BIBLE BASICS for the Family

(A Study in Systematic Theology)

Soteriology

(The Study of Salvation)

GRACEGRACE

1.1. Salvation is a Salvation is a freefree giftgift fromfrom GodGod and and cannot be merited by our good behavior.cannot be merited by our good behavior.

Romans 3:24:Romans 3:24: “ “ . . . Being justified freely by His grace . . . Being justified freely by His grace

through the redemption that is in Christ through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”Jesus,”

2.2. Grace declares that salvation is not the Grace declares that salvation is not the culmination of our quest for God, but culmination of our quest for God, but rather it is God who has rather it is God who has takentaken thethe initiativeinitiative towardtoward usus..

Ephesians 1:4Ephesians 1:4:: ““. . . He chose us in Him before the . . . He chose us in Him before the

foundation of the world, that we should foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself . . .as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself . . .

John 6:37:John 6:37: ““All that the Father gives Me will come to All that the Father gives Me will come to

Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”no means cast out.”

John 6:44:John 6:44: ““No one can come to Me unless the Father No one can come to Me unless the Father

who sent Me draws him . . .”who sent Me draws him . . .”

3.3. All of life and its gifts are All of life and its gifts are aspectsaspects of of grace.grace.

1 Corinthians 4:7:1 Corinthians 4:7: ““For who regards you as a superior? For who regards you as a superior?

And what do you have that you did not And what do you have that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”you boast as if you had not received it?”

James 1:17:James 1:17: ““Every good gift and every perfect gift is Every good gift and every perfect gift is

from above and comes down from the from above and comes down from the Father of lights . . .”Father of lights . . .”

4.4. Even Even faithfaith itself is a gift of grace. itself is a gift of grace. Ephesians 2:8-9:Ephesians 2:8-9: ““For by grace you have been saved For by grace you have been saved

through faith; and that not of yourselves, through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”it is the gift of God.”

F.F. Bruce:F.F. Bruce: ““It is the Grace of God that brings us to It is the Grace of God that brings us to

Faith and carries us on the pathway.”Faith and carries us on the pathway.”

5.5. Grace is Grace is universaluniversal.. Romans 11:32:Romans 11:32: ““For God has shut up all in disobedience For God has shut up all in disobedience

that He might show Grace to all.”that He might show Grace to all.” We must affirm that when we receive and We must affirm that when we receive and

apprehend the grace of God, this is to be apprehend the grace of God, this is to be attributed to the power and impact of attributed to the power and impact of Grace.Grace.

• “If grace brings us to God, it also enables us to continue and complete our spiritual pilgrimage. This does NOT deny human involvement in salvation, but it does affirm the PRIMACY of grace.”

• “When men and women receive the grace of God, it is a testimony to the impact of grace itself, but when grace is rejected, it is attributed to the hardness and sinfulness of the human heart.”

• “Grace comes to us while we are still in our sins and brings spiritual transformation based on the accomplished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.”

• “Even the sanctifying work of the Spirit is enacted in those who do not merit or deserve it. In reality, grace is God’s free and loving favor to all the ill deserving.”

From From The Pilgrim HymnalThe Pilgrim Hymnal, 1904, 1904

I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew,I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew,

He moved my soul to seek Him, seeking me;He moved my soul to seek Him, seeking me;

It was not I that found, O Saviour true;It was not I that found, O Saviour true;

For I was found by Thee.For I was found by Thee.

Thou didst reach forth Thy hand and mine enfold;Thou didst reach forth Thy hand and mine enfold;

I walked, and sank not, on the storm-vexed sea;I walked, and sank not, on the storm-vexed sea;

‘‘Twas not so much that I on Thee took hold,Twas not so much that I on Thee took hold,

As Thou, dear Lord, on me.As Thou, dear Lord, on me.

I find, I walk, I love, but O, the wholeI find, I walk, I love, but O, the whole

Of love is but my answer, Lord, to Thee!Of love is but my answer, Lord, to Thee!

For long beforehand Thou didst bless my For long beforehand Thou didst bless my soul;soul;

And ever hast loved me.And ever hast loved me.

Two Types of Grace

Common Grace

and

Effectual Grace

• Common: To all people; the All of God’s good gifts (rain, sunshine, etc.). What is needed to survive.

• Effectual: To some people; to enable them to believe in Christ.

Common GraceCommon Grace

• Refers to the unmerited favor of God toward all men, displayed in His general care and providence for them.

• Matthew 5:45:

• “ . . . for He makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

• Common grace, however, falls short of saving; that is, not all who experience common grace are saved.

• Common grace leads one to see his need for salvation, but doesn’t guarantee it.

• Matthew 22:14:

• “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Efficacious GraceEfficacious Grace

• Also called “effectual calling.”

• Refers to the work of the Holy Spirit which effectually moves men to believe in Christ as Saviour. Efficacious grace is certain, and is sent via the effectual call.

• Romans 8:28-30 . . .

Romans 8:28-30:Romans 8:28-30:

28. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

29. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified, and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

• Efficacious grace is an act of God related to His sovereignty, using or employing human instruments.

• It may be an act, and/or a process.

• It is effectual—100% sure.

• Efficacious grace is the means by which God brings life to a sinner, through the Word of God by faith . . .

The Word of God in SalvationThe Word of God in Salvation

The Holy Spirit of God,

uses the Word of God,

given by the man of God,

to produce children of God,

through the Son of God,

so that they may live for God.

(John 3:5; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:23)

Our Response to God’s GraceOur Response to God’s Grace It should It should humblehumble us. We did nothing to us. We did nothing to

earn our salvation. Salvation was, is, and earn our salvation. Salvation was, is, and will remain, a gift of God.will remain, a gift of God.

It should It should motivatemotivate us. God’s grace should us. God’s grace should make us more desirous to be used by God, make us more desirous to be used by God, and it should make us that much more and it should make us that much more aware of our aware of our dependencedependence upon Him. upon Him.

It should It should liberateliberate us. God is sovereign. He us. God is sovereign. He knows what He is doing. He’s in control of knows what He is doing. He’s in control of all things.all things.

Grace Greater than Our SinGrace Greater than Our Sin

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,

Yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured,Yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured,

There where the blood of the Lamb was There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.spilt.

Grace, grace,Grace, grace,

God’s grace,God’s grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace,Grace, grace,

God’s grace,God’s grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin.Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide,Dark is the stain that we cannot hide,

What can avail to wash it away?What can avail to wash it away?

Look! there is flowing a crimson tide;Look! there is flowing a crimson tide;

Whiter than snow you may be today.Whiter than snow you may be today.

Grace, grace,Grace, grace,

God’s grace,God’s grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace,Grace, grace,

God’s grace,God’s grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin.Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

Freely bestowed on all who believe;Freely bestowed on all who believe;

All who are longing to see His face,All who are longing to see His face,

Will you this moment His grace receive?Will you this moment His grace receive?

Grace, grace,Grace, grace,

God’s grace,God’s grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace,Grace, grace,

God’s grace,God’s grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin.Grace that is greater than all our sin.