| Salvation involves the redemption of the entire man, and is offered freely unto all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour , who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In the broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, sanctification, and glorification. Regeneration, also called the new birth, Is the working of God's grace whereby men become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change in one's heart wrought by the Spirit of God who convicts one of sin to which the sinner responds with repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Justification is God's granting of full acquittal from the penalty of sin unto one by His grace when one genuinely repents and places their faith in Jesus Christ in accordance with His own principles of righteousness. Justification is therefore the means whereby one is brought into a relationship of peace with God. Sanctification is the out working of the process whereby the believer is set apart unto the purposes of God for their life. It begins with the new birth and is conducted by the indwelling Holy Spirit who empowers the believer to progress toward moral and spiritual perfection. This is an ongoing work which will not cease during the believer's lifetime. The outworking of sanctification in a believers life brings freedom from the power of sin in daily life and allows one to choose to do right. The culmination of salvation is glorification. This is the end state of the believer whereby they will be made to be free from the very presence of sin and is to be seen as the everlasting blessed state of all who come to faith in Christ Jesus. |