Post by Shepherd on Jan 14, 2011 12:39:04 GMT -6
SALVATION
II THESS. 2:13...BUT WE ARE BOUND TO GIVE THANKS ALWAYS TO GOD FOR YOU, BRETHREN BELOVED OF THE LORD, BECAUSE GOD HATH FROM THE BEGINNING CHOSEN YOU TO SALVATION THROUGH SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT AND BELIEF OF THE TRUTH.
Salvation is about becoming like Christ through a process of transformation. This profess occurs through the Spirit of Christ. It is initiated by the Spirit’s revelation of the truth, which begins to change the individual.
Perception of the truth has a bruising effect because it brings to light actions and desires that are sinful and thus self-destructive. It is the sting of the truth that leads to repentance and faith. This is the first movement of change because it represents the beginning of a turn away from sin.
If the individual responds positively to the Spirit’s convicting presence, then the initial turning is completed. The Spirit’s convicting presence brings the person to the point where he or she can see the truth and is empowered to act in its light.
However, the individual must cooperate with the Spirit. This occurs in the decision to repent and believe. It is one thing to know that one should repent and another to repent with genuine sorrow. The Spirit makes genuine repentance possible, but He does not force anyone to repent.
Faith and repentance stem from the regenerating work of the Spirit because the Spirit moves the person into the birth canal to prepare him or her for delivery. However, individuals are not strictly passive like unborn infants. They can resist the Spirit’s activity.
They can choose not to change. If this happens, there is no genuine birth, no born-again believer. While faith and repentance flow from the Spirit, the individual must cooperate by actually repenting and believing. This cooperation completes the regenerating activity and give rise to the sanctifying process. Thus we become a new person in Christ Jesus. Have a great weekend. Love to all.