Salvation by Grace Alone

AndrewKarr

God created man in His own image (Gen 1:27). He formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being (Gen 2:7)

However, man decided to go his own way and disobeyed God.   God told man that the consequences of this was death (Gen 2:17).  Did Adam die in the Garden of Eden?  Yes and no.  He did not die physically, at least not immediately. However, the process of physical death did start at that point.  He slowly began to die physically.  And yet, man did die spiritually.  The spirit that God provided to man did die at that moment and man was left without the spiritual support that God originally intended.  Man remains in this state to this day. Mankind has been spiritually dead since the “fall”. He will stay in this state until God intervenes again.

Man is now in a state where he cannot respond to God. His heart has been hardened like flint. He views God as a figment of the imagination. Worshipping God is viewed as total foolishness (1Cor 1:23-24).

What is life like at this point? It can look like almost anything. Here are some examples:

▪︎ Feeling lost – Luke 7:21, 22, 15:24;
▪︎ Hopeless – Eph 2:12;
▪︎ Alone, Isolated – Isa 59:1-2;
▪︎ Fear – Acts_2:22-24
      22“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. 24“But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.
; Heb 2:14, 15;
▪︎

God intervened with a merciful plan. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to interpose into man’s situation. While we were still helpless, Jesus came to provide salvation to those who believe (Rom 5:8-9; John 1:12-13). God gives mankind a heart of flesh and a new spirit through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross (Ezek 36:26, 27).

How this happened:

▪︎ Christ Himself bore our sins on the cross – 1Peter 2:24; John 5:24;
▪︎ This fully pays the debt of sin – Rom 6:23;
▪︎ God calls us to Himself – John 6:44;
▪︎ He creates in His spiritual children a new heart – 2Cor 5:17;
▪︎ God calls us to be part of His family “in” Christ – Eph 1:13-14;
▪︎ He adopts us into His Family, as His children – Eph 1:5-6;
▪︎ Jesus described this as being “born again” by the Spirit – John 3:3;

What’s next?   What should I do?

▪︎ The fear of God is the beginning, the starting point – Prov 9:10;
▪︎ Next, study to get to know God –
   ► Read the Bible – Start Matthew
   ► Listen to Biblical sermons –
       • Good source – Grace to You
       • Results – Acts 2:37-38;
   ► Study – Gospel of John
▪︎ Commit yourself to Him –
   ► Trust God – Prov 3:5-6;
   ► Pray – Phil 4:6-7; Eph 1:18-20;
   ► Confess sin – 1John 1:9;
   ► Follow Him – John 8:12;
   ► Full commitment – John 6:67-68;

Other interesting cross references:
2Cor 5:18-19,
2Cor 5:20;

▪︎ God’s intended purpose – 1Peter 4:11
   (full text – 1Peter_4:10-11
      10As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
)
▪︎ Sharing in sufferings – 1Peter 4:13
   (full text – 1Peter_4:13-14
      13but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 14If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
)
▪︎ Christ living through us – Gal 2:20;