ACTION PASTORS COLLEGE (APC), LUSAKA

COURSE: SOTERIOLOGY

INSTRUCTOR: CASSIUS SILUMANDE, B.Th.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed to give the students a biblical understanding of God’s mystery of salvation so that they
possess a biblical assurance of salvation in their own lives and help other believers possess the same in order to
graciously and joyfully progress in that salvation..

COURSE OBJECTIVES

At the end of this course, successful students will:

1. Understand the biblical meaning of salvation
2. Understand the source of salvation
3. Be sure of their salvation
4. Be able to produce the fruit of salvation in their lives
5. Be able to teach sound doctrine on salvation

COURSE CONTENT
1. Introduction to the Course
2. The Meaning of Salvation
3. The Source of Salvation
4. The Evidence of Salvation
5. The Progression of Salvation
6. The Assurance of Salvation
7. The Permanence of Salvation
8. The Culmination of Salvation

EVALUATION/ASSESSMENT
Participation in class, Test

COURSE GRADING
1. Participation 10%
2. Test 90%

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Every student will be required to attend all classes, participate in class and pass all the tests.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Barker H. 1974. Secure Forever. Loizeaux Brothers: Neptune, NJ
Barker L.K., Kohlenberger J.R. III. 1994. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI
David Ministries Foundation. 2002. The Complete Christian Dictionary. Oasis International Ltd: Geneva, IL
Horne M. Charles. 1971. Salvation. Moody Press: Chicago
Jamieson, Fausset, Brown. 1999. Bible Commentary. Epiphany Software
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. Updated Edition
Marshall, Millard, Parker, Wiseman. 1996. New Bible Dictionary. 3rd Ed. Intervarsity Press: Downers Grove, IL
Motyer A. J. 1966. Philippian Studies: The Richness of Christ. Inter-varsity Press: Chicago, IL
Murray, John. 1955. Redemption Accomplished and Applied. Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing Company: Grand Rapids, MI
Robinson W. D. 1992. The Doctrine of Salvation. Convention Press: Nashville, TN
The Baptist Hymnal. 1991. Convention Press: Nashville, TN

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 Thomas W. Ian. 1961. The Saving Life of Christ. Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, MI
Soteriology: Introduction Lecturer: Cassius
Silumande

Several times in my Christian walk, I encountered the question, “Can a believer lose Salvation?”
This question has been asked from different angles, e.g. “Will a believer who backslides and dies
while in that backslidden state go to heaven?” or “will a saved person who continues to sin enter
heaven when he dies?” These questions trouble many believers.

To try and answer this question, I had to conduct a survey by interviewing Christians I
considered to be mature in the word of God. I however could receive two different answers and
almost each time without full assurance or total conviction of their view. The ones standing for
security of believers still were unsure because to them, “security of the believer” message in some
way encourages believers to continue sinning. As a way of not encouraging believers to continue
sinning, we end up on another camp on another extreme that believes that a truly saved Christian
can lose salvation. This later camp also has no total assurance of what they hold because they know
that they cannot save themselves nor secure their salvation to the end. Even if they lead a very good
life they are sure they in some way they sin for as long as they are in this life. This situation leaves
us without hope. Yet God sent his son to earth to give hope to those who believe in him and this
hope is described as a “living hope” (1 Peter 1:3).

Thus I need to share in this course what I see in God’s word and what I have experienced as
being true in my walk with Christ. I have also included in this course what other Christians have
written on this subject based on what they saw in God’s Word and on what they believed and
experienced in their Christian walk.

1. Salvation as a mystery
1.1. It is true that Salvation is a mystery that God chose to reveal in Christ at an appointed time
(Ephesians 1:9, 10; Colossians 1:26, 27). Salvation is a mystery in that it cannot be rationalized. It
can only be known through divine revelation (Matthew 16:17). Yes, Salvation is a mystery and will
still be a mystery because it is an act of God. Daniel W. Whittle, 1840-1901, a hymn writer
acknowledges this truth when he writes:

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 I know not why God’s wondrous grace to me he has made Known,
and why, unworthy, Christ in love Redeemed me for His own.

But “I know whom I have believed, And am persuaded that He is able

To keep that which I’ve committed Unto Him against that day.”

I know not how this saving faith To me He did impart,

Nor how believing in His Word Wrought peace within My heart

I know not how the Spirit moves, convincing men of sin,

Revealing Jesus thro the Word, Creating faith in Him.

(The Baptist Hymnal: 1991)

2. A Mystery Revealed
2.1. However, we need to understand that it is also true that this mystery of salvation has been
made known to us (Ephesians 1:9) and is now disclosed to the saints (Colossians 1:26). What has
been revealed shows that Salvation is an act of God from start to end and that it is from faith to faith
(Romans 1:17).
2.2. Hence this course is seeking to enhance students’ understanding and knowledge on the
subject of salvation among true Christians. This knowledge will help students not to be shaken
whenever they face the question of the loss of salvation and to help other true believers to stand firm
in their faith and good works in Christ.
2.3. I trust that this course will be a blessing to you and that it will strengthen your belief in
God’s word and not in the reason of man on this subject.

Soteriology: The Meaning of Salvation Lecturer: Cassius

Silumande

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 “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,” 1
Thessalonians 5:9
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men
by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12
“…and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you
wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:15

1. The David Ministries Foundation (2002) defines salvation as “… the saving of a person’s soul
from sin and its consequences; the state of being saved from sin”. In this definition I see two sides
of salvation as indicated by the Bible. What I mean is that salvation has to do with rescue from

some danger, loss, failure or risk to safety, gain, success or prosperity. Robinson (1992:9) explains
the Greek terms from which the term salvation originates. He says, “The word salvation comes from
the word soteria, which means deliverance. Spiritually, it is our deliverance from sin and death to
forgiveness and life.” He also says that “Save (sozo) is the act and process of deliverance. Thus
Savior (soter) is the person who has accomplished our deliverance.” In this case God through Jesus
Christ is our soter because he is our deliverer “…for there is no other name under heaven given
among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 Hence we can say ‘Soteriology’ is the study of
God’s act of salvation through Jesus Christ His Son.

2. Salvation as seen in the Bible comes to man as a package that we struggle to fully grasp or
understand because it is the wisdom of God. And so the apostle writes, “But as it is written: ‘Eye has
not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for
those who love him.’” (1 Corinthians 2:9 - NKJV) Below are some of the elements packaged in
salvation from the perspective of God:

Reception of Eternal life (John 3:16)

The unsaved person is dead in his “trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1) and is destined for
eternal death (perish) or separation from God while the saved person has life (1 John 5:11-13) and is
destined for eternal life in the presence of God. Thus Apostle Paul explains in Romans 6:23 that “...
the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And the Lord

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Jesus Christ seals it all when he assures by saying, "I tell you the truth, those who listen to my
message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will not be condemned for their
sins, but they have already passed from death into life." (John 5:24 - NLT)
 Eternal life is a gift that is given undeservedly.
 Eternal or everlasting life has two facets: the quantity and the quality of life.
 In Christ, life has no end and has high quality as one lives without fear (Hebrews 2:15),
as one lives in spiritual illumination (John 1:4), and as one receives one blessing after
another (John 1:16). Moreover, the saved person has his nature of a child of wrath
(Ephesians 2:3) transformed into being alive in that proper relationship with God in
Christ (Ephesians 2:1, 5; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; 2 Corinthians 5:17) “For God did not
appoint us to wrath….” (1 Thessalonians 5:9). This eternal life is received immediately
when one hears and believes in Christ Jesus and hence Christ can joyfully and clearly say
that such a person has "...already passed from death into life" (John 5:24; 11:25, 26).

Becoming ‘in Christ’ (John 15:5-7; 17:20-23)

The unsaved person is outside Christ while the saved person is in Christ. Thus where Christ is
there the believer is. As It is written, God “raised us up together, and made us sit together in the
heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” (Ephesians 2:6).
 Believers are seated in the heavenly realm because they are in Christ and Christ is seated
in the heavenly realm. In other words, a believer is part of Christ or is one with Christ. In
God’s perspective, this union, resurrection and seating in the heavens has already been
accomplished as evidenced by the passed tense language used.
 The Apostle Paul did not see this believer’s union with Christ as depended on how the
believer will finish his race in this life, but that God has done it once for all in Christ
upon putting faith in him despite the future sins of the believer (Hebrews 10:12). It is a
done deal.

Becoming a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The unbeliever is still the old creation as he still walks “according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

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among whom also” he conducts himself in the lusts of his flesh “fulfilling the desires of the flesh
and of the mind, and” is “by nature” a child “of wrath, just as the others.” (Ephesians 2:2-3) This is
the “old things”. On the contrary, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things
have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17). As a new creation,
the believer puts on the new self (The new myself) that has been created to be like God in true
holiness and righteousness and shares in the divine nature of God (see, Ephesians 4:24; 2 Peter 1:4;
and 2 Corinthians 3:18)

Becoming justified by God (Romans 3:24-28)

 To justify is to give an acceptable explanation for something that other people think is
unreasonable. Thus God gives such an explanation regarding anyone who believes in
Christ Jesus. Many times this is unreasonable to many people especially when we think
of those we regard as worst sinners, e.g. serial killers and witches.
 Justification is almost the same as ‘acquittal’ in today’s legal language. An acquittal is
an official statement in the court of law that someone is not guilty. He may be guilty in
the eyes of many, but an acquittal by the judge is formal and final.
 And so Justification from God, the Eternal Judge, overrules what people think about
anyone who believes in Christ. Hence we have an advocate before the Father, Jesus
Christ (1 John 2:1, 2) whom Job saw many years back before His incarnation through
Mary (Job 16:19-21).
 Purkiser (1959:58) explains that justification is forgiveness which means “that God
wipes out the record of our transgressions and holds them against us no more.” He further
explains that “The record of our past sins is in God’s sight as if it had never been…
(Rom. 3:25)”.

Included in the package of salvation are also the following:

 Becoming blessed in Christ (Galatians 3:13-14: Romans 4:4-8) - The unbeliever is cursed
before God while the believer is blessed before God.
 Receiving forgiveness from God (Acts 2:38) - The unbeliever is guilty before God while
the believer is forgiven of his sins and transgressions.
 Becoming a slave to Righteousness (Romans 6:17, 18) - The unbeliever is a slave to sin

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 while the believer is a slave to righteousness.
 Becoming a saint/holy one (Philippians 1:1b)
 Becoming at peace with God (Ephesians 2:14-18)
 Becoming dead to sin and alive to God (Romans 6:11)
 Entering into fellowship with God (1 John 1:3-5)
 Becoming a kingdom and priest of God (Revelation 1:5,6)
 Becoming part of God’s family/household of faith (Galatians 6:10)
 Having citizenship in heaven (Philippians 3:20)
 Becoming perfected (Hebrews 10:14); and the like.

Soteriology: The Source of Salvation Lecturer: Cassius Silumande

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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every
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spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the
foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having
predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of
His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the
Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to
the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
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having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He
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purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather

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 together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.
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In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of
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Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in
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Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word
of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the
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Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the
purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:3-14)

This passage of scripture was inspired by the Holy Spirit to the man who himself was a "worst
sinner" (1 Timothy 1:15), but was convinced that He was saved by God’s sovereign choice. Thus the
passage is so loaded with all its details pointing to God. Below are the points extracted from the
passage above, proving that God is the sole source of salvation:

God chose us to become saints in his sight (v.3-4)

Choosing was done in Christ Jesus and not outside Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ existed before the
foundation of the world. This truth is indicated in many parts of the Bible including John 17:5 in
which Christ prayed, “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I
had with You before the world was.” (John 17:5). To this effect, God was able to choose us in Christ
as He saw us before we came to be.

Election was done before creation, not after the good or evil we did. God chose us before
creation to show that it is not the good or evil we performed that brought salvation to us. God saved
us only on account of His beloved son Jesus Christ. In this vain, salvation is shown to have come
from God. It is God who chose and not us.

See also what Christ said to His disciples: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and
appointed you that you should go and bear fruit….” (John 15:16) This election is typical of how the
twelve were chosen by Christ, not based on the good they had done. Peter even acknowledged his
unworthiness at the time he was chosen to be one of the twelve but Jesus Christ did not reject him
(Luke 5:8-11). Later in his life, Peter was notified by Jesus Christ how unworthy he was. Jesus told
peter, "Blessed are you, Peter. It is not that you are smart, but that my Father who is in heaven has

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chosen to reveal this truth to you" (Matthew 16:17 - My Paraphrase).

God predestined us to become his sons by adoption (v.5-6)

Predestination was done in his love. The updated edition of Longman Dictionary of
Contemporary English states that “something that is predestined is certain to happen because it has
been decided by God or FATE”. From this explanation, we get the meaning of predestine as “to
decide or decree beforehand”. (David Ministries Foundation: 528) Thus God decreed beforehand in
love that we should become his children by adoption through Christ Jesus.

 Predestination was done in accord with God’s pleasure and will. God decided that we
should become his children because that would give Him enjoyment and satisfaction. He never was
going to be pleased to see the people He loves living apart from Him and perishing. Thus He had to
give us His only Son Jesus Christ for our spiritual birth way before we did anything good (John 3:16;
Romans 5:8, Titus 3:5).
 Think of a couple loving their child even before they conceive. The child is born into
their love and every manifestation of life in that child gives pleasure to its parents. The mother
forgets her labor pains upon hearing the first sound of her baby. The father is overjoyed as he sees
his child and does not want to think of the pain his wife endured.
 Predestination was purposed for the praise of God’s glorious grace freely given us in
Christ Jesus, the son he loves. God had to predestine us so that we should perceive His demonstrated
grace given to us as a gift in Christ and then praise Him for He reveals His glory through this
demonstrated act of salvation. His grace is glorious (beautiful and impressive).

God redeemed us (v.7-8)

Redemption has been accomplished in Jesus Christ through his blood – the forgiveness of sins.
Redemption refers to the act of setting somebody free by paying a ransom. We all were slaves to sin
(John 8:34). Just as the kidnapped cannot pay for their own ransom because they are in bondage, we
also needed someone free to set us free (John 8:35, 36). For example, when the children of Israel
were in bondage in Egypt, God had to use the free Moses to deliver them from that bondage. In the
like manner, God had to set us free from that bondage of sin through the blood of the free Jesus who
laid down His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). Hebrews 9:22 stipulates, “And according

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to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no
remission.

Redemption has been done in accord with the riches of God’s grace lavished on us with all wisdom
and understanding. While predestination was done to the praise of His glorious grace, redemption
was done in accordance with His riches in grace and with all wisdom and understanding. This
point indicates to us that God is never short of grace because He has plenty of it. Grace is the
undeserved favour given to someone. It is undeserved because this person is a sinner (Romans 3:23),
is an enemy of God (Romans 5:10), is not righteous, is not seeking God and is useless (Romans
3:10-12). God had to apply this undeserved favour with all wisdom and understanding on all who are
saved— “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of
God” (Ephesians 2:8)

God revealed to us the mystery of his will (v.9)

Revelation was done in accordance with God’s good pleasure. God’s will to save mankind
through Christ Jesus was a hidden mystery until He chose to reveal it. God’s will in Christ Jesus has
been disclosed so as to bring enjoyment and satisfaction to God as He sees many sons come to Him
in Christ through that special revelation of his Son (Matthew 16:17; Acts 9:4-5).

Revelation was purposed in Christ Jesus. This mystery was kept for years since the foundation so
that only in Christ should it become uncovered.

Revelation was to be effected at the fulfillment of times. The fulfillment of times came when
Christ came. God in His patience waited for the right time for His son to appear. That right time is
when Christ appeared and hence God gave even more revelations to His followers such as Paul
about the mystery of salvation (Ephesians 3:2-6; 6:19-20; Colossians 1:25-27)

The unveiling of the mystery was with the goal of bringing all things in heaven and on earth (all
creation) together under the supremacy of Christ. According to Colossians 1:15-17, “all things in
heaven and on earth” refers to all creation in heaven and on earth, “…visible and invisible, whether
thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things [all creation] were created by him [Christ] and

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for him [Christ]. He [Christ] is before all things and in him [Christ] all things hold together” (NIV).
All creation was affected by the fall of man and so it groans as it awaits the adoption of God’s sons
through the redemption by the blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:19-23). Thus all creation will be
restored or brought together under the Kingship of Jesus Christ.

It is through this revelation of the saving knowledge of Christ that all things have been
reconciled to God as evidenced by the reconciliation of mankind (Colossians 1:20-22). The Jews
were chosen by God and the Gentiles were alienated from God. Therefore God chose to disclose this
mystery so that the Jews and the Gentiles must be one in Christ (Ephesians 3:6; Colossians 1:15-23;
Romans 11:32) and that the Gentiles should no longer be alienated from Him. Thus Paul is able to
explain to the Gentiles in Galatia that, being saved by the same faith, we all become sons of God
through the same faith in Christ Jesus and that there is therefore “neither Jew nor Greek, there is
neither free nor slave, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”
(Galatians 3:26-28). Hallelujah!

God also chose us to be for the praise of his glory (v.11)

God has included us in Christ. When we heard “the word of truth, the gospel of your [our]
salvation” and acted upon it with faith, God accepted us and “included us” (His act) in Christ. God
spoke the word of truth. We were only to hear it and respond to it. Then God was to make us part of
Christ. This He wrought as the verb “included” is in the past tense.

God has marked us with a seal. After having believed, God has marked us with a seal indicating
we belong to Him. This seal is the Holy Spirit that is the deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until
the redemption of those who are his possession. In Christ, we have all become God’s possession.
 Seals were used by kings to show their authority and ownership over something. Only by
the king’s orders did any one have authority to touch or open the letter or use what had the King’s
seal on it. Thus the stone on Jesus’ tomb was sealed by Pilate for security (Matthew 27:65, 66). Also
when Pharaoh relinquished his authority over Egypt to Joseph, only with respect to his throne, he
gave his signet ring to Joseph for the purpose of sealing to show authority and ownership (Genesis
41:40-43).

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  Thus God’s seal on us guarantees us of his ownership that is to be fully revealed at the
end of times when Jesus comes for His own “possession”. God knows his seal and it can never be
falsified (Romans 8:9)

To the praise of his glory

All the above acts of God have been done to the praise of His glory. He alone is to be praised
because He is the sole source of our salvation. He designed our salvation and implemented it out of
His love and for His good pleasure (enjoyment) and will.

Soteriology: The Evidence of Salvation Lecturer: Cassius Silumande

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You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from
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thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good
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tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear
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good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
(Matt 7:16-20)

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 8
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have
Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from
these stones. 9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which
does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." (Luke 3:8-9)

In life, we expect results every time we do something. Depending on what we put in, the results
may be encouraging or disappointing. These results are what are referred to as the ‘fruit’. For
instance, a farmer will expect good yield from his farm after all his labour. An employee will expect
good benefits after putting in his all. Similarly, good fruit is expected by God in the life of an
individual professing to have repented. Fortunately, this fruit will be manifest even to humans so
they distinguish between the truly repentant and those with false sorrow.

Fruit distinguished (Matt 7:16-20)

Fruit in keeping with the kind of tree illustrated (v. 16-18)
As He warns His disciples to beware of the Pharisees who disguise themselves as the sheep,
Jesus uses the real life truth to drive the point home. He counsels them to distinguish those who truly
follow Him from those who do not truly follow Him based on the kind and state of fruit they bear.
He points to the fact that the kind of the tree corresponds with the kind of the fruit it bears (v.16) and
that the state of the tree corresponds with the state of the fruit it bears (v.17, 18). For sure, Farmers
know that only a guava tree will bear guavas. To harvest maize, the farmer will definitely plant
maize. Another truth is that when the tree is diseased, the fruit to be born will be diseased as well. I
have seen a guava and mango tree with symptoms of a disease on the branches and the leaves. When
the fruit comes out, I find the same symptoms on the fruit and it makes it unappetizing in the eyes
and not enjoyable to consume. Thus either something is done to that tree or it is cut down. In verse
19, Jesus warns that “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
John the Baptist spoke the same language to the crowd in Luke 3:9, “And even now the ax is laid to
the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into
the fire."

The true believers will be distinguished by their fruit (Matthew 7:19-20)

The application of the passage is that there are believers in Christ who have truly repented and

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they bear good fruit by the help of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-24). There are also some who
supposedly are believers but their fruit shows the contrary. They seem to bear fruit but not fruit in
keeping with repentance. About such, Jesus says, “You will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew
7:16; See also v.20). And to them, John the Baptist says, “Therefore bear fruits worthy of
repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you
that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones” (Luke 3:8). The truth of the
matter is that the true believer cannot bear bad fruit, fruit not of the Spirit of God. Neither can a false
believer bear true fruit of the Spirit of God. It is enough for the counterfeit believer to bear
counterfeit (bad) fruit (evidence) and for the true believer to bear true (good) fruit (evidence) that is
after Jesus Christ.

Fruit in keeping with repentance is imperative (Luke 3:8)

The fruit that is in keeping with true penitence is imperative and inevitable. John the Baptist
commanded those who were going to him for baptism and said, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you
to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,” (Luke 3:7-8). John
commanded the crowd to basically repent truly so they can show the evidence of that true penitence.
In the same way, Jesus commanded his disciples in John 15 to show the fruit of love to one another
to prove they are His disciples and that they love Him. He further challenged them, “You did not
choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit
should remain…” (John 15:16). These words sound like those of a commander commissioning his
new recruits to go out and apply the skills they have gained to demonstrate they are his soldiers.

It is when one gives up his complacency with the comfort zone that he is able to repent with
godly sorrow resulting in bearing good evidence of their salvation in Christ. The Jews were
somewhat satisfied with being the physical children of Abraham. Thus John had to warn them that
being children of Abraham was not going to save them. He cautioned them, “… do not begin to say
to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children
to Abraham from these stones.” (v.8) The lesson is that no situation or status is good enough for one
not to require true repentance for salvation so as to show true evidence of that godly sorrow.

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 Bad fruit is not evidence of salvation and it is useless (Luke 3:8b, 9). It is the comfort of the
status quo that may lead one not to be truly saved and hence no production of evidence of salvation.
That lack of evidence for salvation is a sign that one is not a follower of Jesus Christ (John 15:8).
And such a person is useless in the Kingdom of God just as the bad tree that bears bad fruit is useless
to the owner of the vineyard.

What awaits those that are not truly saved is condemnation just as the tree that bears bad fruit is
condemned and cut in readiness for burning. When cut and burnt in the fire, that tree ceases to exist.
In the same manner, those that have not truly given their lives to Christ and are not saved will be
thrown in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). Thus it is required for believers to demonstrate their
power over and freedom from sin. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin
…. So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:34, 36 NIV)

This demonstration of power over and freedom from sin implies that no one is to use the grace of
God as a license to sin (Jude 3,4). The Apostle Paul urged Titus to teach what is in accord with sound
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doctrine all because, “...the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching
us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the
13
present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior
Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify
for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14). This doctrine entails
the fact that grace by which we are saved does not give us the freedom to go on sinning.

The Apostle Paul explained the fact that we are saved when we put our faith in Christ, that is by
grace, and not by obedience to the law. So if salvation is not by obedience to the law, should we go
on sinning? Paul answered this question with rhetorical questions: “What shall we say then? Shall
we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any
longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were
baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just
as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also
shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him,

15
that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who
has died has been freed from sin. (Romans 6:1-7).
 Thus Apostle John boldly writes that those truly born of God [truly saved] do not
continue to sin because Christ [the one born of God] keeps them safe [secure] and they cannot be
harmed by the evil one (1 John 5:18) and that those that are truly saved will continue demonstrating
their faith in Christ Jesus (1 John 2:19).

Soteriology: The Progression of Salvation Lecturer: Cassius Silumande

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much
13
more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who
works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Phil 2:12-13)

Many believers have found it easier to think of salvation in terms of the three ‘P’s standing for
‘Penalty’, ‘Power’, and ‘Presence’. They think of ‘Justification’ as salvation from the penalty of sin;
‘Sanctification’ as salvation from the ‘power’ of sin; and ‘Glorification’ as salvation from the

16
‘presence’ of sin. Thus far we have touched much on Justification or salvation from the penalty of
sin. We have touched on sanctification or salvation from the power of sin just a little in the previous
chapters. It is therefore important for us to specifically touch on sanctification in details.

Philippians 2:12-13 is used by many Christians who believe in the loss of salvation but with a
distorted interpretation. Hence I have chosen to use it as well so that I correct its interpretation in this
class. This passage of scripture basically deals with the progression of salvation (sanctification) and
not with the attainment of salvation (justification).

Salvation progresses through obedience

This passage was written to those who were already saved from the penalty of sin. All they
needed was to ‘work out’ their salvation for spiritual growth, that is, to incessantly overcome the
sinful nature and yield to the new nature “created according to God, in true righteousness and
holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). In other words, they needed to ‘grow in grace’ and knowledge of Christ
(II Peter 3:18). This growth required some sort of effort by the help of the Holy Spirit on the part of
the already saved Christians through their obedience to God. Paul says “as you have always obeyed”
you need to do so much more in my absence. The Apostle Paul exhorts the Philippians to much more
earnestly obey God now that his help through teaching was withdrawn from them.

Even today, a good number of Christians obey God only when they are at church or when in the
presence of their church leaders. Some don't even go to church when they know that their pastor
won’t be around that Sunday. This attitude is what Paul was urging the Philippi Christians to abhor
and to earnestly avoid. Such an attitude is hypocritical.

In this passage, saved Christians were urged to “work out” and not to ‘work for’ salvation. They
were admonished to seek to obediently co-operate with the Holy Spirit who "works in" (Philippians
2:13; Ephesians 1:11) them enabling the work of sanctification to progress toward perfection (2
Peter 1:1-8). Thus the truly saved Christian knows that perfection cannot be realized without
obedience to his Lord, Jesus Christ. Teachers of God’s word do their work but it is the application of
that word in the lives of Christians that will help them progress in their salvation toward perfection.
Christ emphasized this truth by depicting two builders. The foolish builder likened to the disobedient

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built his house on sand and that house collapsed when hit by a storm. The wise builder who
symbolized the obedient built his structure on the rock and it was intact even after having been hit by
a violent storm.

The emphasis is on "your own". Now that I am not present to further the work of your salvation,
"work out your own salvation" yourselves the more carefully. Do not think this work cannot go on
because I am absent; for it is “God who works in you,". In other words, you need to remember that
even in my presence, it has been God who enabled you to grow in your salvation as you obeyed
Him. It is this same God working in you in my absence for He is omnipresent. Hence you ought to
tenaciously obey Him for your own salvation toward perfection.

Salvation is found only in Jesus

This “salvation” is found in Jesus (Philippians 2:10), and the Philippian believers are to work it
out in their own lives “with fear and trembling." They have to possess an attitude of a servant in
obedience to his master (Ephesians 6:5). Servants of God are to ensure they do not fall short of what
is expected of them by their master (I Corinthians 9:26, 27; Hebrews 4:1). This fear and trembling
attitude is from their knowledge of their human insufficiency and their dependence on God who
according to his own purpose "works both to will and to do". Believers are to focus on Jesus Christ
as the example of their obedience (John 8:26; Hebrews 5:8, 9).

Summary
1. Salvation progresses as the believer actively partners with God through obedience.
2. Salvation progresses even in the absence of the spiritual leader.
3. To progress, salvation is “worked out” not “worked for”, with fear and with trembling.
4. Salvation continues because God initiates it by working in the believer both to will and to act in
accordance with God’s own good purpose.

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 Soteriology: The Assurance of Salvation Lecturer: Cassius Silumande

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
6 7
to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to
godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and
abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9
For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was
10
cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and
11
election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be
supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2
Peter 1:5-11)

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 Several passages of scripture are bearing the message that gives us assurance of salvation. For
instance, John 5:24; Romans 8:1; 1 John 5:13 and many more. Yet many are the times when
Christians begin to doubt their salvation in Christ. Therefore, what is the remedy to that self
condemnation or doubt? The answer lies in the productivity of Salvation as it is indicated in our text.

Make every effort to add to your faith 7 virtues (vv. 5-7)

Faith in Jesus Christ is not passive. It is active. James says that the Faith that is without works is
a dead faith (James 2:14-26). God has already given us everything we need for life and godliness and
for participation in the divine nature through the knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 1:3-4). However,
many times believers do not see a manifestation of this truth in their lives because of not making an
effort to add to faith all these 7 virtues indicated in 2 Peter 1:5-7 namely, goodness, knowledge, self-
control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.

Overcome ineffectiveness, unproductiveness, short-sightedness, blindness and forgetfulness of

Salvation (vv. 8, 9)
Peter emphatically indicates that the 7 virtues that are to be added to faith should be possessed,
owned and assimilated by the believer. When one does not possess them, then he won’t be very
effective (as a blunt tool that does not achieve what is intended) in his demonstration of salvation by
grace through faith. Lack of these 7 virtues makes one become unproductive, that is, not bearing
fruit in Christ (John 15:4-6, 16; Galatians 5:22, 23).

Without effectiveness and productiveness, the believer will likely forget that he has already been
forgiven of his past sins or the sins Christ died for, that is, all the sins confessed. Why forget?
Because of near-sightedness and blindness (unclear vision [understanding] and complete inability to
understand all the promises and possessions in Christ). With short-sightedness, a little assurance of
salvation exists in the heart, but with blindness, no assurance of salvation at all is possessed in the
heart. John gives good clarification when he writes, “My little children, let us not love in word or in
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tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our
20
hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all
21 22
things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And

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whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that
are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His
Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. (1 John 3:18-23).

The believer ought to make every effort in order to be effective and productive in his faith. When
the believer is effective and productive, he will definitely be long-sighted, that is, his faith will
increase. Faith sees things that are afar and that seem not to exist. And as such, it is by faith that one
can do the things that God is only pleased by. Hebrews 11:1,6 states, “Now faith is the substance of
things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen….But without faith it is impossible to please Him,
for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently
seek Him.” Thus it is written that the righteous will “live” (Greek, dzaho) by faith and not by sight
(Romans 1:17; Galatians 2:20; 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). For this reason, each of us needs to seek after
a sharpened faith that comes only by productivity in the Lord, Jesus Christ.

For this reason, be all the more eager to be sure of your salvation
Salvation is a calling and election by God. It is God who calls one to salvation and he is the one
who chooses through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 4:1; John 15:16). Yet this calling and election may be
doubted and may seem not to have taken place when one is not living according to its requirements.
In other words, those who do not see the fruit of Salvation being produced in their lives will not be
certain of their salvation. Thus the one who with effort produces theses virtues “will never fall, and
will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter
1:11 NIV). Brothers! Living a fruitful, confident, and assured Christian life takes effort and
diligence. It takes activity and not passivity.

In other words, even when “the accuser of our brothers” (Revelation 12:10) brings his
accusations in the believer’s heart, the believer will overcome those accusations because his heart
won’t be condemning him due to possession of these virtues. The believer will always have
assurance of salvation that will propel him with enthusiasm to live as an effective and productive
Christian (will never fall).

It is vital to note that many of those who felt self condemnation in their hearts due to not adding

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the 7 virtues to their faith in Christ have even given up on their Christianity. May be these are the
ones that Apostle Peter wrote about as he contends, “For it would have been better for them not to
have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment
delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his
own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire." (2 Peter 2:21-22). Thus
every believer must be more diligent in being sure of the security of his salvation in Christ Jesus if
he is not to fall.

Some truly saved believers without assurance have gone back to their old life because they lost
their living hope in Christ. But with discipleship they have come back to their faith in Christ by
God's grace and never to go back again to their old ways of life. They have realized that "the old
has gone and behold the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:7)

I have heard of a certain man who was a drunkard. He heard the gospel and gave his life to
Christ. He quit drinking and began participating in all Christian activities among fellow
believers. However, he could from time to time experience some relapse into drinking alcohol.
During discipleship, he learned that a Christian will lose his salvation if he sins and for him
taking alcohol was sin. So he ended up stopping going to church and gave up all Christian
activities and went back to alcoholism because he saw no hope of salvation as he had lost his
salvation several times already. A Christian friend met him one and gave him an assurance of
salvation indicating he was saved continually the very first time (if their is the second time) he
gave his life to Christ (John 10:10, 27-30). This drunkard Christian's hope in Christ revived and
he quit drinking. Despite relapses, he became diligent in overcoming the habit as he was sure of
his salvation. He completely overcame the habit and grew in his relationship with the Lord. He
has since become a discipler of new Christians.

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 Soteriology: The Permanence of Salvation Lecturer: Cassius Silumande

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will by no means
cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent
Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given me I should lose nothing,
but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who
sees the son and believes in Him may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last
day” (John 6:37-40)

The Father’s Calling and the Sinner’s Definite Positive Response (v. 37a)
Jesus was speaking to the crowd that did not believe in him, verses 35 and 36. He was simply
stressing the point that they did not believe in him because his father did not cause them to. Jesus
said, "All that the Father gives me will come to me….” to indicate a definite act of God the Father in
the life of a sinner. God the Father cannot be resisted once He acts because He has absolute authority
over all people. For this very reason, no one can repent and commit his life to Christ Jesus unless

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God the Father “draws him” to Christ Jesus (John 6:43-44).

As God calls the sinner to Christ, he aids the sinner to recognize the voice of Christ and gives
him the wisdom and strength to choose Christ and to follow Him. Thus Christ affirmatively stated
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that “But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My
voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." (John 10:27)

Thus the sinners’ salvation is assured for security because it is initiated by God Himself who
alone has all authority and acts it out from conception to fruition.

The Sinner’s Definite Positive Response and Security in Jesus Assured (v. 37b)
The second part of verse 37 reveals that by the sovereign call of God, the sinner will surely get to
Christ who will in turn receive that penitent sinner without rejecting him in any way. All this is in the
plan and power of God. The sinner will obey God’s call to salvation and Christ will obediently not
cast out anyone that His Father gives Him. This truth is so because first, it is God who works in the
sinner to respond positively toward Christ (“All that the Father gives me will come to me”) and
second, Christ came to do His Father’s will (“and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast
out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”)
Jesus came not to fulfill his human desires, but to accomplish his Father's will (John 4:34). So he
will not only welcome everyone his Father gives him but he will also protect him to the end.

The Cause for Assured Security of Salvation (v. 38-40)

In these verses, we see the basis for the security of the believers’ salvation in Christ. The basis is
Christ Himself and His Father’s will. Christ explained his mission on earth as that of doing His
Father’s will. He also gives the details of His Father’s will as that of giving eternal life to the one
who sees him and believes in him and that the believer should be raised to life at the end of the age.

Christ left his heavenly home and came on earth as an ambassador to carry out not his own will
but the will of His Father. He clarifies the fact that He was sent and did not come on His own. Thus
it was critical for Him to solely focus on the mission given Him by his Father. Thus He says, “For I
have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” For this

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reason He will not cast out or reject anyone who commits himself to Him, and he will carry out His
obligation of conferring everlasting life to that believer and will raise Him from the dead on the last
day.

As a matter of fact, Christ spent all his life on earth implementing His Father’s will and He
considered its accomplishment as the only thing that could bring true satisfaction to Him. He spoke
to His concerned disciples that his food was different from their food. He said to them, "My food is
to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” (John 4:34)

Hence we can conclude that once a penitent sinner has believed in Christ and committed His life
to Him, then the salvation and eternal life Christ gives him is secured permanently because its
security and permanency depends on Christ carrying out His Father’s will and not on the believer
himself. IN other words, the one who enters into God's family will never become a castaway because
the Son will be there to speak for him. The truth is that Christ will never rebel against His Father
because he has always been obedient to the point of the cross (Philippians 2:8) and He is one with
His Father (John 10:30).

Thus one does not lose salvation because salvation is engineered by God who calls the sinner to
Christ and enables the sinner to believe in Christ, and Christ obediently accomplishes His Father’s
will in and through the life of the believer. And therefore the one who supposedly lost his salvation
did not lose any salvation at all because he simply did not have it. 2 Peter 2:21-22 states that “For it
would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it,
22
to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to
the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in
the mire." Indeed a dog still remains a dog even after he vomits and his going back to his vomit
simply reveals that he did not cease to be a dog. The same is true with a sow that has been washed.
She goes back to her “wallowing in the mire” because she is still a sow even after being washed.
Hence one may seem to have lost salvation when in fact he was not saved at all.

John uses the same expression when speaking of the antichrists. He warns his children by saying,
“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now

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many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but
they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out
that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.” (1 John 2:18-19)

Added scriptures of permanence of salvation include:

John 10:27-29; 5:24; Philippians 1:6; 1 John 5:11-13; Titus 3:4-8; 1 Peter 1:3-5

Soteriology: The Culmination of Salvation Lecturer: Cassius Silumande

“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet
the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. “
(1 Thess 4:17)

Salvation culminates in entering into glory explained by many believers as ‘glorification', or

salvation from the presence of sin. This is the glory Paul talks about in many of the passages of
scripture as the Holy Spirit inspired him. He says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18).
He also writes, Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the
17
inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is
working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,” (2 Cor 4:16-17). Christ Jesus also
rebuked His disciples after His resurrection by saying, “… Ought not the Christ to have suffered
these things and to enter into His glory?" (Luke 24:26). In our text we see the following:

We will meet the Lord in the air (v.17b)

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 Paul comforts the bereaved believers by indicating to them how the future will look like. He
states that those believers who have fallen asleep or died physically but alive in Christ will be the
first to rise from the dead to join the Lord in the air. “Then we who are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds”. The purpose of catching up in the clouds will be that of
meeting the Lord in the air as He is the one who knows the believers’ home which He went to
prepare (John 14:1-3).
Jesus clearly assures His followers that he will come back for them so that they can be with Him
were He is (John 14:3). With affirmative assurance, Jesus prayed for all His believers to His Father.
Jesus prayed, “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; for You loved Me before the foundation of the
world.” (John 17:24) Thus in actual fact, it is Christ who will come for His own and they will rise to
meet Him in the air by His power that will raise them from the dead and from the earth into the air.
Only then will the force of gravity not have dominion on the believers in Christ. What a miracle!
We will be with the Lord for ever
After the resurrection and union with the Lord in the air, where will the believers be? The Holy
Spirit records through the Apostle Paul that we will all be with the Lord, “And thus we shall … be
with the Lord.” Dwelling in the abode of Christ is Christ’s desire expressed in John 17:24. Where He
will be, there we will be also (John 14:3; 2 Corinthians 4:14). How He will be so we will be also (1
John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 15:48, 49).

For how long will we be with the Lord? The answer is a definite one—“for ever”. Those the
Father has given to Christ and Christ has redeemed by His blood will enjoy fellowship with Christ
for ever, no measurable time. There will be no end. “And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
Amen. Fellowship with the Lord will not be time bound. Glory to God!

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Soteriology: conclusion Lecturer: Cassius Silumande

Salvation is the gracious act of God. Our faith in Christ is as well a gift from God. Thus eternal
life we receive when we become saved is a gift from God. Hence Romans 6:23 records, “For the
wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This truth means
that Salvation is not worked for. Salvation does not come to us as a wage. Instead it is a gift from
God by His unmerited or undeserved favour upon all those who believe. The Apostle Paul ably made
a very good and convincing argument in Romans 4. Brothers you should read Romans 4 in your
spare time to get a glimpse of this reality.

Throughout the Life of a believer, Salvation is the act of God so that no one should boast before
the Lord. Regeneration, Sanctification, and Glorification are all the work of God. In other words,
God is actively involved for one to give His/her life to Christ. Hence Christ says “all that the Father
has given me….” For one to tenaciously hold on to Christ and incessantly obey Him for continued
cleansing by His Word, God is also actively involved. Paul was convinced of this truth when He said
“for it is God who works in you both to will and to do….” and that, “Now it is God who makes both
us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in
our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (II Corinthians 1:21, 22—NIV) And finally,
for the believer to get into glory, God is actively involved too. This truth was ratified by Christ when

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He said, “...I will come again and receive you to Myself….” (John 14:3) With the same truth in
mind, the apostle Paul affirms, “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not
ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have
committed to Him until that Day.” (2 Tim 1:12)

The truth is that no person can claim before God that they can save themselves or they can keep
their salvation secure, or perhaps that they will take themselves into God’s glory. In all these, we all
depend on God through Christ Jesus in whom God's promises are yes and amen (II Corinthians
1:20). God alone is Greater (John 10:27-30) and God alone loves us with unchanging love (Romans
8:31-39).

In order to keep our salvation secure, Christ had to offer "...for all time a single sacrifice for
sins...." (Hebrews 10:12 - ESV) During this phase of time, both the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ are
always in the presence of God interceding for us (Romans 8:26-27,34). Hence only Christ is “the
hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27), “the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2—NIV) and
"the guarantor of a better covenant" (Hebrews 7:22).

I need also to indicate that the believer is as well actively involved in Salvation through
obedience. Christ states that all those that the Father has given Him will go to Him and that His
sheep listen to His voice and they follow Him (John 6:47; 10:27. Thus we all need to live in
obedience to God in order that we can have assurance of salvation even in our hearts (Hebrews 6:11,
12). This assurance of salvation will come as we always remember that we are not to use God’s
grace as a license for ungodliness, as is the case for certain men whose condemnation still stands
(Jude 4). This grace will have to ring a bell in our ears that we died to sin and we are not to live in it
again.

The Apostle Paul wrote this instruction to young Titus, “For the grace of God that brings
salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and
glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He

29
might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for
good works.” (Titus 2:11-14)

 It is therefore important to always remember that we have a role to play as well. At the
stage of justification, our role is to believe as God enables us (to confidently accept that what God
says about Christ and what he wrought on the cross is true). Abraham believed God and it was
credited to him as righteousness (Romans 4:22; Galatians 3:6). At the stage of Sanctification, our
role is to live in active obedience and dependence on God as the Holy Spirit leads us (Romans 8:4;
Galatians 5:16, 18, 25).
 We need to incessantly and enthusiastically work out (not for) our own salvation
(Philippians 2:12; Romans 12:11; 2 Peter 1:10).
 At the time of entering into glory, our role is not to lose confidence in Christ Jesus who
does not disappoint. We need to trust that even when we are gone from this earth, we will simply
join the Lord Jesus whose promises are yes and amen.
 Paul affirmatively exclaimed, “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I
am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I
have committed to Him until that Day.” (2 Tim 1:12) And that “For to me, to live is Christ, and to
die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I
23
cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ,
which is far better.” (Phil 1:21-23)

Would you therefore check yourself to see if really you are in Christ (saved)? II Corinthians 13:5
challenges, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not
know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.” Every person
must arrive at crossroads of repenting, accepting Christ, and following him or rejecting and denying
Him. Get to know also that “The response one makes to Jesus Christ involves the totality of life:
emotion (feeling), intellect (rational mind), and life-style (following Christ in daily living).”
(Robinson 1992:37)

If you know you have never repented of your sins to turn to Christ, You can do that now. Or if
you are not sure you had at any time repented of your sins and accepted Jesus Christ, this is your

30
opportunity before it is too late. Follow the following steps:

1. Realize your need (John 3:3, 7) - Acknowledge that you are a sinner and that you cannot
save yourself.
2. Repent of your Sins (II Corinthians 7:10) - Turn away from your sins and never go back
to your sins again.
3. Believe and Receive (Hebrews 3:15; John 1:12) - Accept that Jesus Christ as son of God
who died for your sins on the cross is true. Accept this truth in your heart and be willing
to have Jesus Christ to come into your life to control it.
4. Confess and call on the Lord (Romans 10:9-13) - Now ask God in prayer to forgive you
your sins and to takeover Lordship and control of your life.
5. Start obeying him and relying on Him in all things in your life. You also need to find a
local church in which you will obediently serve Him.

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32