Encounter • Week 1

Assurance of Salvation

Aim

  • To understand difference between being born again and repentance.
  • To understand the 4 words: Redemption, Justification, Regeneration & Sanctification,that is mentioned in the Bible in explaining Salvation.
  • To get rid of condemnation, thinking that God has rejected me the moment I made a mistake.

Absorb (include or incorporate as part of oneself; take in; suck up)

A. Difference between being born again and repentance:

1. Regeneration (born again, new birth) - Instant

A work of the Spirit in my heart, spirit man, the moment that I accept the love of God revealed through Christ who took all my sins upon Him. Romans 10:9, 13.

*John 1:12,13 Those who received Him, He gave power to become sons of God. They are born of God, not the will of a man or flesh. (John 3:3)

*1Peter 1:23 AMP You have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God

*Galatians 4:7 AMP Therefore, you are no longer a slave (bond servant) but a son; and if a son, then [it follows that you are] an heir by the aid of God, through Christ.

*Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Peace= that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace.

2.Redemption (price paid)-Instant

Redemption means “a release secured through the payment of a ransom”…also to

  • repurchase, to buy back with a price, to deliver, to set free, to save, to rescue
  • The act of purchasing back something previously sold or lost

As sinners, we wereslaves of sin, under to the dominion of darkness.

Rom 6:23 says, “the wages of sin is death”…we deserved to die for our sins.

The price for our freedom was the death of Jesus Christ.

1 Pet 3:18 says, “Christ died for sins (our death), once for all (no other sacrifice is required), the righteous for the unrighteous…to bring you to God.”

Rom 5:8 says, “…while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”

We all once were slaves of sin leading to death, but when we heard, responded & obeyed God’s call to salvation, we became slaves of righteousness. (Rom 6: 15-23).

3. Justification (legal right standing with God) -Instant

* Justification means “to legally declare righteous” or “not guilty.”

  • Justification is something God does and has nothing to do with your good works… “those whom he called, healso justified” (Rom 8:30)
  • Because we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus. (Rom 5:1)
  • “having been justified (declared righteous, not guilty, made acceptable) freely by his grace (unmerited favour) through the redemption (release or freedom secured through the paying of a ransom) that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:24)
  • Justification is not by works, butby faithas we accept Jesus as Lord (Eph.2:8-9).

Justification is the act in which God

  1. thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us
  2. declares us righteous (not guilty, innocent, worthy, acceptable) in his sight

Both RedemptionJustification is Instant (happens the moment you put your faith in Christ).

4. Repentance (change mind)-Process

The soul must be saved daily. The spirit man is saved

*James 1:21 AMP So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls.(:27b) keep yourself unspotted from the world!

*Romans 12:2 AKJV And be not conformed to this world: but be you TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. * REPENT - change your way of thinking. How? By renewing your mind with God’s opinion, His mind, His word - through the power of the Holy Spirit.

*Colossians 3:5 Ephesians 4:22-24, Galatians 5:19-24 Put to death works of the flesh, separate from it, lay down the old man.. Put on the new man, put on Christ.

*Galatians 5:16 AKJV This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

*Galatians 5:22-23 AKJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law

As I submit to the Holy Spirit, His fruit, His character is made visible through me!

Regeneration means “to have a complete change in our way of thinking in relation to sin.”

  • Having the mind of Christ, learning to love what he loves & hate what he hates (1Cor.2:16)

5. Sanctification (change actions)-Process

Sanctification means “to be holy and set apart for God.”

  • It’s a progressive work of God and man working together to makeus more and more free from sin and revealing the Christ more and more in our actual lives.
  • Sanctification is intensely striving to live out holiness, being set apart for God’s purposes
  • It’s a lifelong process in which we work with God, making every effort to live out the Christ life, allowing Christ to live through us. Galatians 2:20 - I dont live (my life) anymore, but in and through me Christ lives!
  • Being fully consecrated to God, morally and spiritually.
  • I can’t make myself holy. He set me apart and sanctified me. I just walk in it.

Repentance & Sanctification is a Process (changing our thoughts & actions can take a while).

God promises you:

  • Eternal Life (John 6:47-51)
  • Forgiveness of sins (1 John 1:8-10)
  • Position of being a son (John 1:12)
  • Inheritance with Christ (Rom 8:17)

Things that you should know regarding…

  • The New Nature – “If anyone is in Christ, he is a newcreation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17)
  • The Inner Witness – “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as his own children. Now we call Him “Abba Father”. For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children” (Rom 8:15-16 NLT)

The following desires is the result and proof of your salvation to give you assurance…

  • A hunger for studying the Bible & prayer – “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation” (1 Pet 2:2)
  • A holy life – “But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” (1 Pet 1:15-16)
  • A lovefor yourChristian brothers & sisters – “If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead” (1 John 3:14)
  • Witnessing continually about Christ – “We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20). To witness and testify about what He had done for you empowers you in your walk with God and also touches and changes other peoples lives!

B. Difference between a relative (blood relation) and relationship

Blood relationship - (child/son of God) - rock solid!

*1Peter 1:3-5 AMP ….We have been born again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God's power through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that [final] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time.

John 10:28 AMP And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.

* Relationship, heart to heart connection, intimacy must be cherished, nurtured, protected.

* He is a Father, a Bridegroom, a friend, a relational God, not an idol.

*Hebrews 12:14 AMP Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will seethe Lord.

See: is to experience His intimate presence! We experience God because of relationship, not because of being a blood relation. Blood relation, being born again opens the way to a growing relationship, fellowship!

* John 10: 4, 5, 27, 28 My sheep knows My voice. They spend time with Him. Nobody can plug me out of His hand.

*John 14:23 AKJV Jesus answered and said to him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our stayed with him.

Making a mistake does not disqualify you from your position as a “Child of God,” just like making a mistake as a child cannot make you “not your mom or dad’s child anymore.” (1John 2:1 -Advocate)

C. Out of dominion of darkness -Placed into the Kingdom of Light.

*Colossians 1:13-14 AMP* [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself outof the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.

We are not sinners. We have been saved. We are called SONS of God! It is a “beyond understanding love” has He bestowed on us! We have been transferred!

1John 3:1Consider the incredible love that the Father has shown us in allowing us to be called "children of God" - and that is not just what we are called, but what we are. (Philips NT)

1John 3:1 Behold what exotic love the Father has permanently bestowed upon us…. (Wuest Bible)

Adjust (arrange or put in the correct order or position; make suitable; harmonize)

Are you sure of the fact that you are a child of God? (Meaning …redeemed & justified by God).

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as Savior? (1 John 5:13..has the Son, has life..)

Advance (move forward; make progress)

  • Do not allow the devil to condemn you to the point where you doubt God’s love for you (Rom 8:1)
  • No one will ever snatch you out of God’s hand – you’re safe! (John 10:28)
  • I become a child of God once, thereafter I repent when I mess up: “Daddy, I’m sorry for I messed up and misrepresented you. Thank you that You forgive me and restore me” (1 John 1:9), and then believe and know that the blood of Jesus has cleansed you from all unrighteousness with presentcontinuouseffect. Lift up your head, and live life to the full!

Arm

“I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you haveeternallife” - 1 John 5:13 (NLT)

Accountable

  • MondayRead it
  • TuesdayWrite it
  • WednesdayMemorize it
  • ThursdayPray it
  • FridayPersonalize it
  • SaturdayShare it