54.7 Accepting the Gift of Salvation
by Hubert F. Sturges, www.everlastingcovenant.com, December 2009
Topics:
Steps in Conversion
Decision: What does the Bible Say?
Jesus’ Part
As the shepherd in the parable seeks out the one lost sheep, God seeks out every lost sinner. Jesus came to this earth to show by His sinless life, what God is like. This beautiful quotation expresses this thought:
"His tender compassion fell with a touch of healing upon weary and troubled hearts. Even amid the turbulence of angry enemies He was surrounded with an atmosphere of peace. The beauty of His countenance, the loveliness of His character, above all, the love expressed in look and tone, drew to Him all who were not hardened in unbelief. Had it not been for the sweet, sympathetic spirit that shone out in every look and word, He would not have attracted the large congregations that He did. The afflicted ones who came to Him felt that He linked His interest with theirs as a faithful and tender friend, and they desired to know more of the truths He taught. Heaven was brought near. They longed to abide in His presence, that the comfort of His love might be with them continually" (Ellen White, The Desire of Ages, 254, 255).
There still remained the penalty for sin. In Romans 6:23 we read "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." This is not talking about the common death of men, which is called a "sleep" (1 Thessalonians 4:13), rather it is talking about the second death (Revelation 20:15) which is the punishment reserved for the wicked.
It was the penalty of the second death (Revelation 20:6) that Jesus paid on Calvary. His death paid the penalty for sin that each one of us deserve. Men now stand before God justified, forgiven, atoned for. Men are now put in the place whereby the grace of God can work to change their lives and make of them a "new creature" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Steps in Conversion
After Conversion, becoming a "new creature," being "saved" or "born again," we still have the "flesh" or the "carnal nature" to contend with. Sins are forgiven and victories are won. But common observation is that we still have "blind spots." God in His mercy does not reveal all our sins at one time. There are still victories to be won, sins to confess. This is clear.
Atonement or justification opens the door. Motives and the direction of the life is changed. The problem is that the physical drives (desires, appetites) that even Adam had before sin are still there. After sin, mankind was less able to handle those drives in an appropriate fashion. When Adam sinned he became innately selfish AND was less able to resist the temptations of Satan.
The sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary was a free gift to ALL men (Romans 5:18,19). The questions that arise are the place of faith and decision in the process of conversion.
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Steps in Conversion: |
Overcoming sin: |
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(Besetting sins) |
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Sacrifice on Calvary. Free gift to all men, forensic justification? Enmity against evil (Genesis 3:15) |
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Wooing of the Spirit through various methods. |
Wooing of the Spirit; enhanced by Bible study, prayer and meditation. |
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Temptation, Testing and Trial |
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Recognition of having a sinful nature, needing salvation. |
Conviction. Recognition of having sinned |
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These steps can go through several cycles before victory is obtained. |
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Spirit resisted. |
Spirit resisted, yielded to temptation (go to Start) |
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Decision needed? Gratitude and praise for free gift |
Immediately turned to Christ (may proceed) |
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Requesting and accepting Grace. Decision needed? |
Confession. Humbly admitting sin. |
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New Creature; Born Again
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Forgiveness, justification, cleansing from sin. Victory |
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• More temptation, testing and trials |
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• More victories |
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• Character formed. Growth in grace. Partaking of the divine nature. |
• Does it
require a decision to accept the
free gift?
• Is a
decision needed at any point to
accept Christ, or does the free
gift make one righteous without
needing a decision?
• Is the
decision to accept Christ an
event or a process of several
steps?
• At what
point in this scenario is the
decision made?
• Does one
continue to have a sinful nature
even after he is a "new
creature"?
• Is
sanctification a necessary part
of justification?
What does the Bible Say?
In the theologic ferment of the Reformation, the Protestants formulated the concept that the Christian must live by faith alone. That what Jesus did for us was beside us, outside of us, and even in spite of us. In my opinion they have overstated their case, in the battle against the concepts of merit and legalism in the Roman Catholic system. In the Bible there are just too many verbs pointing to what man must do:
Joshua
24:15 "Choose you this day whom
ye will serve"
1 Kings 18:21
"How long halt ye between two
opinions? if the LORD be God,
follow him:"
Isaiah 55:6
"Seek ye the LORD while he may
be found, call ye upon him while
he is near:"
Matthew 3:2
"And saying, Repent ye: for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand."
* We find
"choose" in Joshua 24:15, 24; 1
Samuel 11:3; Romans 6:16-22; 1
Corinthians 10:21.
* Then there
is "seek" in Isaiah 55:6 and
Zephaniah 2:3.
* "Repent" in
Ezekiel 18:30; 33:11; Matthew
4:17; Mark 1:15; 6:12; Luke
13:3,5; Acts 2:38; 3:19
* Other verbs
such as turn, believe, have
faith, serve, work out and
others are present in the Bible.
In light of this, one must accept that there is a part that the Christian must do to accept the gift of God. This part that the Christian plays, regardless of the word used, is not a forced decision, but rather a loving response. This is discussed more at length in article #53.0 "A Definition of Grace" and article #55.0 "The Path of the Overcomer."