Cong Fang

from The Reformation Study Bible Notes.

The central theme of the Christian gospel is salvation. God will save all who trust Christ from sin and its consequences. This salvation from sin and death is wholly God’s work. Salvation is accomplished through what Christ did in history and by what He continues to do in believers by the Holy Spirit. The basis for our salvation is Jesus’ death on the cross and the righteousness He achieved for us in His active obedience.

• Salvation delivers the believer from the wrath of God, the dominion of sin, and the power of death.
  • Rom. 1:18; 3:9; 5:21; 1Thess. 5:9

• God liberates sinners from the natural condition of being mastered by the world, the flesh, and the devil.
  • John 8:23, 24; Rom. 8:7, 8; 1John 5:19

• God frees believers from the fears that a sinful life generates.
  • Rom. 8:15; 2Tim. 1:7; Heb. 2:14, 15

• God frees believers from the vicious habits that enslaved them.
  • Eph. 4:17-24; 1Thess. 4:3-8; Titus 2:11-3:6

• Salvation brings not only the promise of spiritual wholeness and peace, but also of physical healing.
  • Matt. 9:21, 22; Mark 10:52; James 5:15

• Although Christians have already received salvation, they will experience the benefits of salvation in their fullness only when Christ returns at the end of the age.
  • Heb. 9:28; 1Pet. 1:3-5

• Salvation is realized in our lives as Christ lives in us and we live in Christ, united with Him in His death and risen life.
  • John 15:4; 17:26; Col. 1:27
  • Rom. 6:3-10; Col. 2:12, 20; 3:1

• This vital union sustained by the Spirit through faith and formed in our new birth, presupposes our eternal election in Christ.
  • Eph. 1:4-6

• Jesus was foreordained to represent us and to bear our sins as our substitute.
  • 1Pet. 1:18-20; cf. Matt. 1:21

• We were chosen to be effectually called, conformed to His image and glorified by the Spirit’s power.
  • Rom. 8:11, 29, 30