to sin once for all but the life that He lives He lives to God

FORGIVENESS

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

Forgiven rdquoHow joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are coveredrdquo Romans 47 (HCSB)

Forgotten ldquoIt is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more Isaiah 4325 (HCSB)

Removed As far as the east is from the west So far has He removed our transgressions from us Psalm 10312 (NASB)

Lo for my own welfare I had great bitterness It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness For You have cast all my sins behind Your backrdquo Isaiah 3817 (NASB)

ldquoHe will again have compassion on us He will tread our iniquities under foot Yes You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the seardquo Micah 719 (NASB)

Come now and let us reason together Says the LORD Though your sins are as scarlet They will be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson They will be like woolrdquo Isaiah 118 (NASB)

FORGIVENESS

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

apokatallassw (apokatallasso) To reconcile completely to restore to a former state Col 121-22 Once you were alienated and hostile in your

minds because of your evil actions But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death to present you holy faultless and blameless before Himmdash

katallagh (katallagay) To change to restore 2 Cor 518 Now all these things are from God who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

καταλλάσσω (katallassō) verb reconcile Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled

to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

God has reconciled us to Himself He didnrsquot need to reconcile Himself to us

RECONCILIATION

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

John 524 Truly truly I say to you he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life

John 1028 I give them eternal life and they will never perishmdashever No one will snatch them out of My hand

John 173 This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and the One You have sentmdashJesus Christ

Acts 1348 When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorifi ed the message of the Lord and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed

Rom 622 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God you derive your benefi t resulting in sanctifi cation and the outcome eternal life

1 John 513 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life

ETERNAL LIFE

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Ephesians 15-6 (NASB)

Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir through God Galatians 46-7 (NASB)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and such we are For this reason the world does not know us because it did not know Him 1 John 31 (NASB)

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith Galatians 326 (NET1)

ADOPTION

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

The Spirit Himself testifi es with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ i f indeed we suff er with Him so that we may also be glorifi ed with Him Romans 816-17 (NASB)

In Him you also after l istening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvationmdashhaving also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession to the praise of His glory Ephesians 113-14 (NASB)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you wil l know what is the hope of His call ing what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 118-19 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefi led and wil l not fade away reserved in heaven for you 1 Peter 13-4 (NASB)

INHERITANCE

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 830 (NET1)

I have given them the glory You have given Me May they be one as We are one John 1722 (HCSB)

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory Romans 923 (NASB)

but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (NASB)

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself Philippians 321 (NASB)

He called you to this through our gospel so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 214 (HCSB)

GLORIFICATION

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

John 836 So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed Rom 66-7 knowing this that our old self was crucifi ed with Him

in order that our body of sin might be done away with so that we would no longer be slaves to sin for he who has died is freed from sin

Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under law but under grace

Rom 618 and having been freed from sin you became slaves of righteousness

Rom 82 For the law of the Spirit of l ife in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

2 Cor 317 And the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l iberty

Gal 51 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing fi rm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery

Gal 513 For you were called to freedom brethren only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the fl esh but through love serve one another

God set you free and made you to be a slave to righteousness

SET FREE

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

ἐξαιρέω exaireō verb Pluck out take out tear out To remove of separate from danger and bring to safety In the New Testament exaireō may refer to a violent extraction (Matthew 529) to taking one out of indescribable circumstances (ldquoset free deliver rescuerdquo see Acts 710) or to taking one away by force (Acts 2327) Exaireō can also mean ldquodeliver selectrdquo or ldquochoose outrdquo Acts 2617 In all of the above occurrences as well as over 75 occurrences in the Septuagint (translating no fewer than 15 diff erent Hebrew words) this term carries with it the implication of implicit danger Thus it is a strong verb used to describe an unquestionably necessary form of removal

ldquoGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forevermore Amenrdquo Galatians 13-5 (NASB)

RESCUED

ῥύομαι rhuomai verb Save rescue deliver To rescue from a hostile power that seeks to enslave

ldquoFor He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Sonrdquo Colossians 113 (NASB)

ldquoand to wait for His Son from heaven whom He raised from the dead that is Jesus who rescues us from the wrath to comerdquo 1 Thessalonians 110 (NASB)

RESCUED

προσαγωγή prosagōgē noun Access through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in

which we stand and we rejoice in the hope of Godrsquos glory Romans 52 (NET1)

For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father Ephesians 218 (HCSB)

In Him we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him Ephesians 312 (HCSB)

Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness so that we may receive mercy and fi nd grace to help us at the proper time Hebrews 416 (HCSB)

let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water Hebrews 1022 (NET1)

12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer But the Lordrsquos face is against those who do evil 1 Peter 312 (NET1) quote from Psalms 3415-16

ACCESS

John 1427 Peace I leave with you My peace I give to you not as the world gives do I give to you Do not let your heart be troubled nor let it be fearful

Rom 51 Therefore having been justifi ed by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

For He Himself is our peace who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall Ephesians 214 (NASB)

Rom 86 For the mind set on the fl esh is death but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peaceRom 1417 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit

and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His crossmdash whether things on earth or things in heaven Colossians 120 (HCSB)

Gal 522 But the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness

2 Thess 316 May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way The Lord be with all of you

PEACE

Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest Matthew 1128 (NASB)

To ldquorestrdquo is to cease working to establish our own righteousness and to rest in Godrsquos provision in making us righteous

For we who have believed enter that rest just as He has said AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST although His works were fi nished from the foundation of the world Hebrews 43 (NASB)

So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God Hebrews 49 (NASB)

For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works as God did from His Hebrews 410 (NASB)

Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest so that no one will fall through following the same example of disobedience Hebrews 411 (NASB)

Return to your rest O my soul For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you Psalm 1167 (NASB)

REST

These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full John 1511 (NASB)

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit Rom 1417 (NASB)

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit Rom 1417 (NASB)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness Galatians 522 (NASB)

and though you have not seen Him you love Him and though you do not see Him now but believe in Him you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory 1 Peter 18 (NASB)

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy Jude 124 (NASB)

JOY

Greater love has no one than this that one lay down his life for his friends John 1513 (NASB)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 838-39 (NASB)

But God being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us even when we were dead in our transgressions made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)hellip Ephesians 24-5 (NASB)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all 2 Corinthians 1314 (NASB)

LOVED

Biblical hope is the patient waiting for what we absolutely know will happen

For in hope we have been saved but hope that is seen is not hope for who hopes for what he already sees But if we hope for what we do not see with perseverance we wait eagerly for it Romans 824-25 (NASB)

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope Romans 154 (NASB)

Now may the God of hope fi ll you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit Romans 1513 (NASB)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

HOPE

I give them (Christrsquos sheep) eternal l ife and they wil l never [absolutely never ever] perish no one wil l snatch them from my hand My Father who has given them to me is greater than all and no one can snatch them from my Fatherrsquos hand The Father and I are onerdquo John 1028-30 (NET1)

Who will separate us from the love of Christ Will trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword As it is written ldquoFor your sake we encounter death all day long we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered rdquo No in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us For I am convinced that neither death nor l ife nor angels nor heavenly rulers nor things that are present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 835-39 (NET1)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead that is into an inheritance imperishable undefi led and unfading It is reserved in heaven for you who by Godrsquos power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last t ime 1 Peter 13-5 (NET1)

SECURE

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love Ephesians 14 (NET1)

But we ought to thank God always for you brothers and sisters loved by the Lord because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth 2 Thessalonians 213 (NET1)

Therefore as the elect (chosen) of God holy and dearly loved clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy kindness humility gentleness and patience Colossians 312 (NET1)

Paul a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to build up the faith of Godrsquos elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness Titus 11 (HCSB)

CHOSEN

And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God who are called according to his purpose because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son that his Son would be the fi rstborn among many brothers and sisters And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 828-30 (NET1)

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ according to the pleasure of his will mdash to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son Ephesians 14-6 (NET1)

We have also received an inheritance in Him predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will Ephesians 111 (HCSB)

On the contrary we speak Godrsquos hidden wisdom in a mystery a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (HCSB)

PREDESTINED

σωτηρία sōtēria noun Salvation deliverance preservation 1 Thess 59-10 For God did not appoint us to wrath but to obtain

salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we will live together with Him

Heb 59 And having been made perfect He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation

Rom 1311 Do this knowing the time that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed

σῴζω sōzō verb Save keep safe preserve rescue make well Titus 35 He saved us not on the basis of deeds which we have

done in righteousness but according to His mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit

Eph 28-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not as a result of works so that no one may boast

SALVATION SAVED

σῴζω sōzō depending on the context means ldquosaverdquo or ldquokeep saferdquo or ldquopreserverdquo or ldquorescuerdquo or ldquomake wellrdquo Note that σῴζω sōzō does not mean ldquoredeemedrdquo or

ldquoregeneratedrdquo or ldquoreconciledrdquo or ldquoforgivenrdquo or ldquogiven eternal liferdquo

In English ldquosaverdquo means ldquoTo preserve from injury destruction or evil of any kind to rescue from danger as to save a house from the flames to save a man from drowning to save a family from ruin to save a state from warrdquo (Websters)

1 Tim 416 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching persevere in these things for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers Timothy can keep himself and his hearers safe by paying

attention to himself and his teaching (doctrine)

SALVATION SAVED

ἁγιασμός hagiasmos noun Holiness sanctifi cation purifi cation

We are sanctifi ed Heb 1010 By this will (Godrsquos will) we have been sanctified

through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all 1 Cor 611 Such were some of you but you were washed but

you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God

We also participate in sanctifi cation 1 Thess 43 For this is Godrsquos will your sanctification that you

abstain from sexual immorality 2 Cor 71 Therefore dear friends since we have such

promises let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit completing our sanctification in the fear of God

Heb 1214 Pursue peace with all men and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord

SANCTIFICATION

ἅγιος hagios adj Holy (things) consecrated (persons) unapproachable perfect pure upright worthy of God saint

Translated ldquosaintsrdquo (61 times) ldquoholyrdquo or ldquoHolyrdquo ldquosanctuaryrdquo or ldquoHoly placerdquo or ldquoHoliest placerdquo Rom 17 to all who are in Rome beloved of God called saints

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ

Eph 14 according as He did choose us in Him before the foundation of the world for our being holy and unblemished before Him in love (YLT)

but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy without blemish and blameless before him mdash Colossians 122 (NET1)

We are not ldquosinners saved by gracerdquo rather ldquoI was a sinner God saved me by His grace I am now a saint (who occasionally still sins)rdquo

SAINTS (HOLY)

1 Cor 130 But lfloorit isrfloor from Him that you are in Christ Jesus who became God-given wisdom for usmdashlfloorourrfloor righteousness sanctification and redemption

1 John 413 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit

Col 33 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33

Jesus used the same language of Him and the Father John 1411 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the

Father is in Me otherwise believe because of the works themselves

John 1720-21 I do not ask on behalf of these alone but for those also who believe in Me through their word that they may all be one even as You Father are in Me and I in You that they also may be in Us so that the world may believe that You sent Me

IN CHRIST

Grace What God has graciously accomplished for us in Christ For sin shall not be master over you for you are not under law

but under grace Romans 614 (NASB) But if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works

otherwise grace is no longer grace Romans 116 (NASB) But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 324 (NET1) For if by the transgression of the one death reigned through

the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ Romans 517 (NASB)

For 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 2 Corinthians 89 (NASB)

You have been severed from Christ you who are seeking to be justifi ed by law you have fallen from grace Galatians 54 (NASB) Falling from grace means falling back down to the Law

UNDER GRACE

My litt le children I am writing you these things so that you may not sin But if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the FathermdashJesus Christ the Righteous One 1 John 21 (HCSB)

For the entire fullness of Godrsquos nature dwells bodily in Christ and you have been fi lled by Him who is the head over every ruler and authority Colossians 29-10 (HCSB)

but our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ Phil ippians 320 (HCSB)

for you have died and your l ife is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33 (NET1)

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree so that having died to sins we might l ive for righteousness you have been healed by His wounds 1 Peter 224 (HCSB)

For the hearts of these people have grown callous their ears are hard of hearing and they have shut their eyes otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears understand with their heart and be converted and I would heal them Acts 2827 (HCSB)

THERErsquoS MORE

In Christ we are a new creation 2 Cor 517 Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new

creation old things have passed away and look new things have come

Created in Christ in union with Him Eph 28-9 For we are His workmanship created in Christ

Jesus upon good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Created by God in righteousness holiness and truth Eph 424 and to put on the new man which according to

God was created in righteousness and holiness of the truthCreated in Godrsquos image

Col 39-10 Lie not one to another having put off the old man with his practices and having put on the new which is renewed in regard to knowledge after the image of Him who did create him

THE NEW MAN

Christ is in us Col 127 to whom God did will to make known what is the

riches of the glory of this secret among the nations--which is Christ in you the hope of the glory

Christ is our life Col 33-4 for ye did die and your life hath been hid with the

Christ in God when the Christ--our life--may be manifested then also we with him shall be manifested in glory

Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

Christ lives in us Gal 220 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no

longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me

THE NEW MAN

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit Eph 113 When you heard the message of truth the gospel

of your salvation and when you believed in Him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is in our heart 2 Cor 122 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our

hearts as a pledge Gal 46 Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit

of His Son into our hearts crying Abba FatherGodrsquos love has been poured into our heart

Rom 55 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us

THE NEW MAN

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

προσαγωγή prosagōgē noun Access through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in

which we stand and we rejoice in the hope of Godrsquos glory Romans 52 (NET1)

For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father Ephesians 218 (HCSB)

In Him we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him Ephesians 312 (HCSB)

Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness so that we may receive mercy and fi nd grace to help us at the proper time Hebrews 416 (HCSB)

let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water Hebrews 1022 (NET1)

12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer But the Lordrsquos face is against those who do evil 1 Peter 312 (NET1) quote from Psalms 3415-16

ACCESS

John 1427 Peace I leave with you My peace I give to you not as the world gives do I give to you Do not let your heart be troubled nor let it be fearful

Rom 51 Therefore having been justifi ed by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

For He Himself is our peace who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall Ephesians 214 (NASB)

Rom 86 For the mind set on the fl esh is death but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peaceRom 1417 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit

and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His crossmdash whether things on earth or things in heaven Colossians 120 (HCSB)

Gal 522 But the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness

2 Thess 316 May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way The Lord be with all of you

PEACE

Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest Matthew 1128 (NASB)

To ldquorestrdquo is to cease working to establish our own righteousness and to rest in Godrsquos provision in making us righteous

For we who have believed enter that rest just as He has said AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST although His works were fi nished from the foundation of the world Hebrews 43 (NASB)

So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God Hebrews 49 (NASB)

For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works as God did from His Hebrews 410 (NASB)

Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest so that no one will fall through following the same example of disobedience Hebrews 411 (NASB)

Return to your rest O my soul For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you Psalm 1167 (NASB)

REST

These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full John 1511 (NASB)

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit Rom 1417 (NASB)

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit Rom 1417 (NASB)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness Galatians 522 (NASB)

and though you have not seen Him you love Him and though you do not see Him now but believe in Him you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory 1 Peter 18 (NASB)

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy Jude 124 (NASB)

JOY

Greater love has no one than this that one lay down his life for his friends John 1513 (NASB)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 838-39 (NASB)

But God being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us even when we were dead in our transgressions made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)hellip Ephesians 24-5 (NASB)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all 2 Corinthians 1314 (NASB)

LOVED

Biblical hope is the patient waiting for what we absolutely know will happen

For in hope we have been saved but hope that is seen is not hope for who hopes for what he already sees But if we hope for what we do not see with perseverance we wait eagerly for it Romans 824-25 (NASB)

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope Romans 154 (NASB)

Now may the God of hope fi ll you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit Romans 1513 (NASB)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

HOPE

I give them (Christrsquos sheep) eternal l ife and they wil l never [absolutely never ever] perish no one wil l snatch them from my hand My Father who has given them to me is greater than all and no one can snatch them from my Fatherrsquos hand The Father and I are onerdquo John 1028-30 (NET1)

Who will separate us from the love of Christ Will trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword As it is written ldquoFor your sake we encounter death all day long we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered rdquo No in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us For I am convinced that neither death nor l ife nor angels nor heavenly rulers nor things that are present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 835-39 (NET1)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead that is into an inheritance imperishable undefi led and unfading It is reserved in heaven for you who by Godrsquos power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last t ime 1 Peter 13-5 (NET1)

SECURE

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love Ephesians 14 (NET1)

But we ought to thank God always for you brothers and sisters loved by the Lord because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth 2 Thessalonians 213 (NET1)

Therefore as the elect (chosen) of God holy and dearly loved clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy kindness humility gentleness and patience Colossians 312 (NET1)

Paul a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to build up the faith of Godrsquos elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness Titus 11 (HCSB)

CHOSEN

And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God who are called according to his purpose because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son that his Son would be the fi rstborn among many brothers and sisters And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 828-30 (NET1)

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ according to the pleasure of his will mdash to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son Ephesians 14-6 (NET1)

We have also received an inheritance in Him predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will Ephesians 111 (HCSB)

On the contrary we speak Godrsquos hidden wisdom in a mystery a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (HCSB)

PREDESTINED

σωτηρία sōtēria noun Salvation deliverance preservation 1 Thess 59-10 For God did not appoint us to wrath but to obtain

salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we will live together with Him

Heb 59 And having been made perfect He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation

Rom 1311 Do this knowing the time that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed

σῴζω sōzō verb Save keep safe preserve rescue make well Titus 35 He saved us not on the basis of deeds which we have

done in righteousness but according to His mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit

Eph 28-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not as a result of works so that no one may boast

SALVATION SAVED

σῴζω sōzō depending on the context means ldquosaverdquo or ldquokeep saferdquo or ldquopreserverdquo or ldquorescuerdquo or ldquomake wellrdquo Note that σῴζω sōzō does not mean ldquoredeemedrdquo or

ldquoregeneratedrdquo or ldquoreconciledrdquo or ldquoforgivenrdquo or ldquogiven eternal liferdquo

In English ldquosaverdquo means ldquoTo preserve from injury destruction or evil of any kind to rescue from danger as to save a house from the flames to save a man from drowning to save a family from ruin to save a state from warrdquo (Websters)

1 Tim 416 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching persevere in these things for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers Timothy can keep himself and his hearers safe by paying

attention to himself and his teaching (doctrine)

SALVATION SAVED

ἁγιασμός hagiasmos noun Holiness sanctifi cation purifi cation

We are sanctifi ed Heb 1010 By this will (Godrsquos will) we have been sanctified

through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all 1 Cor 611 Such were some of you but you were washed but

you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God

We also participate in sanctifi cation 1 Thess 43 For this is Godrsquos will your sanctification that you

abstain from sexual immorality 2 Cor 71 Therefore dear friends since we have such

promises let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit completing our sanctification in the fear of God

Heb 1214 Pursue peace with all men and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord

SANCTIFICATION

ἅγιος hagios adj Holy (things) consecrated (persons) unapproachable perfect pure upright worthy of God saint

Translated ldquosaintsrdquo (61 times) ldquoholyrdquo or ldquoHolyrdquo ldquosanctuaryrdquo or ldquoHoly placerdquo or ldquoHoliest placerdquo Rom 17 to all who are in Rome beloved of God called saints

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ

Eph 14 according as He did choose us in Him before the foundation of the world for our being holy and unblemished before Him in love (YLT)

but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy without blemish and blameless before him mdash Colossians 122 (NET1)

We are not ldquosinners saved by gracerdquo rather ldquoI was a sinner God saved me by His grace I am now a saint (who occasionally still sins)rdquo

SAINTS (HOLY)

1 Cor 130 But lfloorit isrfloor from Him that you are in Christ Jesus who became God-given wisdom for usmdashlfloorourrfloor righteousness sanctification and redemption

1 John 413 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit

Col 33 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33

Jesus used the same language of Him and the Father John 1411 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the

Father is in Me otherwise believe because of the works themselves

John 1720-21 I do not ask on behalf of these alone but for those also who believe in Me through their word that they may all be one even as You Father are in Me and I in You that they also may be in Us so that the world may believe that You sent Me

IN CHRIST

Grace What God has graciously accomplished for us in Christ For sin shall not be master over you for you are not under law

but under grace Romans 614 (NASB) But if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works

otherwise grace is no longer grace Romans 116 (NASB) But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 324 (NET1) For if by the transgression of the one death reigned through

the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ Romans 517 (NASB)

For 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 2 Corinthians 89 (NASB)

You have been severed from Christ you who are seeking to be justifi ed by law you have fallen from grace Galatians 54 (NASB) Falling from grace means falling back down to the Law

UNDER GRACE

My litt le children I am writing you these things so that you may not sin But if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the FathermdashJesus Christ the Righteous One 1 John 21 (HCSB)

For the entire fullness of Godrsquos nature dwells bodily in Christ and you have been fi lled by Him who is the head over every ruler and authority Colossians 29-10 (HCSB)

but our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ Phil ippians 320 (HCSB)

for you have died and your l ife is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33 (NET1)

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree so that having died to sins we might l ive for righteousness you have been healed by His wounds 1 Peter 224 (HCSB)

For the hearts of these people have grown callous their ears are hard of hearing and they have shut their eyes otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears understand with their heart and be converted and I would heal them Acts 2827 (HCSB)

THERErsquoS MORE

In Christ we are a new creation 2 Cor 517 Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new

creation old things have passed away and look new things have come

Created in Christ in union with Him Eph 28-9 For we are His workmanship created in Christ

Jesus upon good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Created by God in righteousness holiness and truth Eph 424 and to put on the new man which according to

God was created in righteousness and holiness of the truthCreated in Godrsquos image

Col 39-10 Lie not one to another having put off the old man with his practices and having put on the new which is renewed in regard to knowledge after the image of Him who did create him

THE NEW MAN

Christ is in us Col 127 to whom God did will to make known what is the

riches of the glory of this secret among the nations--which is Christ in you the hope of the glory

Christ is our life Col 33-4 for ye did die and your life hath been hid with the

Christ in God when the Christ--our life--may be manifested then also we with him shall be manifested in glory

Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

Christ lives in us Gal 220 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no

longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me

THE NEW MAN

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit Eph 113 When you heard the message of truth the gospel

of your salvation and when you believed in Him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is in our heart 2 Cor 122 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our

hearts as a pledge Gal 46 Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit

of His Son into our hearts crying Abba FatherGodrsquos love has been poured into our heart

Rom 55 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us

THE NEW MAN

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

John 1427 Peace I leave with you My peace I give to you not as the world gives do I give to you Do not let your heart be troubled nor let it be fearful

Rom 51 Therefore having been justifi ed by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

For He Himself is our peace who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall Ephesians 214 (NASB)

Rom 86 For the mind set on the fl esh is death but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peaceRom 1417 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit

and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His crossmdash whether things on earth or things in heaven Colossians 120 (HCSB)

Gal 522 But the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness

2 Thess 316 May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way The Lord be with all of you

PEACE

Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest Matthew 1128 (NASB)

To ldquorestrdquo is to cease working to establish our own righteousness and to rest in Godrsquos provision in making us righteous

For we who have believed enter that rest just as He has said AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST although His works were fi nished from the foundation of the world Hebrews 43 (NASB)

So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God Hebrews 49 (NASB)

For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works as God did from His Hebrews 410 (NASB)

Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest so that no one will fall through following the same example of disobedience Hebrews 411 (NASB)

Return to your rest O my soul For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you Psalm 1167 (NASB)

REST

These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full John 1511 (NASB)

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit Rom 1417 (NASB)

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit Rom 1417 (NASB)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness Galatians 522 (NASB)

and though you have not seen Him you love Him and though you do not see Him now but believe in Him you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory 1 Peter 18 (NASB)

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy Jude 124 (NASB)

JOY

Greater love has no one than this that one lay down his life for his friends John 1513 (NASB)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 838-39 (NASB)

But God being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us even when we were dead in our transgressions made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)hellip Ephesians 24-5 (NASB)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all 2 Corinthians 1314 (NASB)

LOVED

Biblical hope is the patient waiting for what we absolutely know will happen

For in hope we have been saved but hope that is seen is not hope for who hopes for what he already sees But if we hope for what we do not see with perseverance we wait eagerly for it Romans 824-25 (NASB)

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope Romans 154 (NASB)

Now may the God of hope fi ll you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit Romans 1513 (NASB)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

HOPE

I give them (Christrsquos sheep) eternal l ife and they wil l never [absolutely never ever] perish no one wil l snatch them from my hand My Father who has given them to me is greater than all and no one can snatch them from my Fatherrsquos hand The Father and I are onerdquo John 1028-30 (NET1)

Who will separate us from the love of Christ Will trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword As it is written ldquoFor your sake we encounter death all day long we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered rdquo No in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us For I am convinced that neither death nor l ife nor angels nor heavenly rulers nor things that are present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 835-39 (NET1)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead that is into an inheritance imperishable undefi led and unfading It is reserved in heaven for you who by Godrsquos power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last t ime 1 Peter 13-5 (NET1)

SECURE

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love Ephesians 14 (NET1)

But we ought to thank God always for you brothers and sisters loved by the Lord because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth 2 Thessalonians 213 (NET1)

Therefore as the elect (chosen) of God holy and dearly loved clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy kindness humility gentleness and patience Colossians 312 (NET1)

Paul a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to build up the faith of Godrsquos elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness Titus 11 (HCSB)

CHOSEN

And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God who are called according to his purpose because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son that his Son would be the fi rstborn among many brothers and sisters And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 828-30 (NET1)

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ according to the pleasure of his will mdash to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son Ephesians 14-6 (NET1)

We have also received an inheritance in Him predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will Ephesians 111 (HCSB)

On the contrary we speak Godrsquos hidden wisdom in a mystery a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (HCSB)

PREDESTINED

σωτηρία sōtēria noun Salvation deliverance preservation 1 Thess 59-10 For God did not appoint us to wrath but to obtain

salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we will live together with Him

Heb 59 And having been made perfect He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation

Rom 1311 Do this knowing the time that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed

σῴζω sōzō verb Save keep safe preserve rescue make well Titus 35 He saved us not on the basis of deeds which we have

done in righteousness but according to His mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit

Eph 28-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not as a result of works so that no one may boast

SALVATION SAVED

σῴζω sōzō depending on the context means ldquosaverdquo or ldquokeep saferdquo or ldquopreserverdquo or ldquorescuerdquo or ldquomake wellrdquo Note that σῴζω sōzō does not mean ldquoredeemedrdquo or

ldquoregeneratedrdquo or ldquoreconciledrdquo or ldquoforgivenrdquo or ldquogiven eternal liferdquo

In English ldquosaverdquo means ldquoTo preserve from injury destruction or evil of any kind to rescue from danger as to save a house from the flames to save a man from drowning to save a family from ruin to save a state from warrdquo (Websters)

1 Tim 416 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching persevere in these things for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers Timothy can keep himself and his hearers safe by paying

attention to himself and his teaching (doctrine)

SALVATION SAVED

ἁγιασμός hagiasmos noun Holiness sanctifi cation purifi cation

We are sanctifi ed Heb 1010 By this will (Godrsquos will) we have been sanctified

through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all 1 Cor 611 Such were some of you but you were washed but

you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God

We also participate in sanctifi cation 1 Thess 43 For this is Godrsquos will your sanctification that you

abstain from sexual immorality 2 Cor 71 Therefore dear friends since we have such

promises let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit completing our sanctification in the fear of God

Heb 1214 Pursue peace with all men and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord

SANCTIFICATION

ἅγιος hagios adj Holy (things) consecrated (persons) unapproachable perfect pure upright worthy of God saint

Translated ldquosaintsrdquo (61 times) ldquoholyrdquo or ldquoHolyrdquo ldquosanctuaryrdquo or ldquoHoly placerdquo or ldquoHoliest placerdquo Rom 17 to all who are in Rome beloved of God called saints

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ

Eph 14 according as He did choose us in Him before the foundation of the world for our being holy and unblemished before Him in love (YLT)

but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy without blemish and blameless before him mdash Colossians 122 (NET1)

We are not ldquosinners saved by gracerdquo rather ldquoI was a sinner God saved me by His grace I am now a saint (who occasionally still sins)rdquo

SAINTS (HOLY)

1 Cor 130 But lfloorit isrfloor from Him that you are in Christ Jesus who became God-given wisdom for usmdashlfloorourrfloor righteousness sanctification and redemption

1 John 413 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit

Col 33 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33

Jesus used the same language of Him and the Father John 1411 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the

Father is in Me otherwise believe because of the works themselves

John 1720-21 I do not ask on behalf of these alone but for those also who believe in Me through their word that they may all be one even as You Father are in Me and I in You that they also may be in Us so that the world may believe that You sent Me

IN CHRIST

Grace What God has graciously accomplished for us in Christ For sin shall not be master over you for you are not under law

but under grace Romans 614 (NASB) But if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works

otherwise grace is no longer grace Romans 116 (NASB) But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 324 (NET1) For if by the transgression of the one death reigned through

the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ Romans 517 (NASB)

For 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 2 Corinthians 89 (NASB)

You have been severed from Christ you who are seeking to be justifi ed by law you have fallen from grace Galatians 54 (NASB) Falling from grace means falling back down to the Law

UNDER GRACE

My litt le children I am writing you these things so that you may not sin But if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the FathermdashJesus Christ the Righteous One 1 John 21 (HCSB)

For the entire fullness of Godrsquos nature dwells bodily in Christ and you have been fi lled by Him who is the head over every ruler and authority Colossians 29-10 (HCSB)

but our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ Phil ippians 320 (HCSB)

for you have died and your l ife is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33 (NET1)

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree so that having died to sins we might l ive for righteousness you have been healed by His wounds 1 Peter 224 (HCSB)

For the hearts of these people have grown callous their ears are hard of hearing and they have shut their eyes otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears understand with their heart and be converted and I would heal them Acts 2827 (HCSB)

THERErsquoS MORE

In Christ we are a new creation 2 Cor 517 Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new

creation old things have passed away and look new things have come

Created in Christ in union with Him Eph 28-9 For we are His workmanship created in Christ

Jesus upon good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Created by God in righteousness holiness and truth Eph 424 and to put on the new man which according to

God was created in righteousness and holiness of the truthCreated in Godrsquos image

Col 39-10 Lie not one to another having put off the old man with his practices and having put on the new which is renewed in regard to knowledge after the image of Him who did create him

THE NEW MAN

Christ is in us Col 127 to whom God did will to make known what is the

riches of the glory of this secret among the nations--which is Christ in you the hope of the glory

Christ is our life Col 33-4 for ye did die and your life hath been hid with the

Christ in God when the Christ--our life--may be manifested then also we with him shall be manifested in glory

Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

Christ lives in us Gal 220 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no

longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me

THE NEW MAN

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit Eph 113 When you heard the message of truth the gospel

of your salvation and when you believed in Him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is in our heart 2 Cor 122 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our

hearts as a pledge Gal 46 Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit

of His Son into our hearts crying Abba FatherGodrsquos love has been poured into our heart

Rom 55 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us

THE NEW MAN

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest Matthew 1128 (NASB)

To ldquorestrdquo is to cease working to establish our own righteousness and to rest in Godrsquos provision in making us righteous

For we who have believed enter that rest just as He has said AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST although His works were fi nished from the foundation of the world Hebrews 43 (NASB)

So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God Hebrews 49 (NASB)

For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works as God did from His Hebrews 410 (NASB)

Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest so that no one will fall through following the same example of disobedience Hebrews 411 (NASB)

Return to your rest O my soul For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you Psalm 1167 (NASB)

REST

These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full John 1511 (NASB)

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit Rom 1417 (NASB)

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit Rom 1417 (NASB)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness Galatians 522 (NASB)

and though you have not seen Him you love Him and though you do not see Him now but believe in Him you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory 1 Peter 18 (NASB)

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy Jude 124 (NASB)

JOY

Greater love has no one than this that one lay down his life for his friends John 1513 (NASB)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 838-39 (NASB)

But God being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us even when we were dead in our transgressions made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)hellip Ephesians 24-5 (NASB)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all 2 Corinthians 1314 (NASB)

LOVED

Biblical hope is the patient waiting for what we absolutely know will happen

For in hope we have been saved but hope that is seen is not hope for who hopes for what he already sees But if we hope for what we do not see with perseverance we wait eagerly for it Romans 824-25 (NASB)

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope Romans 154 (NASB)

Now may the God of hope fi ll you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit Romans 1513 (NASB)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

HOPE

I give them (Christrsquos sheep) eternal l ife and they wil l never [absolutely never ever] perish no one wil l snatch them from my hand My Father who has given them to me is greater than all and no one can snatch them from my Fatherrsquos hand The Father and I are onerdquo John 1028-30 (NET1)

Who will separate us from the love of Christ Will trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword As it is written ldquoFor your sake we encounter death all day long we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered rdquo No in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us For I am convinced that neither death nor l ife nor angels nor heavenly rulers nor things that are present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 835-39 (NET1)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead that is into an inheritance imperishable undefi led and unfading It is reserved in heaven for you who by Godrsquos power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last t ime 1 Peter 13-5 (NET1)

SECURE

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love Ephesians 14 (NET1)

But we ought to thank God always for you brothers and sisters loved by the Lord because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth 2 Thessalonians 213 (NET1)

Therefore as the elect (chosen) of God holy and dearly loved clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy kindness humility gentleness and patience Colossians 312 (NET1)

Paul a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to build up the faith of Godrsquos elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness Titus 11 (HCSB)

CHOSEN

And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God who are called according to his purpose because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son that his Son would be the fi rstborn among many brothers and sisters And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 828-30 (NET1)

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ according to the pleasure of his will mdash to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son Ephesians 14-6 (NET1)

We have also received an inheritance in Him predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will Ephesians 111 (HCSB)

On the contrary we speak Godrsquos hidden wisdom in a mystery a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (HCSB)

PREDESTINED

σωτηρία sōtēria noun Salvation deliverance preservation 1 Thess 59-10 For God did not appoint us to wrath but to obtain

salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we will live together with Him

Heb 59 And having been made perfect He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation

Rom 1311 Do this knowing the time that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed

σῴζω sōzō verb Save keep safe preserve rescue make well Titus 35 He saved us not on the basis of deeds which we have

done in righteousness but according to His mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit

Eph 28-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not as a result of works so that no one may boast

SALVATION SAVED

σῴζω sōzō depending on the context means ldquosaverdquo or ldquokeep saferdquo or ldquopreserverdquo or ldquorescuerdquo or ldquomake wellrdquo Note that σῴζω sōzō does not mean ldquoredeemedrdquo or

ldquoregeneratedrdquo or ldquoreconciledrdquo or ldquoforgivenrdquo or ldquogiven eternal liferdquo

In English ldquosaverdquo means ldquoTo preserve from injury destruction or evil of any kind to rescue from danger as to save a house from the flames to save a man from drowning to save a family from ruin to save a state from warrdquo (Websters)

1 Tim 416 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching persevere in these things for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers Timothy can keep himself and his hearers safe by paying

attention to himself and his teaching (doctrine)

SALVATION SAVED

ἁγιασμός hagiasmos noun Holiness sanctifi cation purifi cation

We are sanctifi ed Heb 1010 By this will (Godrsquos will) we have been sanctified

through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all 1 Cor 611 Such were some of you but you were washed but

you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God

We also participate in sanctifi cation 1 Thess 43 For this is Godrsquos will your sanctification that you

abstain from sexual immorality 2 Cor 71 Therefore dear friends since we have such

promises let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit completing our sanctification in the fear of God

Heb 1214 Pursue peace with all men and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord

SANCTIFICATION

ἅγιος hagios adj Holy (things) consecrated (persons) unapproachable perfect pure upright worthy of God saint

Translated ldquosaintsrdquo (61 times) ldquoholyrdquo or ldquoHolyrdquo ldquosanctuaryrdquo or ldquoHoly placerdquo or ldquoHoliest placerdquo Rom 17 to all who are in Rome beloved of God called saints

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ

Eph 14 according as He did choose us in Him before the foundation of the world for our being holy and unblemished before Him in love (YLT)

but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy without blemish and blameless before him mdash Colossians 122 (NET1)

We are not ldquosinners saved by gracerdquo rather ldquoI was a sinner God saved me by His grace I am now a saint (who occasionally still sins)rdquo

SAINTS (HOLY)

1 Cor 130 But lfloorit isrfloor from Him that you are in Christ Jesus who became God-given wisdom for usmdashlfloorourrfloor righteousness sanctification and redemption

1 John 413 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit

Col 33 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33

Jesus used the same language of Him and the Father John 1411 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the

Father is in Me otherwise believe because of the works themselves

John 1720-21 I do not ask on behalf of these alone but for those also who believe in Me through their word that they may all be one even as You Father are in Me and I in You that they also may be in Us so that the world may believe that You sent Me

IN CHRIST

Grace What God has graciously accomplished for us in Christ For sin shall not be master over you for you are not under law

but under grace Romans 614 (NASB) But if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works

otherwise grace is no longer grace Romans 116 (NASB) But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 324 (NET1) For if by the transgression of the one death reigned through

the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ Romans 517 (NASB)

For 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 2 Corinthians 89 (NASB)

You have been severed from Christ you who are seeking to be justifi ed by law you have fallen from grace Galatians 54 (NASB) Falling from grace means falling back down to the Law

UNDER GRACE

My litt le children I am writing you these things so that you may not sin But if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the FathermdashJesus Christ the Righteous One 1 John 21 (HCSB)

For the entire fullness of Godrsquos nature dwells bodily in Christ and you have been fi lled by Him who is the head over every ruler and authority Colossians 29-10 (HCSB)

but our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ Phil ippians 320 (HCSB)

for you have died and your l ife is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33 (NET1)

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree so that having died to sins we might l ive for righteousness you have been healed by His wounds 1 Peter 224 (HCSB)

For the hearts of these people have grown callous their ears are hard of hearing and they have shut their eyes otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears understand with their heart and be converted and I would heal them Acts 2827 (HCSB)

THERErsquoS MORE

In Christ we are a new creation 2 Cor 517 Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new

creation old things have passed away and look new things have come

Created in Christ in union with Him Eph 28-9 For we are His workmanship created in Christ

Jesus upon good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Created by God in righteousness holiness and truth Eph 424 and to put on the new man which according to

God was created in righteousness and holiness of the truthCreated in Godrsquos image

Col 39-10 Lie not one to another having put off the old man with his practices and having put on the new which is renewed in regard to knowledge after the image of Him who did create him

THE NEW MAN

Christ is in us Col 127 to whom God did will to make known what is the

riches of the glory of this secret among the nations--which is Christ in you the hope of the glory

Christ is our life Col 33-4 for ye did die and your life hath been hid with the

Christ in God when the Christ--our life--may be manifested then also we with him shall be manifested in glory

Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

Christ lives in us Gal 220 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no

longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me

THE NEW MAN

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit Eph 113 When you heard the message of truth the gospel

of your salvation and when you believed in Him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is in our heart 2 Cor 122 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our

hearts as a pledge Gal 46 Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit

of His Son into our hearts crying Abba FatherGodrsquos love has been poured into our heart

Rom 55 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us

THE NEW MAN

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full John 1511 (NASB)

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit Rom 1417 (NASB)

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit Rom 1417 (NASB)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness Galatians 522 (NASB)

and though you have not seen Him you love Him and though you do not see Him now but believe in Him you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory 1 Peter 18 (NASB)

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy Jude 124 (NASB)

JOY

Greater love has no one than this that one lay down his life for his friends John 1513 (NASB)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 838-39 (NASB)

But God being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us even when we were dead in our transgressions made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)hellip Ephesians 24-5 (NASB)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all 2 Corinthians 1314 (NASB)

LOVED

Biblical hope is the patient waiting for what we absolutely know will happen

For in hope we have been saved but hope that is seen is not hope for who hopes for what he already sees But if we hope for what we do not see with perseverance we wait eagerly for it Romans 824-25 (NASB)

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope Romans 154 (NASB)

Now may the God of hope fi ll you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit Romans 1513 (NASB)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

HOPE

I give them (Christrsquos sheep) eternal l ife and they wil l never [absolutely never ever] perish no one wil l snatch them from my hand My Father who has given them to me is greater than all and no one can snatch them from my Fatherrsquos hand The Father and I are onerdquo John 1028-30 (NET1)

Who will separate us from the love of Christ Will trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword As it is written ldquoFor your sake we encounter death all day long we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered rdquo No in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us For I am convinced that neither death nor l ife nor angels nor heavenly rulers nor things that are present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 835-39 (NET1)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead that is into an inheritance imperishable undefi led and unfading It is reserved in heaven for you who by Godrsquos power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last t ime 1 Peter 13-5 (NET1)

SECURE

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love Ephesians 14 (NET1)

But we ought to thank God always for you brothers and sisters loved by the Lord because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth 2 Thessalonians 213 (NET1)

Therefore as the elect (chosen) of God holy and dearly loved clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy kindness humility gentleness and patience Colossians 312 (NET1)

Paul a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to build up the faith of Godrsquos elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness Titus 11 (HCSB)

CHOSEN

And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God who are called according to his purpose because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son that his Son would be the fi rstborn among many brothers and sisters And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 828-30 (NET1)

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ according to the pleasure of his will mdash to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son Ephesians 14-6 (NET1)

We have also received an inheritance in Him predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will Ephesians 111 (HCSB)

On the contrary we speak Godrsquos hidden wisdom in a mystery a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (HCSB)

PREDESTINED

σωτηρία sōtēria noun Salvation deliverance preservation 1 Thess 59-10 For God did not appoint us to wrath but to obtain

salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we will live together with Him

Heb 59 And having been made perfect He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation

Rom 1311 Do this knowing the time that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed

σῴζω sōzō verb Save keep safe preserve rescue make well Titus 35 He saved us not on the basis of deeds which we have

done in righteousness but according to His mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit

Eph 28-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not as a result of works so that no one may boast

SALVATION SAVED

σῴζω sōzō depending on the context means ldquosaverdquo or ldquokeep saferdquo or ldquopreserverdquo or ldquorescuerdquo or ldquomake wellrdquo Note that σῴζω sōzō does not mean ldquoredeemedrdquo or

ldquoregeneratedrdquo or ldquoreconciledrdquo or ldquoforgivenrdquo or ldquogiven eternal liferdquo

In English ldquosaverdquo means ldquoTo preserve from injury destruction or evil of any kind to rescue from danger as to save a house from the flames to save a man from drowning to save a family from ruin to save a state from warrdquo (Websters)

1 Tim 416 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching persevere in these things for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers Timothy can keep himself and his hearers safe by paying

attention to himself and his teaching (doctrine)

SALVATION SAVED

ἁγιασμός hagiasmos noun Holiness sanctifi cation purifi cation

We are sanctifi ed Heb 1010 By this will (Godrsquos will) we have been sanctified

through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all 1 Cor 611 Such were some of you but you were washed but

you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God

We also participate in sanctifi cation 1 Thess 43 For this is Godrsquos will your sanctification that you

abstain from sexual immorality 2 Cor 71 Therefore dear friends since we have such

promises let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit completing our sanctification in the fear of God

Heb 1214 Pursue peace with all men and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord

SANCTIFICATION

ἅγιος hagios adj Holy (things) consecrated (persons) unapproachable perfect pure upright worthy of God saint

Translated ldquosaintsrdquo (61 times) ldquoholyrdquo or ldquoHolyrdquo ldquosanctuaryrdquo or ldquoHoly placerdquo or ldquoHoliest placerdquo Rom 17 to all who are in Rome beloved of God called saints

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ

Eph 14 according as He did choose us in Him before the foundation of the world for our being holy and unblemished before Him in love (YLT)

but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy without blemish and blameless before him mdash Colossians 122 (NET1)

We are not ldquosinners saved by gracerdquo rather ldquoI was a sinner God saved me by His grace I am now a saint (who occasionally still sins)rdquo

SAINTS (HOLY)

1 Cor 130 But lfloorit isrfloor from Him that you are in Christ Jesus who became God-given wisdom for usmdashlfloorourrfloor righteousness sanctification and redemption

1 John 413 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit

Col 33 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33

Jesus used the same language of Him and the Father John 1411 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the

Father is in Me otherwise believe because of the works themselves

John 1720-21 I do not ask on behalf of these alone but for those also who believe in Me through their word that they may all be one even as You Father are in Me and I in You that they also may be in Us so that the world may believe that You sent Me

IN CHRIST

Grace What God has graciously accomplished for us in Christ For sin shall not be master over you for you are not under law

but under grace Romans 614 (NASB) But if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works

otherwise grace is no longer grace Romans 116 (NASB) But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 324 (NET1) For if by the transgression of the one death reigned through

the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ Romans 517 (NASB)

For 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 2 Corinthians 89 (NASB)

You have been severed from Christ you who are seeking to be justifi ed by law you have fallen from grace Galatians 54 (NASB) Falling from grace means falling back down to the Law

UNDER GRACE

My litt le children I am writing you these things so that you may not sin But if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the FathermdashJesus Christ the Righteous One 1 John 21 (HCSB)

For the entire fullness of Godrsquos nature dwells bodily in Christ and you have been fi lled by Him who is the head over every ruler and authority Colossians 29-10 (HCSB)

but our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ Phil ippians 320 (HCSB)

for you have died and your l ife is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33 (NET1)

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree so that having died to sins we might l ive for righteousness you have been healed by His wounds 1 Peter 224 (HCSB)

For the hearts of these people have grown callous their ears are hard of hearing and they have shut their eyes otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears understand with their heart and be converted and I would heal them Acts 2827 (HCSB)

THERErsquoS MORE

In Christ we are a new creation 2 Cor 517 Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new

creation old things have passed away and look new things have come

Created in Christ in union with Him Eph 28-9 For we are His workmanship created in Christ

Jesus upon good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Created by God in righteousness holiness and truth Eph 424 and to put on the new man which according to

God was created in righteousness and holiness of the truthCreated in Godrsquos image

Col 39-10 Lie not one to another having put off the old man with his practices and having put on the new which is renewed in regard to knowledge after the image of Him who did create him

THE NEW MAN

Christ is in us Col 127 to whom God did will to make known what is the

riches of the glory of this secret among the nations--which is Christ in you the hope of the glory

Christ is our life Col 33-4 for ye did die and your life hath been hid with the

Christ in God when the Christ--our life--may be manifested then also we with him shall be manifested in glory

Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

Christ lives in us Gal 220 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no

longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me

THE NEW MAN

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit Eph 113 When you heard the message of truth the gospel

of your salvation and when you believed in Him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is in our heart 2 Cor 122 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our

hearts as a pledge Gal 46 Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit

of His Son into our hearts crying Abba FatherGodrsquos love has been poured into our heart

Rom 55 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us

THE NEW MAN

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

Greater love has no one than this that one lay down his life for his friends John 1513 (NASB)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 58 (NASB)

For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 838-39 (NASB)

But God being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us even when we were dead in our transgressions made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)hellip Ephesians 24-5 (NASB)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all 2 Corinthians 1314 (NASB)

LOVED

Biblical hope is the patient waiting for what we absolutely know will happen

For in hope we have been saved but hope that is seen is not hope for who hopes for what he already sees But if we hope for what we do not see with perseverance we wait eagerly for it Romans 824-25 (NASB)

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope Romans 154 (NASB)

Now may the God of hope fi ll you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit Romans 1513 (NASB)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

HOPE

I give them (Christrsquos sheep) eternal l ife and they wil l never [absolutely never ever] perish no one wil l snatch them from my hand My Father who has given them to me is greater than all and no one can snatch them from my Fatherrsquos hand The Father and I are onerdquo John 1028-30 (NET1)

Who will separate us from the love of Christ Will trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword As it is written ldquoFor your sake we encounter death all day long we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered rdquo No in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us For I am convinced that neither death nor l ife nor angels nor heavenly rulers nor things that are present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 835-39 (NET1)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead that is into an inheritance imperishable undefi led and unfading It is reserved in heaven for you who by Godrsquos power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last t ime 1 Peter 13-5 (NET1)

SECURE

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love Ephesians 14 (NET1)

But we ought to thank God always for you brothers and sisters loved by the Lord because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth 2 Thessalonians 213 (NET1)

Therefore as the elect (chosen) of God holy and dearly loved clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy kindness humility gentleness and patience Colossians 312 (NET1)

Paul a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to build up the faith of Godrsquos elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness Titus 11 (HCSB)

CHOSEN

And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God who are called according to his purpose because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son that his Son would be the fi rstborn among many brothers and sisters And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 828-30 (NET1)

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ according to the pleasure of his will mdash to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son Ephesians 14-6 (NET1)

We have also received an inheritance in Him predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will Ephesians 111 (HCSB)

On the contrary we speak Godrsquos hidden wisdom in a mystery a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (HCSB)

PREDESTINED

σωτηρία sōtēria noun Salvation deliverance preservation 1 Thess 59-10 For God did not appoint us to wrath but to obtain

salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we will live together with Him

Heb 59 And having been made perfect He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation

Rom 1311 Do this knowing the time that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed

σῴζω sōzō verb Save keep safe preserve rescue make well Titus 35 He saved us not on the basis of deeds which we have

done in righteousness but according to His mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit

Eph 28-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not as a result of works so that no one may boast

SALVATION SAVED

σῴζω sōzō depending on the context means ldquosaverdquo or ldquokeep saferdquo or ldquopreserverdquo or ldquorescuerdquo or ldquomake wellrdquo Note that σῴζω sōzō does not mean ldquoredeemedrdquo or

ldquoregeneratedrdquo or ldquoreconciledrdquo or ldquoforgivenrdquo or ldquogiven eternal liferdquo

In English ldquosaverdquo means ldquoTo preserve from injury destruction or evil of any kind to rescue from danger as to save a house from the flames to save a man from drowning to save a family from ruin to save a state from warrdquo (Websters)

1 Tim 416 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching persevere in these things for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers Timothy can keep himself and his hearers safe by paying

attention to himself and his teaching (doctrine)

SALVATION SAVED

ἁγιασμός hagiasmos noun Holiness sanctifi cation purifi cation

We are sanctifi ed Heb 1010 By this will (Godrsquos will) we have been sanctified

through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all 1 Cor 611 Such were some of you but you were washed but

you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God

We also participate in sanctifi cation 1 Thess 43 For this is Godrsquos will your sanctification that you

abstain from sexual immorality 2 Cor 71 Therefore dear friends since we have such

promises let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit completing our sanctification in the fear of God

Heb 1214 Pursue peace with all men and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord

SANCTIFICATION

ἅγιος hagios adj Holy (things) consecrated (persons) unapproachable perfect pure upright worthy of God saint

Translated ldquosaintsrdquo (61 times) ldquoholyrdquo or ldquoHolyrdquo ldquosanctuaryrdquo or ldquoHoly placerdquo or ldquoHoliest placerdquo Rom 17 to all who are in Rome beloved of God called saints

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ

Eph 14 according as He did choose us in Him before the foundation of the world for our being holy and unblemished before Him in love (YLT)

but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy without blemish and blameless before him mdash Colossians 122 (NET1)

We are not ldquosinners saved by gracerdquo rather ldquoI was a sinner God saved me by His grace I am now a saint (who occasionally still sins)rdquo

SAINTS (HOLY)

1 Cor 130 But lfloorit isrfloor from Him that you are in Christ Jesus who became God-given wisdom for usmdashlfloorourrfloor righteousness sanctification and redemption

1 John 413 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit

Col 33 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33

Jesus used the same language of Him and the Father John 1411 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the

Father is in Me otherwise believe because of the works themselves

John 1720-21 I do not ask on behalf of these alone but for those also who believe in Me through their word that they may all be one even as You Father are in Me and I in You that they also may be in Us so that the world may believe that You sent Me

IN CHRIST

Grace What God has graciously accomplished for us in Christ For sin shall not be master over you for you are not under law

but under grace Romans 614 (NASB) But if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works

otherwise grace is no longer grace Romans 116 (NASB) But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 324 (NET1) For if by the transgression of the one death reigned through

the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ Romans 517 (NASB)

For 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 2 Corinthians 89 (NASB)

You have been severed from Christ you who are seeking to be justifi ed by law you have fallen from grace Galatians 54 (NASB) Falling from grace means falling back down to the Law

UNDER GRACE

My litt le children I am writing you these things so that you may not sin But if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the FathermdashJesus Christ the Righteous One 1 John 21 (HCSB)

For the entire fullness of Godrsquos nature dwells bodily in Christ and you have been fi lled by Him who is the head over every ruler and authority Colossians 29-10 (HCSB)

but our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ Phil ippians 320 (HCSB)

for you have died and your l ife is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33 (NET1)

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree so that having died to sins we might l ive for righteousness you have been healed by His wounds 1 Peter 224 (HCSB)

For the hearts of these people have grown callous their ears are hard of hearing and they have shut their eyes otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears understand with their heart and be converted and I would heal them Acts 2827 (HCSB)

THERErsquoS MORE

In Christ we are a new creation 2 Cor 517 Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new

creation old things have passed away and look new things have come

Created in Christ in union with Him Eph 28-9 For we are His workmanship created in Christ

Jesus upon good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Created by God in righteousness holiness and truth Eph 424 and to put on the new man which according to

God was created in righteousness and holiness of the truthCreated in Godrsquos image

Col 39-10 Lie not one to another having put off the old man with his practices and having put on the new which is renewed in regard to knowledge after the image of Him who did create him

THE NEW MAN

Christ is in us Col 127 to whom God did will to make known what is the

riches of the glory of this secret among the nations--which is Christ in you the hope of the glory

Christ is our life Col 33-4 for ye did die and your life hath been hid with the

Christ in God when the Christ--our life--may be manifested then also we with him shall be manifested in glory

Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

Christ lives in us Gal 220 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no

longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me

THE NEW MAN

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit Eph 113 When you heard the message of truth the gospel

of your salvation and when you believed in Him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is in our heart 2 Cor 122 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our

hearts as a pledge Gal 46 Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit

of His Son into our hearts crying Abba FatherGodrsquos love has been poured into our heart

Rom 55 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us

THE NEW MAN

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

Biblical hope is the patient waiting for what we absolutely know will happen

For in hope we have been saved but hope that is seen is not hope for who hopes for what he already sees But if we hope for what we do not see with perseverance we wait eagerly for it Romans 824-25 (NASB)

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope Romans 154 (NASB)

Now may the God of hope fi ll you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit Romans 1513 (NASB)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

HOPE

I give them (Christrsquos sheep) eternal l ife and they wil l never [absolutely never ever] perish no one wil l snatch them from my hand My Father who has given them to me is greater than all and no one can snatch them from my Fatherrsquos hand The Father and I are onerdquo John 1028-30 (NET1)

Who will separate us from the love of Christ Will trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword As it is written ldquoFor your sake we encounter death all day long we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered rdquo No in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us For I am convinced that neither death nor l ife nor angels nor heavenly rulers nor things that are present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 835-39 (NET1)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead that is into an inheritance imperishable undefi led and unfading It is reserved in heaven for you who by Godrsquos power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last t ime 1 Peter 13-5 (NET1)

SECURE

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love Ephesians 14 (NET1)

But we ought to thank God always for you brothers and sisters loved by the Lord because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth 2 Thessalonians 213 (NET1)

Therefore as the elect (chosen) of God holy and dearly loved clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy kindness humility gentleness and patience Colossians 312 (NET1)

Paul a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to build up the faith of Godrsquos elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness Titus 11 (HCSB)

CHOSEN

And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God who are called according to his purpose because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son that his Son would be the fi rstborn among many brothers and sisters And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 828-30 (NET1)

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ according to the pleasure of his will mdash to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son Ephesians 14-6 (NET1)

We have also received an inheritance in Him predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will Ephesians 111 (HCSB)

On the contrary we speak Godrsquos hidden wisdom in a mystery a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (HCSB)

PREDESTINED

σωτηρία sōtēria noun Salvation deliverance preservation 1 Thess 59-10 For God did not appoint us to wrath but to obtain

salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we will live together with Him

Heb 59 And having been made perfect He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation

Rom 1311 Do this knowing the time that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed

σῴζω sōzō verb Save keep safe preserve rescue make well Titus 35 He saved us not on the basis of deeds which we have

done in righteousness but according to His mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit

Eph 28-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not as a result of works so that no one may boast

SALVATION SAVED

σῴζω sōzō depending on the context means ldquosaverdquo or ldquokeep saferdquo or ldquopreserverdquo or ldquorescuerdquo or ldquomake wellrdquo Note that σῴζω sōzō does not mean ldquoredeemedrdquo or

ldquoregeneratedrdquo or ldquoreconciledrdquo or ldquoforgivenrdquo or ldquogiven eternal liferdquo

In English ldquosaverdquo means ldquoTo preserve from injury destruction or evil of any kind to rescue from danger as to save a house from the flames to save a man from drowning to save a family from ruin to save a state from warrdquo (Websters)

1 Tim 416 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching persevere in these things for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers Timothy can keep himself and his hearers safe by paying

attention to himself and his teaching (doctrine)

SALVATION SAVED

ἁγιασμός hagiasmos noun Holiness sanctifi cation purifi cation

We are sanctifi ed Heb 1010 By this will (Godrsquos will) we have been sanctified

through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all 1 Cor 611 Such were some of you but you were washed but

you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God

We also participate in sanctifi cation 1 Thess 43 For this is Godrsquos will your sanctification that you

abstain from sexual immorality 2 Cor 71 Therefore dear friends since we have such

promises let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit completing our sanctification in the fear of God

Heb 1214 Pursue peace with all men and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord

SANCTIFICATION

ἅγιος hagios adj Holy (things) consecrated (persons) unapproachable perfect pure upright worthy of God saint

Translated ldquosaintsrdquo (61 times) ldquoholyrdquo or ldquoHolyrdquo ldquosanctuaryrdquo or ldquoHoly placerdquo or ldquoHoliest placerdquo Rom 17 to all who are in Rome beloved of God called saints

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ

Eph 14 according as He did choose us in Him before the foundation of the world for our being holy and unblemished before Him in love (YLT)

but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy without blemish and blameless before him mdash Colossians 122 (NET1)

We are not ldquosinners saved by gracerdquo rather ldquoI was a sinner God saved me by His grace I am now a saint (who occasionally still sins)rdquo

SAINTS (HOLY)

1 Cor 130 But lfloorit isrfloor from Him that you are in Christ Jesus who became God-given wisdom for usmdashlfloorourrfloor righteousness sanctification and redemption

1 John 413 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit

Col 33 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33

Jesus used the same language of Him and the Father John 1411 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the

Father is in Me otherwise believe because of the works themselves

John 1720-21 I do not ask on behalf of these alone but for those also who believe in Me through their word that they may all be one even as You Father are in Me and I in You that they also may be in Us so that the world may believe that You sent Me

IN CHRIST

Grace What God has graciously accomplished for us in Christ For sin shall not be master over you for you are not under law

but under grace Romans 614 (NASB) But if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works

otherwise grace is no longer grace Romans 116 (NASB) But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 324 (NET1) For if by the transgression of the one death reigned through

the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ Romans 517 (NASB)

For 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 2 Corinthians 89 (NASB)

You have been severed from Christ you who are seeking to be justifi ed by law you have fallen from grace Galatians 54 (NASB) Falling from grace means falling back down to the Law

UNDER GRACE

My litt le children I am writing you these things so that you may not sin But if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the FathermdashJesus Christ the Righteous One 1 John 21 (HCSB)

For the entire fullness of Godrsquos nature dwells bodily in Christ and you have been fi lled by Him who is the head over every ruler and authority Colossians 29-10 (HCSB)

but our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ Phil ippians 320 (HCSB)

for you have died and your l ife is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33 (NET1)

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree so that having died to sins we might l ive for righteousness you have been healed by His wounds 1 Peter 224 (HCSB)

For the hearts of these people have grown callous their ears are hard of hearing and they have shut their eyes otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears understand with their heart and be converted and I would heal them Acts 2827 (HCSB)

THERErsquoS MORE

In Christ we are a new creation 2 Cor 517 Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new

creation old things have passed away and look new things have come

Created in Christ in union with Him Eph 28-9 For we are His workmanship created in Christ

Jesus upon good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Created by God in righteousness holiness and truth Eph 424 and to put on the new man which according to

God was created in righteousness and holiness of the truthCreated in Godrsquos image

Col 39-10 Lie not one to another having put off the old man with his practices and having put on the new which is renewed in regard to knowledge after the image of Him who did create him

THE NEW MAN

Christ is in us Col 127 to whom God did will to make known what is the

riches of the glory of this secret among the nations--which is Christ in you the hope of the glory

Christ is our life Col 33-4 for ye did die and your life hath been hid with the

Christ in God when the Christ--our life--may be manifested then also we with him shall be manifested in glory

Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

Christ lives in us Gal 220 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no

longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me

THE NEW MAN

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit Eph 113 When you heard the message of truth the gospel

of your salvation and when you believed in Him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is in our heart 2 Cor 122 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our

hearts as a pledge Gal 46 Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit

of His Son into our hearts crying Abba FatherGodrsquos love has been poured into our heart

Rom 55 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us

THE NEW MAN

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

I give them (Christrsquos sheep) eternal l ife and they wil l never [absolutely never ever] perish no one wil l snatch them from my hand My Father who has given them to me is greater than all and no one can snatch them from my Fatherrsquos hand The Father and I are onerdquo John 1028-30 (NET1)

Who will separate us from the love of Christ Will trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword As it is written ldquoFor your sake we encounter death all day long we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered rdquo No in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us For I am convinced that neither death nor l ife nor angels nor heavenly rulers nor things that are present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 835-39 (NET1)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a l iving hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead that is into an inheritance imperishable undefi led and unfading It is reserved in heaven for you who by Godrsquos power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last t ime 1 Peter 13-5 (NET1)

SECURE

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love Ephesians 14 (NET1)

But we ought to thank God always for you brothers and sisters loved by the Lord because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth 2 Thessalonians 213 (NET1)

Therefore as the elect (chosen) of God holy and dearly loved clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy kindness humility gentleness and patience Colossians 312 (NET1)

Paul a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to build up the faith of Godrsquos elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness Titus 11 (HCSB)

CHOSEN

And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God who are called according to his purpose because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son that his Son would be the fi rstborn among many brothers and sisters And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 828-30 (NET1)

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ according to the pleasure of his will mdash to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son Ephesians 14-6 (NET1)

We have also received an inheritance in Him predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will Ephesians 111 (HCSB)

On the contrary we speak Godrsquos hidden wisdom in a mystery a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (HCSB)

PREDESTINED

σωτηρία sōtēria noun Salvation deliverance preservation 1 Thess 59-10 For God did not appoint us to wrath but to obtain

salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we will live together with Him

Heb 59 And having been made perfect He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation

Rom 1311 Do this knowing the time that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed

σῴζω sōzō verb Save keep safe preserve rescue make well Titus 35 He saved us not on the basis of deeds which we have

done in righteousness but according to His mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit

Eph 28-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not as a result of works so that no one may boast

SALVATION SAVED

σῴζω sōzō depending on the context means ldquosaverdquo or ldquokeep saferdquo or ldquopreserverdquo or ldquorescuerdquo or ldquomake wellrdquo Note that σῴζω sōzō does not mean ldquoredeemedrdquo or

ldquoregeneratedrdquo or ldquoreconciledrdquo or ldquoforgivenrdquo or ldquogiven eternal liferdquo

In English ldquosaverdquo means ldquoTo preserve from injury destruction or evil of any kind to rescue from danger as to save a house from the flames to save a man from drowning to save a family from ruin to save a state from warrdquo (Websters)

1 Tim 416 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching persevere in these things for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers Timothy can keep himself and his hearers safe by paying

attention to himself and his teaching (doctrine)

SALVATION SAVED

ἁγιασμός hagiasmos noun Holiness sanctifi cation purifi cation

We are sanctifi ed Heb 1010 By this will (Godrsquos will) we have been sanctified

through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all 1 Cor 611 Such were some of you but you were washed but

you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God

We also participate in sanctifi cation 1 Thess 43 For this is Godrsquos will your sanctification that you

abstain from sexual immorality 2 Cor 71 Therefore dear friends since we have such

promises let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit completing our sanctification in the fear of God

Heb 1214 Pursue peace with all men and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord

SANCTIFICATION

ἅγιος hagios adj Holy (things) consecrated (persons) unapproachable perfect pure upright worthy of God saint

Translated ldquosaintsrdquo (61 times) ldquoholyrdquo or ldquoHolyrdquo ldquosanctuaryrdquo or ldquoHoly placerdquo or ldquoHoliest placerdquo Rom 17 to all who are in Rome beloved of God called saints

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ

Eph 14 according as He did choose us in Him before the foundation of the world for our being holy and unblemished before Him in love (YLT)

but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy without blemish and blameless before him mdash Colossians 122 (NET1)

We are not ldquosinners saved by gracerdquo rather ldquoI was a sinner God saved me by His grace I am now a saint (who occasionally still sins)rdquo

SAINTS (HOLY)

1 Cor 130 But lfloorit isrfloor from Him that you are in Christ Jesus who became God-given wisdom for usmdashlfloorourrfloor righteousness sanctification and redemption

1 John 413 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit

Col 33 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33

Jesus used the same language of Him and the Father John 1411 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the

Father is in Me otherwise believe because of the works themselves

John 1720-21 I do not ask on behalf of these alone but for those also who believe in Me through their word that they may all be one even as You Father are in Me and I in You that they also may be in Us so that the world may believe that You sent Me

IN CHRIST

Grace What God has graciously accomplished for us in Christ For sin shall not be master over you for you are not under law

but under grace Romans 614 (NASB) But if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works

otherwise grace is no longer grace Romans 116 (NASB) But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 324 (NET1) For if by the transgression of the one death reigned through

the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ Romans 517 (NASB)

For 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 2 Corinthians 89 (NASB)

You have been severed from Christ you who are seeking to be justifi ed by law you have fallen from grace Galatians 54 (NASB) Falling from grace means falling back down to the Law

UNDER GRACE

My litt le children I am writing you these things so that you may not sin But if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the FathermdashJesus Christ the Righteous One 1 John 21 (HCSB)

For the entire fullness of Godrsquos nature dwells bodily in Christ and you have been fi lled by Him who is the head over every ruler and authority Colossians 29-10 (HCSB)

but our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ Phil ippians 320 (HCSB)

for you have died and your l ife is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33 (NET1)

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree so that having died to sins we might l ive for righteousness you have been healed by His wounds 1 Peter 224 (HCSB)

For the hearts of these people have grown callous their ears are hard of hearing and they have shut their eyes otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears understand with their heart and be converted and I would heal them Acts 2827 (HCSB)

THERErsquoS MORE

In Christ we are a new creation 2 Cor 517 Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new

creation old things have passed away and look new things have come

Created in Christ in union with Him Eph 28-9 For we are His workmanship created in Christ

Jesus upon good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Created by God in righteousness holiness and truth Eph 424 and to put on the new man which according to

God was created in righteousness and holiness of the truthCreated in Godrsquos image

Col 39-10 Lie not one to another having put off the old man with his practices and having put on the new which is renewed in regard to knowledge after the image of Him who did create him

THE NEW MAN

Christ is in us Col 127 to whom God did will to make known what is the

riches of the glory of this secret among the nations--which is Christ in you the hope of the glory

Christ is our life Col 33-4 for ye did die and your life hath been hid with the

Christ in God when the Christ--our life--may be manifested then also we with him shall be manifested in glory

Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

Christ lives in us Gal 220 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no

longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me

THE NEW MAN

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit Eph 113 When you heard the message of truth the gospel

of your salvation and when you believed in Him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is in our heart 2 Cor 122 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our

hearts as a pledge Gal 46 Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit

of His Son into our hearts crying Abba FatherGodrsquos love has been poured into our heart

Rom 55 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us

THE NEW MAN

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love Ephesians 14 (NET1)

But we ought to thank God always for you brothers and sisters loved by the Lord because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth 2 Thessalonians 213 (NET1)

Therefore as the elect (chosen) of God holy and dearly loved clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy kindness humility gentleness and patience Colossians 312 (NET1)

Paul a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to build up the faith of Godrsquos elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness Titus 11 (HCSB)

CHOSEN

And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God who are called according to his purpose because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son that his Son would be the fi rstborn among many brothers and sisters And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 828-30 (NET1)

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ according to the pleasure of his will mdash to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son Ephesians 14-6 (NET1)

We have also received an inheritance in Him predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will Ephesians 111 (HCSB)

On the contrary we speak Godrsquos hidden wisdom in a mystery a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (HCSB)

PREDESTINED

σωτηρία sōtēria noun Salvation deliverance preservation 1 Thess 59-10 For God did not appoint us to wrath but to obtain

salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we will live together with Him

Heb 59 And having been made perfect He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation

Rom 1311 Do this knowing the time that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed

σῴζω sōzō verb Save keep safe preserve rescue make well Titus 35 He saved us not on the basis of deeds which we have

done in righteousness but according to His mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit

Eph 28-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not as a result of works so that no one may boast

SALVATION SAVED

σῴζω sōzō depending on the context means ldquosaverdquo or ldquokeep saferdquo or ldquopreserverdquo or ldquorescuerdquo or ldquomake wellrdquo Note that σῴζω sōzō does not mean ldquoredeemedrdquo or

ldquoregeneratedrdquo or ldquoreconciledrdquo or ldquoforgivenrdquo or ldquogiven eternal liferdquo

In English ldquosaverdquo means ldquoTo preserve from injury destruction or evil of any kind to rescue from danger as to save a house from the flames to save a man from drowning to save a family from ruin to save a state from warrdquo (Websters)

1 Tim 416 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching persevere in these things for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers Timothy can keep himself and his hearers safe by paying

attention to himself and his teaching (doctrine)

SALVATION SAVED

ἁγιασμός hagiasmos noun Holiness sanctifi cation purifi cation

We are sanctifi ed Heb 1010 By this will (Godrsquos will) we have been sanctified

through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all 1 Cor 611 Such were some of you but you were washed but

you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God

We also participate in sanctifi cation 1 Thess 43 For this is Godrsquos will your sanctification that you

abstain from sexual immorality 2 Cor 71 Therefore dear friends since we have such

promises let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit completing our sanctification in the fear of God

Heb 1214 Pursue peace with all men and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord

SANCTIFICATION

ἅγιος hagios adj Holy (things) consecrated (persons) unapproachable perfect pure upright worthy of God saint

Translated ldquosaintsrdquo (61 times) ldquoholyrdquo or ldquoHolyrdquo ldquosanctuaryrdquo or ldquoHoly placerdquo or ldquoHoliest placerdquo Rom 17 to all who are in Rome beloved of God called saints

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ

Eph 14 according as He did choose us in Him before the foundation of the world for our being holy and unblemished before Him in love (YLT)

but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy without blemish and blameless before him mdash Colossians 122 (NET1)

We are not ldquosinners saved by gracerdquo rather ldquoI was a sinner God saved me by His grace I am now a saint (who occasionally still sins)rdquo

SAINTS (HOLY)

1 Cor 130 But lfloorit isrfloor from Him that you are in Christ Jesus who became God-given wisdom for usmdashlfloorourrfloor righteousness sanctification and redemption

1 John 413 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit

Col 33 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33

Jesus used the same language of Him and the Father John 1411 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the

Father is in Me otherwise believe because of the works themselves

John 1720-21 I do not ask on behalf of these alone but for those also who believe in Me through their word that they may all be one even as You Father are in Me and I in You that they also may be in Us so that the world may believe that You sent Me

IN CHRIST

Grace What God has graciously accomplished for us in Christ For sin shall not be master over you for you are not under law

but under grace Romans 614 (NASB) But if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works

otherwise grace is no longer grace Romans 116 (NASB) But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 324 (NET1) For if by the transgression of the one death reigned through

the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ Romans 517 (NASB)

For 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 2 Corinthians 89 (NASB)

You have been severed from Christ you who are seeking to be justifi ed by law you have fallen from grace Galatians 54 (NASB) Falling from grace means falling back down to the Law

UNDER GRACE

My litt le children I am writing you these things so that you may not sin But if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the FathermdashJesus Christ the Righteous One 1 John 21 (HCSB)

For the entire fullness of Godrsquos nature dwells bodily in Christ and you have been fi lled by Him who is the head over every ruler and authority Colossians 29-10 (HCSB)

but our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ Phil ippians 320 (HCSB)

for you have died and your l ife is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33 (NET1)

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree so that having died to sins we might l ive for righteousness you have been healed by His wounds 1 Peter 224 (HCSB)

For the hearts of these people have grown callous their ears are hard of hearing and they have shut their eyes otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears understand with their heart and be converted and I would heal them Acts 2827 (HCSB)

THERErsquoS MORE

In Christ we are a new creation 2 Cor 517 Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new

creation old things have passed away and look new things have come

Created in Christ in union with Him Eph 28-9 For we are His workmanship created in Christ

Jesus upon good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Created by God in righteousness holiness and truth Eph 424 and to put on the new man which according to

God was created in righteousness and holiness of the truthCreated in Godrsquos image

Col 39-10 Lie not one to another having put off the old man with his practices and having put on the new which is renewed in regard to knowledge after the image of Him who did create him

THE NEW MAN

Christ is in us Col 127 to whom God did will to make known what is the

riches of the glory of this secret among the nations--which is Christ in you the hope of the glory

Christ is our life Col 33-4 for ye did die and your life hath been hid with the

Christ in God when the Christ--our life--may be manifested then also we with him shall be manifested in glory

Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

Christ lives in us Gal 220 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no

longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me

THE NEW MAN

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit Eph 113 When you heard the message of truth the gospel

of your salvation and when you believed in Him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is in our heart 2 Cor 122 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our

hearts as a pledge Gal 46 Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit

of His Son into our hearts crying Abba FatherGodrsquos love has been poured into our heart

Rom 55 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us

THE NEW MAN

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God who are called according to his purpose because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son that his Son would be the fi rstborn among many brothers and sisters And those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justifi ed and those he justifi ed he also glorifi ed Romans 828-30 (NET1)

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ according to the pleasure of his will mdash to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son Ephesians 14-6 (NET1)

We have also received an inheritance in Him predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will Ephesians 111 (HCSB)

On the contrary we speak Godrsquos hidden wisdom in a mystery a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory 1 Corinthians 27 (HCSB)

PREDESTINED

σωτηρία sōtēria noun Salvation deliverance preservation 1 Thess 59-10 For God did not appoint us to wrath but to obtain

salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we will live together with Him

Heb 59 And having been made perfect He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation

Rom 1311 Do this knowing the time that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed

σῴζω sōzō verb Save keep safe preserve rescue make well Titus 35 He saved us not on the basis of deeds which we have

done in righteousness but according to His mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit

Eph 28-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not as a result of works so that no one may boast

SALVATION SAVED

σῴζω sōzō depending on the context means ldquosaverdquo or ldquokeep saferdquo or ldquopreserverdquo or ldquorescuerdquo or ldquomake wellrdquo Note that σῴζω sōzō does not mean ldquoredeemedrdquo or

ldquoregeneratedrdquo or ldquoreconciledrdquo or ldquoforgivenrdquo or ldquogiven eternal liferdquo

In English ldquosaverdquo means ldquoTo preserve from injury destruction or evil of any kind to rescue from danger as to save a house from the flames to save a man from drowning to save a family from ruin to save a state from warrdquo (Websters)

1 Tim 416 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching persevere in these things for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers Timothy can keep himself and his hearers safe by paying

attention to himself and his teaching (doctrine)

SALVATION SAVED

ἁγιασμός hagiasmos noun Holiness sanctifi cation purifi cation

We are sanctifi ed Heb 1010 By this will (Godrsquos will) we have been sanctified

through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all 1 Cor 611 Such were some of you but you were washed but

you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God

We also participate in sanctifi cation 1 Thess 43 For this is Godrsquos will your sanctification that you

abstain from sexual immorality 2 Cor 71 Therefore dear friends since we have such

promises let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit completing our sanctification in the fear of God

Heb 1214 Pursue peace with all men and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord

SANCTIFICATION

ἅγιος hagios adj Holy (things) consecrated (persons) unapproachable perfect pure upright worthy of God saint

Translated ldquosaintsrdquo (61 times) ldquoholyrdquo or ldquoHolyrdquo ldquosanctuaryrdquo or ldquoHoly placerdquo or ldquoHoliest placerdquo Rom 17 to all who are in Rome beloved of God called saints

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ

Eph 14 according as He did choose us in Him before the foundation of the world for our being holy and unblemished before Him in love (YLT)

but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy without blemish and blameless before him mdash Colossians 122 (NET1)

We are not ldquosinners saved by gracerdquo rather ldquoI was a sinner God saved me by His grace I am now a saint (who occasionally still sins)rdquo

SAINTS (HOLY)

1 Cor 130 But lfloorit isrfloor from Him that you are in Christ Jesus who became God-given wisdom for usmdashlfloorourrfloor righteousness sanctification and redemption

1 John 413 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit

Col 33 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33

Jesus used the same language of Him and the Father John 1411 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the

Father is in Me otherwise believe because of the works themselves

John 1720-21 I do not ask on behalf of these alone but for those also who believe in Me through their word that they may all be one even as You Father are in Me and I in You that they also may be in Us so that the world may believe that You sent Me

IN CHRIST

Grace What God has graciously accomplished for us in Christ For sin shall not be master over you for you are not under law

but under grace Romans 614 (NASB) But if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works

otherwise grace is no longer grace Romans 116 (NASB) But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 324 (NET1) For if by the transgression of the one death reigned through

the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ Romans 517 (NASB)

For 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 2 Corinthians 89 (NASB)

You have been severed from Christ you who are seeking to be justifi ed by law you have fallen from grace Galatians 54 (NASB) Falling from grace means falling back down to the Law

UNDER GRACE

My litt le children I am writing you these things so that you may not sin But if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the FathermdashJesus Christ the Righteous One 1 John 21 (HCSB)

For the entire fullness of Godrsquos nature dwells bodily in Christ and you have been fi lled by Him who is the head over every ruler and authority Colossians 29-10 (HCSB)

but our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ Phil ippians 320 (HCSB)

for you have died and your l ife is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33 (NET1)

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree so that having died to sins we might l ive for righteousness you have been healed by His wounds 1 Peter 224 (HCSB)

For the hearts of these people have grown callous their ears are hard of hearing and they have shut their eyes otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears understand with their heart and be converted and I would heal them Acts 2827 (HCSB)

THERErsquoS MORE

In Christ we are a new creation 2 Cor 517 Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new

creation old things have passed away and look new things have come

Created in Christ in union with Him Eph 28-9 For we are His workmanship created in Christ

Jesus upon good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Created by God in righteousness holiness and truth Eph 424 and to put on the new man which according to

God was created in righteousness and holiness of the truthCreated in Godrsquos image

Col 39-10 Lie not one to another having put off the old man with his practices and having put on the new which is renewed in regard to knowledge after the image of Him who did create him

THE NEW MAN

Christ is in us Col 127 to whom God did will to make known what is the

riches of the glory of this secret among the nations--which is Christ in you the hope of the glory

Christ is our life Col 33-4 for ye did die and your life hath been hid with the

Christ in God when the Christ--our life--may be manifested then also we with him shall be manifested in glory

Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

Christ lives in us Gal 220 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no

longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me

THE NEW MAN

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit Eph 113 When you heard the message of truth the gospel

of your salvation and when you believed in Him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is in our heart 2 Cor 122 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our

hearts as a pledge Gal 46 Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit

of His Son into our hearts crying Abba FatherGodrsquos love has been poured into our heart

Rom 55 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us

THE NEW MAN

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

σωτηρία sōtēria noun Salvation deliverance preservation 1 Thess 59-10 For God did not appoint us to wrath but to obtain

salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we will live together with Him

Heb 59 And having been made perfect He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation

Rom 1311 Do this knowing the time that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed

σῴζω sōzō verb Save keep safe preserve rescue make well Titus 35 He saved us not on the basis of deeds which we have

done in righteousness but according to His mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit

Eph 28-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not as a result of works so that no one may boast

SALVATION SAVED

σῴζω sōzō depending on the context means ldquosaverdquo or ldquokeep saferdquo or ldquopreserverdquo or ldquorescuerdquo or ldquomake wellrdquo Note that σῴζω sōzō does not mean ldquoredeemedrdquo or

ldquoregeneratedrdquo or ldquoreconciledrdquo or ldquoforgivenrdquo or ldquogiven eternal liferdquo

In English ldquosaverdquo means ldquoTo preserve from injury destruction or evil of any kind to rescue from danger as to save a house from the flames to save a man from drowning to save a family from ruin to save a state from warrdquo (Websters)

1 Tim 416 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching persevere in these things for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers Timothy can keep himself and his hearers safe by paying

attention to himself and his teaching (doctrine)

SALVATION SAVED

ἁγιασμός hagiasmos noun Holiness sanctifi cation purifi cation

We are sanctifi ed Heb 1010 By this will (Godrsquos will) we have been sanctified

through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all 1 Cor 611 Such were some of you but you were washed but

you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God

We also participate in sanctifi cation 1 Thess 43 For this is Godrsquos will your sanctification that you

abstain from sexual immorality 2 Cor 71 Therefore dear friends since we have such

promises let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit completing our sanctification in the fear of God

Heb 1214 Pursue peace with all men and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord

SANCTIFICATION

ἅγιος hagios adj Holy (things) consecrated (persons) unapproachable perfect pure upright worthy of God saint

Translated ldquosaintsrdquo (61 times) ldquoholyrdquo or ldquoHolyrdquo ldquosanctuaryrdquo or ldquoHoly placerdquo or ldquoHoliest placerdquo Rom 17 to all who are in Rome beloved of God called saints

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ

Eph 14 according as He did choose us in Him before the foundation of the world for our being holy and unblemished before Him in love (YLT)

but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy without blemish and blameless before him mdash Colossians 122 (NET1)

We are not ldquosinners saved by gracerdquo rather ldquoI was a sinner God saved me by His grace I am now a saint (who occasionally still sins)rdquo

SAINTS (HOLY)

1 Cor 130 But lfloorit isrfloor from Him that you are in Christ Jesus who became God-given wisdom for usmdashlfloorourrfloor righteousness sanctification and redemption

1 John 413 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit

Col 33 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33

Jesus used the same language of Him and the Father John 1411 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the

Father is in Me otherwise believe because of the works themselves

John 1720-21 I do not ask on behalf of these alone but for those also who believe in Me through their word that they may all be one even as You Father are in Me and I in You that they also may be in Us so that the world may believe that You sent Me

IN CHRIST

Grace What God has graciously accomplished for us in Christ For sin shall not be master over you for you are not under law

but under grace Romans 614 (NASB) But if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works

otherwise grace is no longer grace Romans 116 (NASB) But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 324 (NET1) For if by the transgression of the one death reigned through

the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ Romans 517 (NASB)

For 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 2 Corinthians 89 (NASB)

You have been severed from Christ you who are seeking to be justifi ed by law you have fallen from grace Galatians 54 (NASB) Falling from grace means falling back down to the Law

UNDER GRACE

My litt le children I am writing you these things so that you may not sin But if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the FathermdashJesus Christ the Righteous One 1 John 21 (HCSB)

For the entire fullness of Godrsquos nature dwells bodily in Christ and you have been fi lled by Him who is the head over every ruler and authority Colossians 29-10 (HCSB)

but our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ Phil ippians 320 (HCSB)

for you have died and your l ife is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33 (NET1)

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree so that having died to sins we might l ive for righteousness you have been healed by His wounds 1 Peter 224 (HCSB)

For the hearts of these people have grown callous their ears are hard of hearing and they have shut their eyes otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears understand with their heart and be converted and I would heal them Acts 2827 (HCSB)

THERErsquoS MORE

In Christ we are a new creation 2 Cor 517 Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new

creation old things have passed away and look new things have come

Created in Christ in union with Him Eph 28-9 For we are His workmanship created in Christ

Jesus upon good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Created by God in righteousness holiness and truth Eph 424 and to put on the new man which according to

God was created in righteousness and holiness of the truthCreated in Godrsquos image

Col 39-10 Lie not one to another having put off the old man with his practices and having put on the new which is renewed in regard to knowledge after the image of Him who did create him

THE NEW MAN

Christ is in us Col 127 to whom God did will to make known what is the

riches of the glory of this secret among the nations--which is Christ in you the hope of the glory

Christ is our life Col 33-4 for ye did die and your life hath been hid with the

Christ in God when the Christ--our life--may be manifested then also we with him shall be manifested in glory

Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

Christ lives in us Gal 220 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no

longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me

THE NEW MAN

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit Eph 113 When you heard the message of truth the gospel

of your salvation and when you believed in Him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is in our heart 2 Cor 122 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our

hearts as a pledge Gal 46 Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit

of His Son into our hearts crying Abba FatherGodrsquos love has been poured into our heart

Rom 55 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us

THE NEW MAN

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

σῴζω sōzō depending on the context means ldquosaverdquo or ldquokeep saferdquo or ldquopreserverdquo or ldquorescuerdquo or ldquomake wellrdquo Note that σῴζω sōzō does not mean ldquoredeemedrdquo or

ldquoregeneratedrdquo or ldquoreconciledrdquo or ldquoforgivenrdquo or ldquogiven eternal liferdquo

In English ldquosaverdquo means ldquoTo preserve from injury destruction or evil of any kind to rescue from danger as to save a house from the flames to save a man from drowning to save a family from ruin to save a state from warrdquo (Websters)

1 Tim 416 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching persevere in these things for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers Timothy can keep himself and his hearers safe by paying

attention to himself and his teaching (doctrine)

SALVATION SAVED

ἁγιασμός hagiasmos noun Holiness sanctifi cation purifi cation

We are sanctifi ed Heb 1010 By this will (Godrsquos will) we have been sanctified

through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all 1 Cor 611 Such were some of you but you were washed but

you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God

We also participate in sanctifi cation 1 Thess 43 For this is Godrsquos will your sanctification that you

abstain from sexual immorality 2 Cor 71 Therefore dear friends since we have such

promises let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit completing our sanctification in the fear of God

Heb 1214 Pursue peace with all men and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord

SANCTIFICATION

ἅγιος hagios adj Holy (things) consecrated (persons) unapproachable perfect pure upright worthy of God saint

Translated ldquosaintsrdquo (61 times) ldquoholyrdquo or ldquoHolyrdquo ldquosanctuaryrdquo or ldquoHoly placerdquo or ldquoHoliest placerdquo Rom 17 to all who are in Rome beloved of God called saints

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ

Eph 14 according as He did choose us in Him before the foundation of the world for our being holy and unblemished before Him in love (YLT)

but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy without blemish and blameless before him mdash Colossians 122 (NET1)

We are not ldquosinners saved by gracerdquo rather ldquoI was a sinner God saved me by His grace I am now a saint (who occasionally still sins)rdquo

SAINTS (HOLY)

1 Cor 130 But lfloorit isrfloor from Him that you are in Christ Jesus who became God-given wisdom for usmdashlfloorourrfloor righteousness sanctification and redemption

1 John 413 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit

Col 33 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33

Jesus used the same language of Him and the Father John 1411 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the

Father is in Me otherwise believe because of the works themselves

John 1720-21 I do not ask on behalf of these alone but for those also who believe in Me through their word that they may all be one even as You Father are in Me and I in You that they also may be in Us so that the world may believe that You sent Me

IN CHRIST

Grace What God has graciously accomplished for us in Christ For sin shall not be master over you for you are not under law

but under grace Romans 614 (NASB) But if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works

otherwise grace is no longer grace Romans 116 (NASB) But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 324 (NET1) For if by the transgression of the one death reigned through

the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ Romans 517 (NASB)

For 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 2 Corinthians 89 (NASB)

You have been severed from Christ you who are seeking to be justifi ed by law you have fallen from grace Galatians 54 (NASB) Falling from grace means falling back down to the Law

UNDER GRACE

My litt le children I am writing you these things so that you may not sin But if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the FathermdashJesus Christ the Righteous One 1 John 21 (HCSB)

For the entire fullness of Godrsquos nature dwells bodily in Christ and you have been fi lled by Him who is the head over every ruler and authority Colossians 29-10 (HCSB)

but our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ Phil ippians 320 (HCSB)

for you have died and your l ife is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33 (NET1)

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree so that having died to sins we might l ive for righteousness you have been healed by His wounds 1 Peter 224 (HCSB)

For the hearts of these people have grown callous their ears are hard of hearing and they have shut their eyes otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears understand with their heart and be converted and I would heal them Acts 2827 (HCSB)

THERErsquoS MORE

In Christ we are a new creation 2 Cor 517 Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new

creation old things have passed away and look new things have come

Created in Christ in union with Him Eph 28-9 For we are His workmanship created in Christ

Jesus upon good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Created by God in righteousness holiness and truth Eph 424 and to put on the new man which according to

God was created in righteousness and holiness of the truthCreated in Godrsquos image

Col 39-10 Lie not one to another having put off the old man with his practices and having put on the new which is renewed in regard to knowledge after the image of Him who did create him

THE NEW MAN

Christ is in us Col 127 to whom God did will to make known what is the

riches of the glory of this secret among the nations--which is Christ in you the hope of the glory

Christ is our life Col 33-4 for ye did die and your life hath been hid with the

Christ in God when the Christ--our life--may be manifested then also we with him shall be manifested in glory

Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

Christ lives in us Gal 220 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no

longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me

THE NEW MAN

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit Eph 113 When you heard the message of truth the gospel

of your salvation and when you believed in Him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is in our heart 2 Cor 122 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our

hearts as a pledge Gal 46 Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit

of His Son into our hearts crying Abba FatherGodrsquos love has been poured into our heart

Rom 55 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us

THE NEW MAN

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

ἁγιασμός hagiasmos noun Holiness sanctifi cation purifi cation

We are sanctifi ed Heb 1010 By this will (Godrsquos will) we have been sanctified

through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all 1 Cor 611 Such were some of you but you were washed but

you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God

We also participate in sanctifi cation 1 Thess 43 For this is Godrsquos will your sanctification that you

abstain from sexual immorality 2 Cor 71 Therefore dear friends since we have such

promises let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit completing our sanctification in the fear of God

Heb 1214 Pursue peace with all men and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord

SANCTIFICATION

ἅγιος hagios adj Holy (things) consecrated (persons) unapproachable perfect pure upright worthy of God saint

Translated ldquosaintsrdquo (61 times) ldquoholyrdquo or ldquoHolyrdquo ldquosanctuaryrdquo or ldquoHoly placerdquo or ldquoHoliest placerdquo Rom 17 to all who are in Rome beloved of God called saints

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ

Eph 14 according as He did choose us in Him before the foundation of the world for our being holy and unblemished before Him in love (YLT)

but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy without blemish and blameless before him mdash Colossians 122 (NET1)

We are not ldquosinners saved by gracerdquo rather ldquoI was a sinner God saved me by His grace I am now a saint (who occasionally still sins)rdquo

SAINTS (HOLY)

1 Cor 130 But lfloorit isrfloor from Him that you are in Christ Jesus who became God-given wisdom for usmdashlfloorourrfloor righteousness sanctification and redemption

1 John 413 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit

Col 33 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33

Jesus used the same language of Him and the Father John 1411 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the

Father is in Me otherwise believe because of the works themselves

John 1720-21 I do not ask on behalf of these alone but for those also who believe in Me through their word that they may all be one even as You Father are in Me and I in You that they also may be in Us so that the world may believe that You sent Me

IN CHRIST

Grace What God has graciously accomplished for us in Christ For sin shall not be master over you for you are not under law

but under grace Romans 614 (NASB) But if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works

otherwise grace is no longer grace Romans 116 (NASB) But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 324 (NET1) For if by the transgression of the one death reigned through

the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ Romans 517 (NASB)

For 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 2 Corinthians 89 (NASB)

You have been severed from Christ you who are seeking to be justifi ed by law you have fallen from grace Galatians 54 (NASB) Falling from grace means falling back down to the Law

UNDER GRACE

My litt le children I am writing you these things so that you may not sin But if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the FathermdashJesus Christ the Righteous One 1 John 21 (HCSB)

For the entire fullness of Godrsquos nature dwells bodily in Christ and you have been fi lled by Him who is the head over every ruler and authority Colossians 29-10 (HCSB)

but our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ Phil ippians 320 (HCSB)

for you have died and your l ife is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33 (NET1)

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree so that having died to sins we might l ive for righteousness you have been healed by His wounds 1 Peter 224 (HCSB)

For the hearts of these people have grown callous their ears are hard of hearing and they have shut their eyes otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears understand with their heart and be converted and I would heal them Acts 2827 (HCSB)

THERErsquoS MORE

In Christ we are a new creation 2 Cor 517 Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new

creation old things have passed away and look new things have come

Created in Christ in union with Him Eph 28-9 For we are His workmanship created in Christ

Jesus upon good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Created by God in righteousness holiness and truth Eph 424 and to put on the new man which according to

God was created in righteousness and holiness of the truthCreated in Godrsquos image

Col 39-10 Lie not one to another having put off the old man with his practices and having put on the new which is renewed in regard to knowledge after the image of Him who did create him

THE NEW MAN

Christ is in us Col 127 to whom God did will to make known what is the

riches of the glory of this secret among the nations--which is Christ in you the hope of the glory

Christ is our life Col 33-4 for ye did die and your life hath been hid with the

Christ in God when the Christ--our life--may be manifested then also we with him shall be manifested in glory

Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

Christ lives in us Gal 220 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no

longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me

THE NEW MAN

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit Eph 113 When you heard the message of truth the gospel

of your salvation and when you believed in Him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is in our heart 2 Cor 122 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our

hearts as a pledge Gal 46 Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit

of His Son into our hearts crying Abba FatherGodrsquos love has been poured into our heart

Rom 55 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us

THE NEW MAN

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

ἅγιος hagios adj Holy (things) consecrated (persons) unapproachable perfect pure upright worthy of God saint

Translated ldquosaintsrdquo (61 times) ldquoholyrdquo or ldquoHolyrdquo ldquosanctuaryrdquo or ldquoHoly placerdquo or ldquoHoliest placerdquo Rom 17 to all who are in Rome beloved of God called saints

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ

Eph 14 according as He did choose us in Him before the foundation of the world for our being holy and unblemished before Him in love (YLT)

but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy without blemish and blameless before him mdash Colossians 122 (NET1)

We are not ldquosinners saved by gracerdquo rather ldquoI was a sinner God saved me by His grace I am now a saint (who occasionally still sins)rdquo

SAINTS (HOLY)

1 Cor 130 But lfloorit isrfloor from Him that you are in Christ Jesus who became God-given wisdom for usmdashlfloorourrfloor righteousness sanctification and redemption

1 John 413 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit

Col 33 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33

Jesus used the same language of Him and the Father John 1411 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the

Father is in Me otherwise believe because of the works themselves

John 1720-21 I do not ask on behalf of these alone but for those also who believe in Me through their word that they may all be one even as You Father are in Me and I in You that they also may be in Us so that the world may believe that You sent Me

IN CHRIST

Grace What God has graciously accomplished for us in Christ For sin shall not be master over you for you are not under law

but under grace Romans 614 (NASB) But if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works

otherwise grace is no longer grace Romans 116 (NASB) But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 324 (NET1) For if by the transgression of the one death reigned through

the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ Romans 517 (NASB)

For 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 2 Corinthians 89 (NASB)

You have been severed from Christ you who are seeking to be justifi ed by law you have fallen from grace Galatians 54 (NASB) Falling from grace means falling back down to the Law

UNDER GRACE

My litt le children I am writing you these things so that you may not sin But if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the FathermdashJesus Christ the Righteous One 1 John 21 (HCSB)

For the entire fullness of Godrsquos nature dwells bodily in Christ and you have been fi lled by Him who is the head over every ruler and authority Colossians 29-10 (HCSB)

but our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ Phil ippians 320 (HCSB)

for you have died and your l ife is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33 (NET1)

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree so that having died to sins we might l ive for righteousness you have been healed by His wounds 1 Peter 224 (HCSB)

For the hearts of these people have grown callous their ears are hard of hearing and they have shut their eyes otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears understand with their heart and be converted and I would heal them Acts 2827 (HCSB)

THERErsquoS MORE

In Christ we are a new creation 2 Cor 517 Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new

creation old things have passed away and look new things have come

Created in Christ in union with Him Eph 28-9 For we are His workmanship created in Christ

Jesus upon good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Created by God in righteousness holiness and truth Eph 424 and to put on the new man which according to

God was created in righteousness and holiness of the truthCreated in Godrsquos image

Col 39-10 Lie not one to another having put off the old man with his practices and having put on the new which is renewed in regard to knowledge after the image of Him who did create him

THE NEW MAN

Christ is in us Col 127 to whom God did will to make known what is the

riches of the glory of this secret among the nations--which is Christ in you the hope of the glory

Christ is our life Col 33-4 for ye did die and your life hath been hid with the

Christ in God when the Christ--our life--may be manifested then also we with him shall be manifested in glory

Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

Christ lives in us Gal 220 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no

longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me

THE NEW MAN

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit Eph 113 When you heard the message of truth the gospel

of your salvation and when you believed in Him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is in our heart 2 Cor 122 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our

hearts as a pledge Gal 46 Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit

of His Son into our hearts crying Abba FatherGodrsquos love has been poured into our heart

Rom 55 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us

THE NEW MAN

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

1 Cor 130 But lfloorit isrfloor from Him that you are in Christ Jesus who became God-given wisdom for usmdashlfloorourrfloor righteousness sanctification and redemption

1 John 413 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit

Col 33 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33

Jesus used the same language of Him and the Father John 1411 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the

Father is in Me otherwise believe because of the works themselves

John 1720-21 I do not ask on behalf of these alone but for those also who believe in Me through their word that they may all be one even as You Father are in Me and I in You that they also may be in Us so that the world may believe that You sent Me

IN CHRIST

Grace What God has graciously accomplished for us in Christ For sin shall not be master over you for you are not under law

but under grace Romans 614 (NASB) But if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works

otherwise grace is no longer grace Romans 116 (NASB) But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 324 (NET1) For if by the transgression of the one death reigned through

the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ Romans 517 (NASB)

For 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 2 Corinthians 89 (NASB)

You have been severed from Christ you who are seeking to be justifi ed by law you have fallen from grace Galatians 54 (NASB) Falling from grace means falling back down to the Law

UNDER GRACE

My litt le children I am writing you these things so that you may not sin But if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the FathermdashJesus Christ the Righteous One 1 John 21 (HCSB)

For the entire fullness of Godrsquos nature dwells bodily in Christ and you have been fi lled by Him who is the head over every ruler and authority Colossians 29-10 (HCSB)

but our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ Phil ippians 320 (HCSB)

for you have died and your l ife is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33 (NET1)

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree so that having died to sins we might l ive for righteousness you have been healed by His wounds 1 Peter 224 (HCSB)

For the hearts of these people have grown callous their ears are hard of hearing and they have shut their eyes otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears understand with their heart and be converted and I would heal them Acts 2827 (HCSB)

THERErsquoS MORE

In Christ we are a new creation 2 Cor 517 Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new

creation old things have passed away and look new things have come

Created in Christ in union with Him Eph 28-9 For we are His workmanship created in Christ

Jesus upon good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Created by God in righteousness holiness and truth Eph 424 and to put on the new man which according to

God was created in righteousness and holiness of the truthCreated in Godrsquos image

Col 39-10 Lie not one to another having put off the old man with his practices and having put on the new which is renewed in regard to knowledge after the image of Him who did create him

THE NEW MAN

Christ is in us Col 127 to whom God did will to make known what is the

riches of the glory of this secret among the nations--which is Christ in you the hope of the glory

Christ is our life Col 33-4 for ye did die and your life hath been hid with the

Christ in God when the Christ--our life--may be manifested then also we with him shall be manifested in glory

Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

Christ lives in us Gal 220 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no

longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me

THE NEW MAN

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit Eph 113 When you heard the message of truth the gospel

of your salvation and when you believed in Him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is in our heart 2 Cor 122 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our

hearts as a pledge Gal 46 Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit

of His Son into our hearts crying Abba FatherGodrsquos love has been poured into our heart

Rom 55 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us

THE NEW MAN

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

Grace What God has graciously accomplished for us in Christ For sin shall not be master over you for you are not under law

but under grace Romans 614 (NASB) But if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works

otherwise grace is no longer grace Romans 116 (NASB) But they are justifi ed freely by his grace through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 324 (NET1) For if by the transgression of the one death reigned through

the one much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ Romans 517 (NASB)

For 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 2 Corinthians 89 (NASB)

You have been severed from Christ you who are seeking to be justifi ed by law you have fallen from grace Galatians 54 (NASB) Falling from grace means falling back down to the Law

UNDER GRACE

My litt le children I am writing you these things so that you may not sin But if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the FathermdashJesus Christ the Righteous One 1 John 21 (HCSB)

For the entire fullness of Godrsquos nature dwells bodily in Christ and you have been fi lled by Him who is the head over every ruler and authority Colossians 29-10 (HCSB)

but our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ Phil ippians 320 (HCSB)

for you have died and your l ife is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33 (NET1)

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree so that having died to sins we might l ive for righteousness you have been healed by His wounds 1 Peter 224 (HCSB)

For the hearts of these people have grown callous their ears are hard of hearing and they have shut their eyes otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears understand with their heart and be converted and I would heal them Acts 2827 (HCSB)

THERErsquoS MORE

In Christ we are a new creation 2 Cor 517 Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new

creation old things have passed away and look new things have come

Created in Christ in union with Him Eph 28-9 For we are His workmanship created in Christ

Jesus upon good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Created by God in righteousness holiness and truth Eph 424 and to put on the new man which according to

God was created in righteousness and holiness of the truthCreated in Godrsquos image

Col 39-10 Lie not one to another having put off the old man with his practices and having put on the new which is renewed in regard to knowledge after the image of Him who did create him

THE NEW MAN

Christ is in us Col 127 to whom God did will to make known what is the

riches of the glory of this secret among the nations--which is Christ in you the hope of the glory

Christ is our life Col 33-4 for ye did die and your life hath been hid with the

Christ in God when the Christ--our life--may be manifested then also we with him shall be manifested in glory

Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

Christ lives in us Gal 220 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no

longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me

THE NEW MAN

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit Eph 113 When you heard the message of truth the gospel

of your salvation and when you believed in Him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is in our heart 2 Cor 122 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our

hearts as a pledge Gal 46 Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit

of His Son into our hearts crying Abba FatherGodrsquos love has been poured into our heart

Rom 55 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us

THE NEW MAN

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

My litt le children I am writing you these things so that you may not sin But if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the FathermdashJesus Christ the Righteous One 1 John 21 (HCSB)

For the entire fullness of Godrsquos nature dwells bodily in Christ and you have been fi lled by Him who is the head over every ruler and authority Colossians 29-10 (HCSB)

but our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ Phil ippians 320 (HCSB)

for you have died and your l ife is hidden with Christ in God Colossians 33 (NET1)

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree so that having died to sins we might l ive for righteousness you have been healed by His wounds 1 Peter 224 (HCSB)

For the hearts of these people have grown callous their ears are hard of hearing and they have shut their eyes otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears understand with their heart and be converted and I would heal them Acts 2827 (HCSB)

THERErsquoS MORE

In Christ we are a new creation 2 Cor 517 Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new

creation old things have passed away and look new things have come

Created in Christ in union with Him Eph 28-9 For we are His workmanship created in Christ

Jesus upon good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Created by God in righteousness holiness and truth Eph 424 and to put on the new man which according to

God was created in righteousness and holiness of the truthCreated in Godrsquos image

Col 39-10 Lie not one to another having put off the old man with his practices and having put on the new which is renewed in regard to knowledge after the image of Him who did create him

THE NEW MAN

Christ is in us Col 127 to whom God did will to make known what is the

riches of the glory of this secret among the nations--which is Christ in you the hope of the glory

Christ is our life Col 33-4 for ye did die and your life hath been hid with the

Christ in God when the Christ--our life--may be manifested then also we with him shall be manifested in glory

Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

Christ lives in us Gal 220 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no

longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me

THE NEW MAN

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit Eph 113 When you heard the message of truth the gospel

of your salvation and when you believed in Him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is in our heart 2 Cor 122 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our

hearts as a pledge Gal 46 Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit

of His Son into our hearts crying Abba FatherGodrsquos love has been poured into our heart

Rom 55 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us

THE NEW MAN

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

In Christ we are a new creation 2 Cor 517 Therefore if anyone is in Christ lfloorhe isrfloor a new

creation old things have passed away and look new things have come

Created in Christ in union with Him Eph 28-9 For we are His workmanship created in Christ

Jesus upon good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Created by God in righteousness holiness and truth Eph 424 and to put on the new man which according to

God was created in righteousness and holiness of the truthCreated in Godrsquos image

Col 39-10 Lie not one to another having put off the old man with his practices and having put on the new which is renewed in regard to knowledge after the image of Him who did create him

THE NEW MAN

Christ is in us Col 127 to whom God did will to make known what is the

riches of the glory of this secret among the nations--which is Christ in you the hope of the glory

Christ is our life Col 33-4 for ye did die and your life hath been hid with the

Christ in God when the Christ--our life--may be manifested then also we with him shall be manifested in glory

Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

Christ lives in us Gal 220 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no

longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me

THE NEW MAN

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit Eph 113 When you heard the message of truth the gospel

of your salvation and when you believed in Him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is in our heart 2 Cor 122 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our

hearts as a pledge Gal 46 Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit

of His Son into our hearts crying Abba FatherGodrsquos love has been poured into our heart

Rom 55 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us

THE NEW MAN

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

Christ is in us Col 127 to whom God did will to make known what is the

riches of the glory of this secret among the nations--which is Christ in you the hope of the glory

Christ is our life Col 33-4 for ye did die and your life hath been hid with the

Christ in God when the Christ--our life--may be manifested then also we with him shall be manifested in glory

Rom 510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son much more having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life

Christ lives in us Gal 220 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no

longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me

THE NEW MAN

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit Eph 113 When you heard the message of truth the gospel

of your salvation and when you believed in Him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is in our heart 2 Cor 122 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our

hearts as a pledge Gal 46 Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit

of His Son into our hearts crying Abba FatherGodrsquos love has been poured into our heart

Rom 55 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us

THE NEW MAN

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

We were sealed with the Holy Spirit Eph 113 When you heard the message of truth the gospel

of your salvation and when you believed in Him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is in our heart 2 Cor 122 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our

hearts as a pledge Gal 46 Because you are sons God has sent forth the Spirit

of His Son into our hearts crying Abba FatherGodrsquos love has been poured into our heart

Rom 55 and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us

THE NEW MAN

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

We are Godrsquos sons and daughters (John 112) We are redeemed (ransomed) eternally irrevocably We are forgiven fully once and for all permanently We have been made the righteousness of Christ eternally

which can not be diminished or added to We have been declared righteous eternally irrevocably We are eternally in union with Christ in Him permanently We have been regenerated never to die again We are alive in Christ He is our life He lives in us

permanently We have been reconciled to God permanently irrevocably We possess eternal life which is forever and irrevocable We have been sanctifi ed and are being sanctifi ed We are protected by Godrsquos infi nite power and promises We are complete in Him holy without blemish and

blameless before Him

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

We possess new lifemdasheternal l ife l ife forever with God We possess the Holy Spirit sealed permanently with Him

Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we may know the things freely given to us by God 1 Corinthians 212 (NASB)

We possess the Lord Jesus Christ I am His and He is mine We possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He has given to each We possess all of Godrsquos promises (7000 of them) We possess all things

Rom 832 He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

We possess an inheritance from God co-heirs with Christ (Rom 817)

God has given us everything pertaining to l ife and godliness (2 Pet 13)

He has equipped us with every good thing to do His wil l (Heb 1320) God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph 13) We possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor 216)

WHAT WE POSSESS IN CHRIST

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

IN ADAM | IN CHRIST

Sin Righteousness (2 Cor 521)

Condemnation Justification (Rom 519)

Death Life (1 Cor 1522)

Flesh Spirit (Rom 89)

The World The Heavenlies (Eph 26)

Law Grace (Rom 614)

Curse Blessing (Gal 314)

Bondage Liberty (Rom 76)

Sin Reigns Grace Reigns (Rom 521)

Under sin Under grace (Rom 614)

Slaves to sin Slaves to Righteousness (Rom 618)

Death Reigns We reign in life (Rom 517)

Darkness Light (1 Thess 54-5)

Authority of Satanrsquos kingdom Kingdom of God (Col 113-14)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

Beloved now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is And everyone who has this hope fi xed on Him purifi es himself just as He is pure 1 John 32-3 (NASB)

Behold I tell you a mystery we will not all sleep but we will all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed For this perishable must put on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Corinthians 1551-53 (NASB)

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 417 (NASB)

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 27 (NASB)

You will make known to me the path of l ife In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever Psalm 1611 (NASB)

OUR CERTAIN FUTURE

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

We are to live as who we truly are in Christ Eph 210 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus

[upon] good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them

Eph 41 Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called

Phil 316 Nevertheless let us live up to the standard that we have already attained (NET1)

There are approximately 600 verses in the epistles containing commands These commands are not a new ldquolawrdquo to follow but a refl ection of what our New Man already desires to do Phil 213 For it is God who is working in you lfloorenabling yourfloor both to

desire and to work out His good purpose (HCSB)The presence of sin results in suff ering for all believers

1 Pet 59 But resist him firm in your faith knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (NASB)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

Moment by moment all believers face a confl ict of two sets of desires within (Gal 217)

The ldquosin which dwells in merdquo (Rom 717) has no power or authority but It (they) tempts us to sin appealing to our fleshly desires It (they) attempts to deceive us to doubt God to doubt His

truth to doubt His promises to doubt His provisions to doubt His goodness hellip

Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 1423) We obtain discernment through God renewing our mind (Rom

122) and through study of Godrsquos Word (2 Tim 215)Apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 155)Through Christ we can do all things (Phil 413)When I am weak He is strong (2 Cor 1210)But godliness with contentment is a great gain (1 Tim

66)

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

LIVE LIKE WHO YOU ARE AND WILL BE NOT WHO YOU WERE (EPHESIANS 417-32)

Who We Were - The Old Man

Spirit Spiritually Dead

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Who We Will Be - The TRUE You

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(Mansion)

Will

Who We Are - The New Man

SpiritReborn Spirit

(Godly desires)

Soul

Body

Emotions

Physical(tent)

Flesh (evil desires)

Will

Our Glorified Body

bull Our Old Man was crucified with Christ(Romans 66)

bull I am no longer the one doing it but sin that dwells in me (Romans 720)bull We have two opposing desires in us (Galatians 517)bull Walk by the Spirit and we wonrsquot fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 517)

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

PowerAuthority

Sin

Mind

Kingdom of Darkness

No powerNo authority

Holy Spirit

Sin

Mind

Holy Spirit

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

And their impact on the Gospel

CONTROVERSIES

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

There have been and still are many controversies surrounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We all need to be aware of these controversies as we will all run into them

How we address each controversy impacts the Gospel we believe in and the Gospel we proclaim

We all have a responsibility to consider and study these things These controversies are not simple nor easily dismissed Comparing Scripture with Scripture and resolving any

perceived contradictions is our greatest challenge and responsibility

No man knows as he ought to know 1 Cor 82 If anyone supposes that he knows anything he has not yet

known as he ought to know We see through a ldquoglass darklyrdquo

1 Cor 1312 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known

GOSPEL CONTROVERSIES

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus to make us slaves Galatians 24 (NET1)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men according to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ Colossians 28 (NASB)

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into l icentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ Jude 14 (NASB)

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching so that he wil l be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict For there are many rebell ious men empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision Titus 19-10 (NASB)

Then we wil l no longer be l ittle children tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching by human cunning with cleverness in the [systemizing] of deceit Ephesians 414 (HCSB)

BE ALERT BE ON GUARD

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

The epistle to the Christians in Galatia was Paulrsquos fi rst epistle

He wrote it to address the fi rst major problem that manifested in the churches he established

The Christians in Galatia started out correctly understanding they were redeemed by the blood of Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone (and not by works of the Law)

But some came and told them while they started out in grace they must continue to live under the Law of Moses Ie the Galatians started out righteous but needed to place

themselves back under Law in order to maintain or enhance their righteousness Or forgiveness or eternal life or redemption or ldquosalvationrdquo hellip

Galatianism (legalism) is still rampant in the (worldwide) church today possibly the single largest problem

GALATIANISM

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

We are not under Law but under Grace Rom 614 For sin will not rule over you because you are not under

law but under grace We are not to follow rules and regulations in order to establish

enhance or keep from diminishing our righteousness By grace God has made us righteous as He is righteous and has declared us to be so

We have been set free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom 81-2 Therefore no condemnation now exists for those in

Christ Jesus because the Spiritrsquos law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death

We died to the Law Rom 76 But now we have been released from the law since we

have died to what held us so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law

Gal 319 (NASB) Why the Law then It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

The power of sin is in the Law 1 Cor 1556 Now the sting of death is sin and the power

of sin is the law If you want a believer to sin more then put them or

keep them under law Law a system of works to establish our own righteousness

If you want someone to sin less keep them under grace Grace a system of faith believing we are Godrsquos

righteousness because of Christrsquos faithfulness In summary the false gospel proclaimed in Galatia was

something like Christ died for your sins but now you must keep the Law of Moses to stay righteous

The true Gospel states that Christrsquos death in our place set us free from slavery to sin and to the Law and we are now eternally righteous

GALATIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

This controversy has been raging since at least the 4 th century

How we deal with this controversy will determine The Gospel that we believe and live under moment by moment The Gospel that we proclaim to non-believers (and believers)

Christians love to discuss ldquopredestinationrdquo perhaps more than any other topic

The focus of this presentation is on how our resolution of this controversy impacts the Gospel

Recall Paulrsquos warningcommand Gal 18 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach

to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you he is to be accursed

Gal 19 As we have said before I now say again If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received a curse be on him

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

Pelagianism A theology from Pelagius a Brit ish monk (AD 360 ndash 420) that emphasizes human abil ity and free wil l rather than human depravity and sinfulness

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) an early church Bishop disputed with Pelagius arguing for the depravity of man and necessity of divine predestination

Semi-Pelagianism a theology developed in the 5 t h and 6 t h century that attempted to mediate between the posit ions of Pelagius and Augustine

Arminianism a theology developed by fol lowers of James Arminius a Dutch Reformer (1560-1609) a theology similar to Semi-Pelagianism

Calvinism a theology developed by fol lowers of John Calvin a French Reformer (1509-1564) that opposed Pelagianism

Synod of Dort a national Synod in Holland called to meet in 1618 to address the Five Remonstrances submitted by the followers of Arminius to change the Belgiac Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism 154 sessions were held over 7 months with up to 1500 participant from Holland Germany Switzerland England result ing in the publishing of fi ve chapters that documented the Synodrsquos unanimous rejection of the Five Remonstrances

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

Martin Luther (1483-1546) the great German Reformer disputed with Desiderius Erasmus arguing against the free will of man writing ldquoThe Bondage of the Willrdquo

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) perhaps the greatest American philosopher-theologian authored ldquoThe Freedom of the Willrdquo arguing for the total depravity of man

George Whitefi eld (1714-1770) a great Methodist evangelist held to a ldquoCalvinistrdquo theology

John Wesley (1703-1791) founder of Methodism held to a theology that was Arminian in orientation

Charles Finney (1792-1875) held to an Arminian theology and perfectionist view of sanctifi cation

The church in early America was staunchly ldquoCalvinisticrdquo The pendulum has swung the other way such that the

modern evangelical church is predominantly ldquoArminianrdquo Technically holding to the first four Remonstrances but rejecting

the fifth ie rejecting that eternal assurance is in question

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

The maxim of Semi-Pelagianism is ldquoit is mine to be willing to believe and it is the part of Godrsquos grace to assistrdquo A synergistic GospelmdashGod and man together

The position of Calvinism is that an unregenerate person is absolutely incapable of choosing to believe receive accept or repent requiring fi rst the gracious regeneration which will always be followed by repentance and belief A monergistic GospelmdashGod and God alone

How do these positions impact the message of the Gospel that we are to proclaim

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Synergistic Gospel (man-centered)

The Monergistic Gospel (God centered)

If you decide to

BelieveAcceptReceiveRepentPrayAsk

then and only then God will

ForgiveRedeemJustifyReconcileGive eternal life toRegenerateSave

you

God has

RedeemedJustifiedReconciledGiven eternal life toRegeneratedForgiven

usRepent and believe this Good News

Radically change your thinking about God and what He has done for you through Christ

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

The central ldquoissuerdquo with the Calvinist position seems to be How can God choose some to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell and

still be just and fair Rom 914 What shall we say then There is no injustice with God is

there May it never be Rom 919-24 You will say to me then Why does He still find fault For

who resists His will On the contrary who are you O man who answers back to God The thing molded will not say to the molder Why did you make me like this will it Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use What if God although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory even us whom He also called not from among Jews only but also from among Gentiles

Fact God is perfectly fair just and righteous Fact God is completely sovereign over all His creation and

everything in it His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts

(Isa 558-9)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

Problems with the Arminian position Scripture strongly declares the total depravity of man and Godrsquos

foreknowledge and predestination of men (My personal study finds that for every NT passage that seems to support the

Arminian position there are approx 14 passages that support a Calvinist position)

(Out of 121 or so NT passages addressing the subject it is easier for me to resolve the apparent confl ict of 8 passages seeming to support Arminianism versus trying to make the 113 Calvinist passages support an Arminian theology)

The Arminian position exalts the sovereignty of man with respect to determining eternal destiny It exalts the power of manrsquos will insisting it is free to choose to repent

believe accept and receive the Gospel Eternal Life = What Christ Did + My Decision Mathematically then Eternal Life ndash What Christ Did = My Decision

Eternal life is ultimately entirely up to my decision The Arminian position invariably leads to diffi culty with eternal assurance

How does one know if they truly repented suffi ciently believed exactly what is necessary to believe to qualify for heaven and can maintain qualification for heaven despite persistent sin in hisher life

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is ldquoindicativerdquo or ldquodeclarativerdquo It is a statement of fact or statements of facts It is a message about what God has done for us through

Christ The Gospel is not an invitation but a command

God commands all men everywhere to repent Acts 1730 ldquoTherefore having overlooked the times of

ignorance God now commands all people everywhere to repent Jesus commanded the Jews to repent and believe the Gospel

Mark 115 and saying The time is fulfi lled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospelldquo

The Ransom price God paid in the shed blood and death of Christ is not a ldquopotentialrdquo price ie only valid if one accepts receives or believes it Such a concept can not be supported in Scripture

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

All are commanded to obey the gospel but not all will obey 1 Pet 27-8 This precious value then is for you who

believe but for those who disbelieve THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone and A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to this they were also appointed

2 Thess 18-9 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who donrsquot know God and on those who donrsquot obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lordrsquos presence and from His glorious strength

The command is to obey the Gospel (obey Godrsquos Word)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

God is the one who opens our heart A woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a

worshiper of God was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul Acts 1614 (NASB)

God is the one who grants that we believe For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but

also to suffer for His sake Philippians 129 (NASB) When the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the

Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed Acts 1348 (NASB)

God allots to each a measure of faith For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith Romans 123 (NASB)

God is the one who grants repentance with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant

them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 225 (NASB) God placed us in Christ

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that just as it is written LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD 1 Corinthians 130-31 (NASB)

PELAGIANISM SEMI-PELAGIANISM ARMINIANISM (CONTrsquoD)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

The eternal assurance of the believer has long been a controversy and still is

The fi fth Remonstrance stated that ldquoassurancerdquo should be studied further

Many today go beyond the fi fth Remonstrance and hold that The believer has no assurancemdashwe wonrsquot know until we get

to heaven and God lets us inAgain how does this impact the Gospel that we

believe and proclaim I have Great News for you Christ died for our sins and

those who believe have eternal lifehellipmaybe

ASSURANCE

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

There are some who refuse to teach that believers have assurance for fear that doing so will give believers a ldquolicense to sinrdquo

They will focus on some passages that appear to say a believer can ldquolose their salvationrdquo but ignore those passages that clearly state the absolute assurance of eternal life

The implication is that the believer has to do something to insure getting into heaven by ldquominding their Prsquos and Qrsquosrdquo ie no sinning too much Implying there is a threshold that if crossed God blots

their name out of the Book of Life and the believer goes to Hell

Only by maintaining this fear of Hell they say will believers be motivated to avoid sin ldquowalk the narrow roadrdquo and to ldquolove Godrdquo

ASSURANCE

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

If we are eternally redeemed God having paid the ransom price to purchase us never to sell us again can a believer somehow become unredeemed

If we have been completely forgiven all our sins past present and future once and for all can a believer somehow become unforgiven

If a believer possesses eternal lifemdashlife forever with God can a believer somehow loose possession of eternal life

If a believer has been eternally reconciled to God can a believer somehow become unreconciled

If Christ paid the just penalty for our sin once and for all could a believer ever be held accountable for sin

Can a believer ever possess complete peace and rest if his eternal destiny still depends on his performance

ASSURANCE

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

Can a believer ldquosin as much as he wants tordquo and still go to heaven A true believer already is sinning more than he wants to which

is any sin more than zeroWill some abuse Godrsquos grace

Jude 14 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ

Will some misunderstand Godrsquos grace Rom 38 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and

as some claim that we say) Let us do evil that good may come Their condemnation is just

Heb 1022 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

ASSURANCE

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

In Hebrews 135 God literally states ldquoI will absolutely never ever leave you I will absolutely never ever forsake yourdquo

John 1027-29 My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them and they will [absolutely never ever] perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand

John 1125-26 Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me will [absolutely never ever] die Do you believe thisldquo

The Lord leaves no doubt in His Word once redeemed always redeemed once forgiven always forgiven once justifi ed always justifi ed eternal life is just thatmdasheternal

ASSURANCE

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

This test demonstrates how Galatianism leads to no assurance

Are we now forgiven for all our sins past present and future as stated in Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 Be kind to one another tender-hearted forgiving each other just

as God in Christ also has forgiven you Ephesians 432 (NASB)Or is our forgiveness contingent on forgiving others

Matt 614-15 For if you forgive others for their transgressions your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you do not forgive others then your Father will not forgive your transgressionsrdquo

Does the passage in Matthew say that if we donrsquot forgive everyone of their transgressions God wonrsquot forgive us and we therefore end up in hell because we are not forgiven So does getting into heaven depends entirely on us completely forgiving everyone of all their transgressions against us all the days of our life up to our very last breath

HERErsquoS A TEST

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

When did the Old covenant end and the ldquoNew covenant in his bloodrdquo begin Answer After Christ shed his blood on the cross died and rose

Matt 614-15 was spoken under the old covenant Eph 432 Col 313 1 John 212 Heb 1012-14 were written

after His death burial and resurrection ie under the new covenant in His blood

Our sins past present and future have been forgiven once and for all forever and irrevocably

Should we forgive others as Christ has forgiven us Of course Col 313 bearing with one another and forgiving each other whoever

has a complaint against anyone just as the Lord forgave you so also should you

Note we can apply much of what Jesus said before the cross but we as believers must consider what the Holy Spirit said in Godrsquos Word after the events of the cross specifi cally in Acts the Epistles and the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

ANSWERS TO THE TEST

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

Mental Assent Defined as If a person gives mental assent to the man

Jesus being God and dying for their sins being raised from the dead then that person is ldquosavedrdquo It may include responding to an altar call It may include reciting ldquothe sinners prayerrdquo

True Conversion The sinner has been regeneratedmdashborn again born from

above his dead spirit has been quickened (made alive) Repentance and belief follow regeneration

2 Tim 225 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth

Phil 129 For to you it has been granted for Christs sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake

Fruit follows repentence Matt 38 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

The result of assuming mental assent is suffi cient for conversion has had devastating consequences It gives a false assurance to those who have given mental assent

but are not truly converted (regenerated) You believe that God is one You do well the demons also believe and

shudder James 219 (NASB) Churches are fi lled with those who are not true believers

causing strife and confusion 2 Cor 614 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers For what

partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness Or what fellowship does light have with darkness

Mental assent results from a weakened diminished Gospel The ldquogood newsrdquo is that if you assent in your mind to the death

burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins then you are ldquosavedrdquo

The evangelistic focus becomes persuading someone to give mental assent as opposed to proclaiming the message and leaving the result with the Holy Spirit

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)

A true believer has been regenerated (born again born from above quickened made alive spiritually)

A true believer can hear see repent believe understand discern truth from error have fellowship with other believers

A true believer has the Holy Spirit to help guide teach give him power love and a sound mind

True conversion is the result of Godrsquos gracious act of regeneration Not necessarily reciting the ldquosinnerrsquos prayerrdquo Not necessarily walking the aisle to an altar call Although God may use these things

A true believer sooner or later will manifest fruit unto God

MENTAL ASSENT VS TRUE CONVERSION

• The Gospel for Christians
• Why Preach the Gospel to Believers
• Why Study the Gospel
• Why Study the Gospel (2)
• Why Study the Gospel (3)
• The Gospel is vast
• The Gospel is Multifaceted
• Purpose of This Presentation
• The Gospel
• The Gospel (2)
• The Gospel ndash a brief summary
• Key Gospel Passages
• Key Gospel Passages (2)
• Key Gospel Passages (3)
• Facets of the gospel
• Facets of the Gospel
• Redeem Redemption
• Redeem Redemption (2)
• Redeem Redemption (3)
• Redeem Redemption (4)
• Redeem Redemption (5)
• Kinsman Redeemer
• Redeem Redemption (6)
• Justificationrighteousness
• Justificationrighteousness (2)
• Justificationrighteousness (3)
• REGENERATION
• REGENERATION (2)
• REGENERATION (3)
• REGENERATION (4)
• REGENERATION (5)
• REGENERATION (6)
• Propitiation
• Propitiation (2)
• Propitiation (3)
• Substitution
• forgiveness
• forgiveness (2)
• RECONCILIATION
• Eternal Life
• adoption
• inheritance
• Glorification
• Set FREE
• rescued
• rescued (2)
• Access
• peace
• Rest
• joy
• loveD
• hope
• Secure
• Chosen
• Predestined
• SALVATION SAVED
• SALVATION SAVED
• SANCTIFICATION
• Saints (Holy)
• In CHRIST
• Under grace
• Therersquos MOre
• The New Man
• The New Man (2)
• The New Man (3)
• Who we are in Christ
• What we possess in Christ
• In Adam | In Christ
• Our certain future
• The Christian life
• The Christian life (2)
• Live Like Who You Are and Will Be Not Who You Were (Ephesians
• Controversies
• Gospel Controversies
• Be alert Be On Guard
• GalatiAnism
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod)
• GalatiAnism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (2)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (3)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (4)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (5)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (6)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (7)
• Pelagianism semi-Pelagianism arminianism (contrsquod) (8)
• assurance
• assurance (2)
• assurance (3)
• assurance (4)
• Assurance
• Herersquos a test
• Answers to the test
• Mental assent vs true conversion
• Mental assent vs true conversion (2)
• Mental assent vs true conversion (3)