Salvation 11

The aim of this module is to grow in understanding and appreciation for the fullness by which God saved us in the death of his Son Jesus Christ.

Scripture

2 Corinthians 5:1-21

1  For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  2  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3  if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.

4  For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.  5  Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

6  So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7  For we walk by faith, not by sight.

8  We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.  9  Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11  Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences…

14  For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15  and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

16  Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.

17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

18  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19  that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20  Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

21  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Observation

There are several terms used to describe a certain part of the process by which God saves us.  Consider the following terms with a simplified definition of each.

• Eternal life describes both life without end in days, as well as the experience with which we live to the fullness without reservation – the very life of God.
• Glorification refers to the fullness of our salvation we will receive when Christ returns to deliver us of the presence of sin and Satan and transform our bodies to resemble his.
• Identification means to identify with the position of another: Christ identified with us in our humanity and carried the punishment of our sins – even death; we in turn identify with his righteousness and life.
• Inheritance refers to what we will partake of as children of God, that which is rightly ours as children of God – both now and when Christ returns to take us to him.
• Justification is a legal term meaning that no fault (or sin) is found in the accused.
• Condemnation is a legal term which implies that the accused is found guilty and has been sentenced for punishment.
• Reconciliation means to arbitrate and bring peace between two parties.
• Regeneration or recreation means to bring to life, to make new.
• Repentance means a 180 degree turn-around in will, attitude and behavior – to go the other way. Biblically it is used to mean one turns from sin towards God’s way of life.
• Righteousness refers to what is right in the sight of God, and is often spoken of as a garment by which we are clothed to appear pure before God.
• Substitution or propitiation with regard to our salvation refers to another who takes the punishment of sin on our behalf.

Now read through the text again and fit each of the following verses with one (or two) of these salvation terms that fit best.

• V1 ————–
• V2 ————–
• V3 ————–
• V5 ————–
• V10 either ————– or ————–
• V11 ————–
• V14 ————–
• V15 ————–
• V17 ————–
• V18 ————–
• V20 ————–
• V21 ————–

Application and Prayer

Which verses in today’s sccspeak the clearest to your conscience today?  Why does it press on your heart?  Spend some time to pray to God about that aspect of your salvation.  Then make time to worship God for this great gift of salvation in his Son Jesus Christ!

Salvation 3

The Aim of this devotional study is to better understand Christ’s complete work salvation.

Scripture

Colossians 1:13-23

13  He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  16  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things were created through him and for him.  17  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

18  And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

19  For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

21  And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22  he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23  if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Observation

1. Regarding Paul’s readers in Colossi: what were they saved from? (v21) And how were they saved from that? (v20-21)
2. Read through the section again and list the words that are used to describe God’s saving work in our lives through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. (v13, 20-22)
3. Now say what you understand with these terms regarding Christ’s work of salvation in our lives:

• Delivered from darkness:
• Transferred to Christ’s kingdom:
• Redemption:
• Forgiveness of sins:
• Reconciled to himself, making peace through the blood:
• Reconciled in his body of flesh:
• Present you holy:
• Present you blameless:
• Present you above reproach:

4. What does Paul refer to when he speaks of “the hope of the gospel”? (hint: what is the ultimate promise of the gospel – what do hope for through Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection and ascension?)
5. Read verse 22-23 again “to reconcile you… to present you holy and blameless… if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel you heard”. What do you read in that verse?  Would you say from this verse that Paul believed that if you are saved once, you are always saved?  Why?  Why not?

Application

In this letter Paul warns that one can fall away from Christ because you rely on your own efforts to save yourself from the power of sin (which he argues is impossible).  Our hope in the gospel of Christ is that Jesus has reconciled us to the Father through his cruel death on our behalf, and that ultimately he will save us from the power of death and presence of sin and Satan.

1. Take some time to reflect on your life, your efforts, your thoughts and actions: in which ways are you prone to rely on your own efforts to save yourself from sin or death?
2. Likewise, how do you trust in Christ’s completed work of salvation? What in your life shows that you trust in Christ’s completed work?

Prayer

Spend some time thanking God for the fullness of His salvation through Jesus Christ: that He has delivered you from darkness and transferred you to Christ’s kingdom, have been bought back through his redemption and completely forgiven; that God has reconciled you to himself and that you are at peace; that he will present you holy, blameless and above reproach.