God’s salvific plan in summary. Part 10

“And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:30.

We discussed yesterday an essential aspect of Christ believers’ future glory is the transformation of our bodies to look like the glorious body of our Lord Jesus Christ after his resurrection. 

1st John 3:2 says, “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as of yet what we shall be, we know that, when He (Jesus) appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is.” 

1st Corinthians 15:51-53 emphasizes how and when the glorification happens for the believers who live at the time of Christ’s appearance in the cloud (rapture). It says all of us will not die. But all the believers who live at that time shall be changed instantaneously. It says, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, the already dead believers will be raised imperishable, and we (who live) will be changed. For the perishable (the body that was perishable) must put on the imperishable, and this mortal (body) must put on immortality. It says when this happens, “death is swallowed up in victory.” God gives us this glorious victory over death through the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

In a moment- The word ‘moment’ is a Greek scientific word from which the English word “atom” is derived. In those days when the Epistle was written, the atom was considered the smallest, indivisible part of the matter. Thus the indication is this –in the smallest possible length of time, the Lord will come in the clouds, and all living Christians who put their faith in Christ will be changed.

The description of the time is “the twinkling of an eye.” It takes 1/50th of a second to blink an eye, and a person blinks25 times in a minute. And the twinkling of an eye is even shorter than a blink of an eye.

The third description is ‘at the last trumpet’. Roman armies are summoned to march by three trumpet blasts. The first communicates ‘be prepared,’ and the soldiers and horses would quickly get ready. The second means soldiers would form and fall into line. And at the third and the final trumpet, the Roman Armies start marching. At the last trumpet in the very smallest length of time, living Christians would be with the Lord in the clouds.

Now, Listen! Thousands and thousands of Christ believers already died. What is going to happen to them is the focus of the passage in 1st Thessalonian 4:13-18. It says there; we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren about that believer who died. It says God will bring with Him those who have died in Jesus. This means when a believer in Christ dies, his or her Spirit goes to the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven, as 2nd Corinthians 5:8 and Phillipians 1:23 tells us. The Lord will bring them with Him to the clouds from heaven at the glorious event of the rapture. It says the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and already dead believer’s bodies will be resurrected. The believer’s spirits who were in the presence of the Lord will be brought down to the clouds and united with the glorified new bodies. 2nd Corinthians indicates the spirits (in the absence of the glorified body in an intermediate state with Christ) would be clothed with the new marvelous glorious dwelling (glorious and heavenly bodies) from heaven. (2nd Corinthians 5:2-3).

Christ believers’ salvation would be complete with the redemption of their bodies at the above described time and event. Romans 8:23 says a believer in Christ has the first fruit of the Spirit now when we live here on earth. Our joyful experiences of salvation are the first fruit of the Spirit. However, it does not end there. The final stage of redemption happens with the glorification of our present lowly and humble bodies. It is good to listen to what 8:23 says. It says,” we ourselves (referring to the believers in Christ), having the first fruit of the Spirit, groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.”

Christ believers (those who listened to the word of the truth -the gospel and believed in it) taste the appetite because the Holy Spirit is given to them as a pledge or down payment for their future inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14). The main course or the completion of the final salvation is in the future when our lowly, humble, perishable, and mortal bodies are exchanged with a glorious body like the body of Jesus. This is attained by the exertion of His power by which He subjects all things in the universe. 

“Father in heaven, I wonder at your beautiful plan of my salvation. I thank you because you included me also in your eternal purpose and plan. I praise and worship you. I believe in your gospel that Christ died, buried, and rose again for my sins. I accept him as my savior and Lord. Please save me today. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

God’s salvific plan in summary. Part 10

“And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:30.

Romans 8:30, which we discussed for many days now, ends marvelously with the assurance of the glorification of all whom God predestined (chosen before the creation of the world), called in time and justified. God’s plan of salvation beautifully concludes with future glorification. The covenant established in the eternity past ends in the eternity future. You do not want to miss the one important point is this – the terms ‘glorified’ along with others in our verse –‘predestined’ ‘called’ and ‘justified ’-is used in aorist past tense. It is a completed task and nothing more to do with it.

As we discussed, God, who is not limited by time, already finished His Salvific work and guaranteed it.

Another Bible passage where all of the above concepts are revealed is 2nd Thessalonians 2:13-14, “Brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation (pre-destination) through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth (justification).  It was for this He called you through our gospel (calling) ]that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (glorification). In Ephesian 3:11, Paul wrote, “this was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He (God) carried our in Christ Jesus, our Lord.” In essence, it means God’s salvation plan aroused from His manifold wisdom (vs.10) and eternal purpose in the eternity past is carried out in time in the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Hebrews 13:20 says, the God of peace brought our Lord Jesus from the dead, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and thereby ratified an eternal covenant with his blood. It means God ratified the eternal covenant of our redemption by raising Jesus from death after the crucifixion. Ratified means signed, sealed, made the contract/agreement formal, and made it official, not prone to change. No wonder Romans 3:25 says, “God displayed Jesus publicly as a propitiation/satisfaction in his blood through our faith in him.” 

When it comes to glorification, there are numerous passages in the Bible that talks about it. Colossians 3:1-4 says this about believers in Christ. It says, since you have been raised up with Christ, you keep seeking the things above where now Christ is seated at the right hand of God. It again exhorts to set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. It says why we should seek things above. One reason is this – as Ephesians 2:6 informs us, God raised believers when they were dead in their trespasses and sins, made us alive with Christ, and already seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. It is a confirmed and assured action God had already done for a believer in Christ. “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” At the time of the rapture, believers’ bodies that are buried in the ground –the body of our humble state due to its lowly nature-will be transformed into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even subject all things to himself.” Philippians 3:21. In short, Jesus will change our lowly and humble bodies and make them like his own glorious body. (NCV). 

An important aspect of our future glory is the transformation of our bodies to look like his glorious resurrected body. Verse 20 of Philippians says Christ believer’s citizenship is in heaven. All the citizenship papers are approved/signed/ratified by the shed blood of Christ on the cross for those who would call upon his name for salvation and eternal life. Heavenly citizenship is awarded to all Christ believers. 

We will discuss other aspects of future glory in the next session.

Beloved, may I ask you this question? Are you sure you have received the citizenship of heaven? Are you sure you will be in heaven with Him when you close your eyes here on this earth? God made salvation so easy for anybody to gain. You can be assured of His salvation and eternal life in heaven by accepting the fact that you are a sinner and inviting Jesus into your life today with a small prayer with me. 

Would you pray? “Father in heaven, I need your forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life. I believe, as the Bible says, salvation and eternal life are in your Son, Jesus Christ, and those who have Jesus have eternal life. I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died, buried, and rose again for my sins. Please save me now. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

God’s salvific plan in summary. Part 9

“And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:30.

Apostle Paul in the book of Romans, began with God’s wrath against the blatant ungodliness, ingratitude, and sins of people concluded later in chapter 3 that there is no difference between the law-keeping Jews and Gentiles- all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The good news is the righteousness of God has been made known apart from the law and works. He also established God’s righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all people who would believe in Him. 3:24 says all are ‘justified’ freely by the grace through the redemption that is available in Christ Jesus. No distinction, both Jews and Gentiles both would be justified by and through faith in Jesus only because there is only one God over all (vs.30).

Then he cited an example of how Abraham was justified in chapter 4. He said in verse 2 that if Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about. However, he does not have anything to boast about. “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Chapter 5 begins by saying, “since we have been justified through faith, we have now peace with God. It also says we have now gained access to God in his grace, and we stand in grace with Him. Besides, we can boast in the assurance of the hope of the glory of God (hope of the glorification which He promised by the benefit of justification.)

After discussing all these wonderful benefits and transaction happened in the life of a believer by justification and positional sanctification, the next section, from chapter 6 onwards, Paul talks about the effects of the progressive sanctification and its internal conflicts and struggles in believers. By citing his own struggles in the process of progressive sanctification, the great Apostle apparently acknowledges the truth that he is a saint and sinner at the same time, which is a true statement regarding all believers in Christ, as long as they live here on this planet earth. Chapter 7:14 says, “for we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.” 7:17 says, “so now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which indwells in me.” He repeats 7:20 ©, “but sin which dwells in me.” A believer has dualism-he has flesh and the Holy Spirit and consequently the conflicts and struggles. With a tone of disappointment, he says in 7:24, “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?”

Then he shouted with joyful exclamation and wrote, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! And continues in 8:1 that, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” He attests to the truth of positional sanctification that resulted from justification. “No condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Hear the truth after reading the experience of Apostle Paul, the greatest missionary, evangelist, and church planter the world has ever witnessed. If you struggle against sin as a believer in Christ, you must not assume you are a failure. You must not conclude you are displeased with God.

Listen: Believers in Christ are legally declared saints by the heavenly court. They are justified and placed positionally right with God because of their faith and trust in the only God-given savior of the world –Jesus Christ. However, it does not mean you do not have sin in yourselves while you live here. 1 John 1:10 says, “if we say that we have not sinned, we make Him (God) a liar, and His Word is not in us.” Therefore none of us can say we do not do or have sin inside us.

The book of Galatians 5:17 onwards describes the struggle in progressive sanctification. Because believers in Christ have the old flesh and the new Holy Spirit inside them, it tells the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, for they are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.” It portrays such a war between flesh and Spirit that it says, “so that you may not do the things that you please.” Flesh set opposition to Holy Spirit’s desires. The Holy Spirit set opposition to flesh’s desires. Both are experiential in a true Christian’s life. I experience it. You experience it. The deeds of the flesh are listed in verse 19-21, and the fruit of the Spirit is listed in verse 22-24. This is the path of progressive sanctification. A person who once looked more like verses 19-21, with the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit and in obedience to Him, begins looking more like verse 22-24 is the result of progressive sanctification.

Believers who sincerely placed their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus and thereby justified/sanctified forever in the position must never be discouraged or disappointed when they face struggles/wars of progressive sanctification- advancing to maturity in Christ by character development. Why? Listen to our Bible passage in Romans 8:30 says, “Whom He (God) predestined, these He also called, and whom He called, these He also justified; and who He justified, these He also glorified.”

With no shadow of a doubt, God’s word assures Christ’s believers’ glory in heaven with Christ. “The one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6). Did you notice, all these chains or mountain tops –predestined, called, justified, and glorified-are used in the completed past tense. They all are used in the aorist tense in the Greek language. The aorist tense simply states the fact that these actions had happened. It is already a done deal. God guaranteed and signed it.

Ephesians 2:4-7 says how God sees His already accomplished action. It says, God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive in Jesus Christ and (already) raised us up with Him and (already) seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order to show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us for those who are in Christ Jesus. In God’s eyes, your salvation is a completed work. Your glorification in heavenly places sitting with Christ is also a completed work. Do not doubt for a second what God had accomplished for you in and through Jesus Christ.

All glory, praise and worship to Him alone, who is the only God who is eternal, all-powerful, loving, gracious and merciful.

“Father in heaven, I understand I have sin inside me even though I am justified and declared righteous based on my faith and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation and eternal life. In my striving against sinful passions, Lord I need your help. I want become more like Jesus Christ which is your intention in my life. Help me Lord to submit to the Holy Spirit and walk by Him every day presenting myself approved to you. Thank you for the assurance of salvation you gives me in your Word. I thank you and worship you. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen.”

God’s salvific plan in summary. Part 8

“And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:30.

In yesterday’s insight, we have learned that a believer in Christ is sanctified forever positionally by the act of justification. Hebrews 10 beautifully explains this truth. It says in verse 11 that in the olden days (referring to the Old Testament Sacrificial system), “day after day every priest stands and perform his religious duties again and again by offering the same sacrifice, which can never take away sins. But when this priest (referring to Christ) had offered one time sacrifice for sins (referring to His death, burial and resurrection as the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world-John 1:29 & 35), He sat down at the right hand of God (proving the finished work once for all in contrast to the olden day’s priest who stands all the time to make repeated sacrifices). Then it says in verse 14, “for by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”

“For by one sacrifice, He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” addresses the positional and progressive sanctification in one verse. The first part of the verse informs us of the completed once for all justification (which also means positional sanctification), and the second part of the verse talks about the progressive nature of sanctification. A believer in Christ is made perfect forever and is being made holy. Then verse 16-17 links the New Covenant promises from Jeremiah 31:31-34, and it says, “I (the LORD) will put my Laws upon the heart, and upon their mind, I will write them, and then it says Listen, “And their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Here the first part of 31-34 shows how the progressive sanctification happens in a believer’s life (God put His Laws upon their heart, and He writes them upon their mind and the second part is the result of justification (their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more). 

Does this mean a believer can continue in sins? Apostle Paul says in Romans 6:1, it never meant that way. He says, “may it never be!” If we carefully read the New Testament, we come to terms with the fact that God’s intention of predestination, divine call, legally declared justification and clothing of Christ and His righteousness on an undeserving sinner is to heighten their moral life to match with his announcement of justification. It is God’s call that a believer would live worthy of His calling. Ephesians 4:1 says, “to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.”

Romans 8:29 says, “those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” The progressive sanctification concept is summarized in this verse-God foreknew a believer, and He predestined, called in time, justified him so that he or she would be progressively conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ. The phrase “to be conformed” expresses an ongoing process of becoming and looking like Jesus. 

The Bible also informs us the process of progressive sanctification does not happen overnight or quickly. It takes time and effort from a believer, the illumination and divine help from the Holy Spirit of God who indwells in him, and the power of the Word of God to make it happen. When Paul wrote to the churches of Galatia, he wrote, “my dear brethren, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.” In justification, a believer has clothed himself with Christ (Galatians 3:27) and his righteousness. It is also true as Colossians 1:27 says, “Christ is in you, the hope of glory.” However, it does not mean Christ is formed in you. Christ forming in a believer is the progressive sanctification. The progressive sanctification would not be fully achieved or attained on this side of the eternity when we live on the earth. Why? Because no believer would become like Christ in its entirety until glorification happens. (1 John 3:2(b).  

We will see the conflict/struggle a believer in Christ experiences in the progressive sanctification in tomorrow’s daily insight.

“Father in heaven, thank you for revealing me the truths about your salvation that you beautifully planned in the eternity past. I accept the salvation and eternal life you offer me now by accepting Jesus as my savior and Lord. I believe Jesus died, buried, and rose again for my sins. Please forgive my sins and save me today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.” 

God’s salvific plan in summary. Part 7

“And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:30.

We have learned the Bible doctrines of predestination, calling, and Justification in the previous daily insights. The fourth chain or mountain-top phrase in Romans 8:30 is ‘glorification.’ However, I hope you remember I said in one of the previous insights of this verse that these four are mountain tops or readily visible chains. However, there are time gaps or valleys between them. For example, Predestination or God’s election of who would inherit His salvation was made in the eternity past before the creation of this world; however, calling happens in the time allotted for each person to live on this earth. The obedient response to the call could also be gradual in a person’s lifetime. Certain people respond with the first call. However, many others respond in obedience to accept Jesus as their savior after hearing the repeated presentation of the Gospel and the divine and irresistible call from God. Such people hear the Gospel calling for the first time. They felt interested. But may not make a decision immediately. Then the Holy Spirit of God softens and works in their heart, giving the conviction to come to Jesus eventually. A study showed an average person might hear 7-8 times the Gospel message before accepting the salvation and eternal life God offers.

Now, when accepting their sinful nature and profession of faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ on their behalf, the legal declaration of Justification from the heavenly court happens. The believers in Christ are justified forever. They are complete in Christ. Their names are written in the Book of Life in heaven, and their salvation and eternal life are assured. This is called positional sanctification. Positionally, they are declared righteous and adorned with Christ’s righteousness, as we studied yesterday. 

Usually, there is a time gap between the Justification and glorification, the last chain or mountain top in Romans 8:30. For the criminal of the cross who was crucified with Christ, there was no time-gap. Jesus said to him, “today you will be with me in paradise.” The reason is his death happened immediately without an opportunity to live here one more day. According to the Bible, Justification is typically followed by progressive ‘sanctification’, which is an on-going process of becoming mature in Christ before glorification. This will see in-depth in a later session. 

You see, Biblical sanctification has two senses. First is positional sanctification, as we have seen earlier. A believer in Christ is positionally declared righteous and fit to stand before God and live with Him. This is because all the past, present, and future sins are forgiven, and he or she is declared not guilty by the clothing of the garment of Christ’s righteousness. You may have noticed how the believers in Jesus Christ are addressed by New Testament Epistles (Ephesians 1:1, Philippians 1:1, Colossians 1:1, etc.) and the book of Revelation. They are called saints or holy ones. When the Epistle was written to the believers in the church in Corinth, it says, “to those have sanctified (set apart) in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 1:2).

In essence, Apostle Paul says even the believers in the church in Corinth, with all their sinful propensities, clearly brought to light in the letter, are saints along with all everywhere, who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, because they have been sanctified (positionally) in Christ Jesus (vs.3(b)). The general addressing of all believers who put their sincere faith in Jesus Christ as ‘saints’ or ‘holy ones’ in the Scripture is directly linked to the Justification (God’s legal declaration) that they are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, not their righteousness from the point of belief in Christ. 

1 Corinthians 6:9 says the previous condition of believers in Christ. Some of them were sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers or men having sex with men, thieves, greedy, drunkards, slanderers, swindlers. But when they responded in obedience to Gospel presented to them and believed in it, they were washed, sanctified (set apart), ‘justified’ in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (the Holy Spirit). In short, even though they were all of the above before, now in Christ upon faith in Him, they are justified or positionally sanctified before God. 

In tomorrow’s insight, we will learn the progressive sanctification resulting from the positional sanctification. 

“Father in heaven, Thank you for presenting to me your beautiful salvation plan that originated in the eternity past. Thank you for choosing and calling me by offering salvation, the forgiveness of sins, and eternal life. I accept Jesus as my savior and Lord. I believe He died, buried, and rose again for my sins. Please forgive all of my sins and save me today. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

God’s salvific plan in summary. Part 6

“And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:30.

As we saw yesterday, Biblical Justification is an act of God declaring a sinner righteous in His presence not based on any merits or goodness in him or her, but because of the imputation of Christ’s righteousness based on the professed faith and trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ on their behalf. At the moment of accepting one’s sinful nature and confessed faith in the crucified Christ for the forgiveness of all sins, God imparts Christ’s righteousness that makes them perfect. Colossians 2:10 says, “God has made you complete in Christ.” It is done at the time of Justification.

Imputation is a Biblical concept. Romans 5:18-19 says, “just as one trespass (referring Adam’s disobedience) resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act (Christ’s death and resurrection) resulted in Justification and life for all people.  For just as through the disobedience of the one man (the Adam) the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man (Christ) the many will be made righteous.” God imputed the sin of Adam to all of his posterity as he is the representative of all mankind. In the appointed time when God fulfilled the eternal covenant of humanity’s salvation, he imputed humanity’s imputed sins on Jesus Christ by putting him to the cruel death on the cross. As John rightly pointed to Jesus and declared, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). The next day John again testified and said, “Look, the Lamb of God.” (John 1:35).

In Justification, God imputes Christ’s righteousness to all who believe in him. The Bible teaches us the root or the foundation of Justification is God’s predestination in the eternity past, which we have seen in earlier daily insights. The effectuality of Justification is God’s divine and irresistible call of all whom He already predestined for salvation and eternal life. The means of Justification is nothing other than faith in Jesus Christ. The source of Justification is God’s grace and compassion. The ground of Justification is the Lamb of God’s (Jesus Christ) death, burial, and resurrection, and the result of Justification is ‘made complete’ or ‘perfect in Christ’ forever. It means a believer in Jesus is declared without guilt and pronounced no more condemned by the forgiveness of all sins-past, present, and future based on Christ’s work on their behalf.

Imputation is also related to the clothing concept revealed in the pages of the Scripture. Adam and Even tried to justify by covering them with fig leaves. However, knowing the futility of the attempt, God clothed them by the skin of an animal to make them justified in front of Him. This was the first glimpse of the future salvations by the temporary arrangement of the shedding of the blood of lambs as we saw in the old testament literature and permanent arrangement by the death and resurrection of Christ. The Bible says in Isaiah 61:10, “I delight in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. Why? Because He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” Zechariah 3 describes the incident of Joshua, the priest before the angel of the Lord, and Satan accuses him because Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes. The Lord commanded to take the filthy garments off and declared, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.” They put a clean turban and clothed him.”

In Justification, dirty old cloth due to sin’s effect is taken off and replaced with Christ’s righteousness as new cloth because God takes away the sins from you and makes you perfect forever by the merit of Christ. You are covered with the righteousness of Christ. Galatians 3:26-27 says, Listen! “So in Christ Jesus, you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” You become children of God by how? Read again. It says you are all children of God through faith in Christ. The result is Justification and clothing of Christ’s righteousness.

After acknowledging his sin to the Lord, David received God’s forgiveness. He said this in Psalm 32, “how blessed is the he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! The sin is covered from the sight of God by the garment of Christ’s righteousness on you.

Beloved, are you justified before the Lord God? God invites you to come to Jesus and believe in him by knowing you would never make it to heaven even with your best efforts without God’s only savior who died in your place to pay for your sins and shortcomings. Don’t you need a lawyer to represent you in human courts? How much more you would need the savior, Jesus Christ, to make you perfect and represent you in the court of heaven, in front of the judge of all?

Would you pray after me? “Father in heaven, I want to be justified. Please cover my sins and transgressions by the savior’s righteousness. Please clothe me with Christ’s righteousness, as you promised. I am sorry for my sins. I turn to you in repentance. Please forgive me. I believe Jesus died, buried, and rose again for my sins. Thank you for declaring me justified. Thank you for saving me and granting me eternal life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

God’s salvific plan in summary. Part 5

“And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:30.

Our insight says those He predestined, he also called, those he called, he also justified. We discussed predestination and calling in the previous insights. Now, we try to learn the concept of Biblical justification. 

Justification is a big word. The dictionary defines justification, “the action of showing something/someone to be right.” More than just showing right, it is a legal declaration. It comes out of a courtroom verdict. A judge legally announces a person is now free from the accusations based on the evidence presented. In the same way, God, who is the ultimate and final judge of all, declares from the heavenly court, a transgressor or sinner is legally free from judgment and acceptable to him because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, satisfied the divine justice, by paying for sinner’s guilt by his sinless, divine and broken body and shed blood on the cross.

Remember one of the criminals who was hung with Jesus acknowledged Jesus had done nothing wrong to be crucified? Then He turned to Christ in his agony and said this, “Remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” In essence, he was saying, Jesus, please do not forget me, and I want to be in your kingdom. He believed in Jesus as the Lord and savior. Instantly, Jesus declared, “truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Justification is the result of a person’s sincere and professed faith and trust in the Lord. In contrast to the Pharisee who boasted in his good works and accomplishments, Luke described a tax collector who beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Jesus said, this man, referring to the tax collector who acknowledged himself as a sinner and placed faith and trust in the mercy of God, went home justified before God. He understood his inability to make him right with God. He believed in the mercy and salvation of God. The word used for justified there is a perfect passive participle that indicates the perfectness or completeness based on God’s legal declaration that he is accepted in the presence of Him.

In both of the above case studies, the trust and faith in God not or any work done resulted in justification. God declared them as right with Him and welcomed them to His presence. Romans 3:20 establishes this truth when it says, “” therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law, we become aware of conscious of our sin.” righteousness means the right standing in front of God. The age-old question is how a sinful man can stand right in front of God and live with him in heaven? Verse 22 then says, “This righteousness is given (note it does not say attained, merited or achieved) through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” Then it says, “there is no difference between Jew and Gentile because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. However, all are ‘justified’ (here that word again) freely (not by works) by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. It says after how this happens. How it happens is this way – God displayed or presented Christ as the sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood (referring to the death of Jesus), and it is to be received by faith.

Listen! God clothes a sinner with the righteousness of Jesus Christ. People do not have righteousness in themselves to be right with God. The righteousness of God is imputed and alien righteousness, not self-righteousness. A sinner is covered with the righteousness of Jesus. The foreign or alien righteousness of Christ is given to a sinner, although he or she remains in sinful flesh and nature until death. It is a God declared verdict, imputed and alien righteousness that results in God’s justification.

Hebrew 10:14 inform us this, “For by one sacrifice (referring to the sacrifice of Jesus), He (God) has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” It is an interesting and powerful statement. 

Justification is a one-time declaration by God based on your sincere faith in Lord Jesus and his death, burial, and resurrection for your sin. The declaration that you are ‘made perfect forever.’ Not bits and pieces. But declared perfect forever. A believer in Christ lives in that stage of the declaration of not guilty or justified forever. The justified sinner is holy and saint in the presence of God. The above verse also says a believer is being made holy as they grow in the Lord and live here on this planet earth. Justification is the one-time declaration by which you are made perfect. However, the progressive sanctification follows justification. Justification and sanctification are different. Justification is the declared verdict of perfection and suitability to live in his presence. At the same time, sanctification is the ongoing process of making you look more like Christ as spiritual maturity develops inside you with the help of the holy spirit who indwells within you. 

God wants to declare you justified and perfect forever based on the work of Jesus Christ. God invites you to come to Jesus and place your sincere faith in Him by believing He died, buried, and rose again for your sins. 

Would you pray after me? “Father in heaven, I know you call me and invite me to receive justification freely by believing in Christ Jesus. I believe Jesus died and rose again for my sins. Please forgive my sins and save me today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

God’s salvific plan in summary. Part 4

“And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:30.

As our verse under study reveals, the ‘calling’ is the consequent result of God’s election in the eternity past for salvation. It says, “those He predestined, He also called.” The Bible also informs us there are two types of calling. They are general or universal call and special or particular call. 

All through the old testament and New testament, we can see this distinction when we study the Bible. The Lord says through the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 45:22, “turn to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is no other.” When the Lord called Judah and Israel repeatedly for repentance by the voice of the prophets, instead of listening and responding, they continued in their disobedience and rebelliousness. A remnant responded positively, but the majority did not. 

When we come to the New Testament, we also come across the general/universal calls and special/particular calls of Jesus when He was in this world. Jesus called, and it is recorded in Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” When Jesus said, “whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16) it is a universal call for all people to come and believe in Him so that they shall not perish, but have eternal life. When Romans 10:13 says, “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved,” it obviously is a universal call. Another example is Peter’s preaching and recorded in Acts 2:38 that says, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” 

The Bible also teaches us about the supernatural work, which results in a special calling, which theologians say, and an irresistible call with an efficacious grace. When Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day,” it means the drawing of the Father God is a requirement for people to come to Jesus and believe in Him. Acts 13:48 (b) says, “and all who were appointed for eternal life believed” when the Gentiles heard the word of God (Gospel of Jesus Christ). This is what is meant by the special or particular call. A special call is a divine, effectual and infallible call for those all who are appointed for eternal life by God through predestination. Theologians call the special call an effectual call, irresistible call, and efficacious grace. In other words, the particular call is a direct result of God’s election for salvation and eternal life in the eternity past. It is by God’s divine power and His Spirit mediated by the power of the eternal word of God. 

The particular or special call infallibly brings forth positive responses from the hearer resulting in salvation and eternal life. 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 says, “For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,  because our Gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.” This verse connects God’s election and special calling resulting infallibly in salvation. It says to the believers who accepted Christ as their savior, the word of God (the Gospel) came to you, not as mere human words. But it came with divine power. It came with the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit and deep conviction in their hearts. Such special calling resulted in their salvation. Verse 9 says they were idol worshipers before they heard the Gospel of Jesus. However, due to the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, they “turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God. 

The book of Acts 16:9 describes an occasion Apostle Paul shared the Gospel with certain women in Macedonia. As he was proclaiming the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ, it says, “Lydia, a seller of purple fabrics, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.” She accepted the salvation of Jesus and became a believer in Him. Did you notice other women heard the message, but the Lord opened only her heart to respond and welcome the message? This is an irresistible and effectual call resulting in salvation. 

There are many other examples. Time would not allow me to describe all in a small daily insight session.

Ephesians 2 explains the condition of an unbeliever incapable of response without the intervention of God’s Holy Spirit’s divine power and the Word of God. It says they are dead in their trespasses and sins. In short, they are spiritually dead to respond to God in obedience. Spiritually dead would not walk to God for salvation. They are spiritually dead with no connection to God. This is why God the Father must draw them to Christ with special enablement and divine power to believe and accept the spiritual truth of the Gospel. Ephesians 2:4 says, God being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which he loved us, makes us alive spiritually by opening up the eyes of the hearts to believe in Jesus. 

When you hear me today, you can ignore the message God sent to your attention. Alternatively, you can welcome and believe it to result in salvation and eternal life. I invite you to come to God and receive the salvation and eternal life available in Jesus Christ. The grace and love of God save you. It is the gift of God and not based on any of your works. It is solely based on the work of Jesus Christ on your behalf and your acceptance of the gift by your professed faith and trust in Him.

Jesus calls. Would you accept His call? Pray after me.

“Father in heaven, I believe in the good news that I can be saved and obtain eternal life by accepting Jesus as my savior and Lord. I believe Jesus died, buried and rose again for my sins. I call upon the name of Jesus Christ for salvation, forgiveness and eternal life. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.”

God’s salvific plan in summary. Part 3

“And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:30.

We were learning the summary of God’s salvific plan from Romans 8:30 in the past few days. The first part of the insight says, “And those He (God) predestined, He also called”. We have seen briefly about God’s predestination or choice in salvation and eternal life in the last two sessions. 

There are mainly ‘four chains’ in the summary of God’s salvation plan, as we read above. They are predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. When we look from the point of eternity past and look down the timeline of the eternal plan of salvation, these are the four main ‘mountain tops’ we can easily see and recognize. However, it is also true that the Bible gives valleys or time gaps between these main mountain tops. The time gap between each chain or mountain tops could be longer or shorter, as we understand.

For Example, predestination or God’s choice of people who would inherit His salvation was made before the creation of this world, as several Bible passages inform us. (Jeremiah 1:5, Mal 1:2-3, Acts 13:48, Ephesians 3:9 and 11, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, 1 Thessalonians 1:4, Romans 11:7, Titus 1:1, and several others. However, the calling occurs in the appointed times of our lives on this earth. 

When it comes to the next chain, the calling, the Bible says it comes in various ways. Of course, God can directly intervene in people’s lives if he wants to in any means he chooses to. Omnipresent, Omnipotent, and Omniscient, God has the power and authority to do it. I heard people in certain countries saw dreams about the calling of Jesus Christ and, as a result, searched through the websites and understood the Gospel, as was the case of Cornelius in Acts 10. 

However, generally, as the Bible suggests, He aims to call people to His salvation and eternal life by sharing/preaching God’s Word by an evangelist, Bible teacher, or missionary. Other ways are the sharing of the good news of salvation by ordinary believers, personal Bible readings. These days, media, radio, the world wide web, and online services get God’s invitation for salvation to people worldwide. These channels of new communication methods would be most useful and effective in the future to hear God’s calling and invitation. 

Indeed, God’s calling includes an explanation of the Gospel or good news. The basic tenants of the Gospel would be a presentation of Jesus as God’s only savior/messiah who died, buried, and rose again to reconcile people with Holy God, the promise of forgiveness of sins and shortcomings because Christ died and rose again for their sins, the promise of eternal life and a call for genuine and sincere repentance of sins and trust in the name of Jesus for salvation and eternal life. When a person welcomes and believes Jesus as his or her savior and Lord and pray to save him or her, he or she would be saved from their sins by blotting out (or canceling) their sins forever and giving eternal life. Forgiveness and granting of eternal life happen at the moment of the professed faith in Jesus Christ. The well-known John 3:16 promises, God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son (Jesus Christ) that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” 

Several Bible verses connect predestination with a divine calling. However, one such marvelous passages are 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14. It says, “Brethren, loved by the Lord because God has ‘chosen you for salvation from the beginning’ through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. And it was for this ‘He called you through our Gospel,’ that you may gain the glory of Lord Jesus Christ.” 

In the next session, we will see two types of calling and then move into Justification. 

Beloved, I explained the ingredients of the Gospel briefly and the calling God sends for to get saved and possess eternal life. 

Would you come to Jesus today? As a token or sealing of your acceptance of the message, you can pray after me and become a child of God right now.

“Father in heaven, I come to Jesus and believe you sent Him for my sins. He died, buried, and rose again to save me and grant me eternal life in heaven with You at the time of my death. I accept Jesus as my savior and Lord. Please forgive my sins as I call the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

God’s salvific plan in summary. Part 2

“And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:30.

We have discussed in the prior daily insight that God has a perfect and beautiful plan for humanity’s salvation. We also learned that God has an eternal purpose and in it, He predestined or chose who would inherit the planned salvation. In the time, it is implemented by sending His one and only Son Jesus to this world. By the death, burial, and victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ, the plan of God’s salvation and eternal life are available for humankind.

Jesus explains God’s election of the people in the eternity past and the implementation of this election in time in detail. It is recorded in John 10. The chosen people for the inheritance of salvation are called the sheep. The sheep have one Shepherd. The Shepherd is Jesus Christ. It draws several conclusions from the sheep/shepherd analogy in this chapter.

First, those whom God has chosen or predestined before the creation of the world in his eternal plan are called the sheep. God gave all the sheep into the hands of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, and it is recorded in John 6:37, “All that the Father gives me will come to me.” It means God, the father, draws all who are chosen or elected to the His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus said as many as God the Father gave to Him, He should give eternal life (John 17:2). Jesus also said that He (Jesus) had manifested God the Father’s name to the men whom He (Father) gave to him (Jesus) from this world. Again Jesus said, and it is recorded in John 17:9, that “I do not pray for the world but for those whom You (God the Father) have given Me (Jesus) for they are yours.”

Because they are chosen and elected in the eternity past, they were God’s belonging and now handed over to Jesus. 17:24 says, “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me.” Again it says those God gave to Jesus (the Good Shepherd) may be with Him where He is and beheld His glory. This is the aspect of glorification that we would see later. Jesus again said and recorded in John 18:9, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”

Listen! According to the above verses, God gave who are chosen or predestined for salvation in the hands of Jesus. 

Second, why God gave them to Jesus? John 10 says Jesus (the Good Shepherd) died, buried, and rose again to achieve their salvation and everlasting life victoriously. Verse 11, Jesus said He gives His life for the sheep. Verse 14, Jesus says, “I lay down My life for the sheep. Verse 17 says, “I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it (His life) from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it again (referring to His resurrection after His death and burial-the empty tomb in Jerusalem).

Third, chapter 10 also says Jesus (the Good Shepherd) knows who all are the sheep God gave to Him in His eternal purpose and plan. Because Jesus knows each one of them, He calls them by name. Jesus said, “and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” (Vs.3). “I know My sheep, and I am known by My own.” (vs.14). My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” 

This is how the sheep respond to the effectual call. The good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who implemented the eternal salvific plan by His broken body and the shed blood on the cross for the sheep’s sins, call each of them by name. The sheep hear the voice. They recognize and follow Him. The Good Shepherd (Jesus) makes sure those who belong to God, the Father, and gave to Him for salvation; none would be lost. This is why Jesus said, and it is recorded in John 18:9, “of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”

“Father in heaven, I accept your invitation to get saved by coming to the good Shepherd who died, buried, and victoriously rose again for my sins and shortcomings. I hear the voice and calling of Jesus, and here I am. Please forgive my sins and save me today and grant me forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”