Salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.

Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works.  Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who will receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer.

1. The Significance of “The Gift” of God

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

a. If a gift is a “gift,” it is free! God has “gifted” mankind with His free gift of eternal life.

b. Man has no part in his salvation.  We are saved (i.e. delivered from eternal separation from God) by God’s grace.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by GRACE you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the GIFT OF GOD, ⁹ not as a result of works, that no one should boast (emphasis added).

These two passages (Romans 6:23 and Ephesians 2:8-9) are the very foundation of what it means to have received the gift of eternal life imparted from heaven by a holy God.

Even though it is man’s responsibility to exercise the faith that only God can generate in his heart, “the free choice of man” is not what determines his destiny, it is God’s sovereign choice of man.

Titus 3:5 [God] saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

2.   Regeneration Brings About a Life Change

Regeneration (the new birth), is a work of God’s grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away, behold, new things have come.

When a person has been regenerated by the work of the Holy Spirit, a change takes place in his heart which convicts him of his sin and its consequences (the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, not the consequences to the sinner).

Repentance and faith are two inseparable experiences of the grace of our Sovereign God.

1 John 2:3-4 And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. ⁴ The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in Him.

3.   Salvation is Only Through Jesus Christ

Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.

John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” [Jesus Christ]

3.   Saving Faith Brings About Man’s Acquittal

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.