God’s Role in Salvation
Bible study notes courtesy of WVBConline.org
Pastor/Teacher Skip Ast
- Every Christian believes in election. We either believe…
Man Chooses God or God Chooses Man
- The Bible Teaches God Saves Sinners
God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) working together…
Saves = Does everything, first to last, to bring man to salvation…
Sinners = People guilty before God, helpless, completely incapable of saving themselves.
- If God didn’t choose us would we ever choose Him?
John 6:44, 65; 15:16
- Adam’s rebellion resulted in mankind’s spiritual death rendering mankind unable to save himself. So…
God could have saved none.
God could have saved all.
God could have saved some.
God is Sovereign in Salvation
“Sovereign above or superior to all others; supreme in power and rank; independent of all others“
He needed no ones permission.
He was under no obligation to save anyone.
He would be perfectly just in choosing any of the 3 options.
He could choose to save some without obligation to save others.
♦ The blood of Jesus was sufficient to save every human being if that had been God’s plan!
- What does the Bible say?
- Old Testament
- Israel: Deuteronomy 14:2; Psalm 105:43; 135:4
- New Testament
- Jesus: Matthew 24:22, 24, 41; Luke 18:7; John 17:9
- The Church: Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 1:1; 1 Corinthians; Ephesians 1:3-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
- We must be willing to live with the Biblical tension that God is sovereign in salvation and yet He calls us to choose to follow Him and have compassion for and reach out to those that are lost!
- Jesus demonstrated the tension: Matthew 9:36-38; 11:28-29; 22:14; 23:37; John 7:37
- Paul demonstrated the tension: Romans 9-10
- It seems to be a paradox (Deuteronomy 29:29) or mystery just like the following questions:
- Who wrote the book of Romans, God or Paul?
- Was Jesus born of God or of Mary?
- While on earth was Jesus man or God?
- Who lives your Christian life? (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12-13)
- The doctrine of election doesn’t mean we don’t have human responsibility!!!
- Questions about God’s Role in Salvation:
1. Who does the choosing? God!
Mark 13:20; John 13:18; 15:16, 19; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 5:9
2 Thessalonians 2:13 13But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
2. When does the choice happen? Before the world was created!
2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 1:9; Revelation 13:8; 17:8
Ephesians 1:4 4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.
3. What the choice is not based on:
♦ Any merit in those who are chosen
Acts 16:14; Romans 9:10-11, 16; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Ephesians 2:8-9
2 Timothy 1:9 9who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,
♦ Mankind’s foreseen faith
Romans 8:28-30; Acts 2:22-23; 4:27-28; 1 Peter 1:1-2, 20; Philippians 1:29
Acts 13:48 48When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
♦ Left to ourselves would we ever choose Him? If we really had “free” will, would we ever choose to love and follow God according to the following verses? NO!
- Proverbs 19:3; Romans 3:10-12; 5:10; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1
4. On what basis is the choice made? God’s sovereign mercy!
Acts 11:18; Romans 9:10-24; 2 Timothy 2:25
Titus 3:4-5 4But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5He 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,
5. Does everyone get a chance? Yes!
Romans 2:14-15; Psalms 19:1-2; 98:2-3; Ecclesiastes 3:11
Romans 1:18-20
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
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I quiet understand what John:1-8 says about the thrinity and also Gen:1-3 but I am not clear enough to explain it to someone else. Please,i would like you to explain it better.
The Trinity isn’t explained in Scripture however if you want to do a little research on your own I can point you in the right direction. Go to http://www.bible-truth.org/Trinity.html and read it for yourself. I don’t believe that is the most important thing in our faith. The most important thing is Jesus died according to the prophesies, was buried and rose again so our sins could be atoned for. Scripture says (Acts 4:12) “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other nave under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” NASB