Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 7 - Much more then, being now justified)

Start this lesson series here: 
Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 1)

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 7 - Much more then, being now justified)

If you have been following this study, you should be well aware that we have been looking at justification, which is the first step of the broader term called salvation. Romans 5 is a transitional chapter that moves us out of Romans 1 to 4, concerning justification, and into Romans 6 to 8, which leads us into the beginning of sanctification. 

Word statistics in the KJV helps to confirm this fact because it is interesting to note that if you search for all spelling variants of justification, there are 29 entries scattered about in Paul's epistles. Out of those 29, 25 of them are in Romans and Galatians, and 4 additional entries in the rest of his epistles. In Romans there are 17 matches where 15 are in Romans chapters 1 to 5 and 2 in Romans 8. There are 8 in Galatians, because Paul's letter to them is to do with correcting their wayward understanding of salvation: see Gal.3:2-3. The point I'm making is that the believer is educated in the foundational understanding of justification in Romans, and then corrected in its practice in Galatians. So, barring these two books, Paul never teaches directly about justification again, because a believer, even by the end of Romans 5, should have settled on the truth of justification and moved past this serving of 'milk', into 'meatier' truths in the curriculum of Paul's doctrine.

As mentioned in the closing statements of part 6, I'd like to expound on something important in Paul's closing statements concerning justification. Let's first read the passage and then I want to provide some interesting insights in these verses,

Rom 5:8  But God commendeth [entrusts, commits] his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  (9)  MUCH MORE then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be SAVED FROM WRATH through him.  (10)  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, MUCH MORE, being reconciled, we shall be SAVED BY HIS LIFE.  (11)  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Reconciled AND saved by his life are different parts of God's salvation

Reconciled AND saved by his life are different parts of God's salvation

Read this verse in Romans chapter 5 and take special note of the tenses used to describe reconciliation and salvation by his life.

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Let's take a deeper look at what it is saying:

--being reconciled

Reconciliation is the first part of our salvation. It is the part that the majority of believers understand and relate to. Reconciliation comes about by being justified through the hearing and believing of the grace gospel. In simple terms, Romans chapters 1 to 4 educate us on God's righteousness, man's unrighteousness and ungodliness, God's wrath upon those who reject Him, and God's grace upon those who believe in His Son. It is through this grace of God, by means of the cross of Christ and His resurrection, that God can be just and the justifier of them that believe in Jesus, Rom 3:26. 

This justification was settled 2000-years ago at the cross. God's decree is that those who believe on the cross work of His Son freely receive this justification. This is already done, hence it being past tense. We are given confirmation of this fact in chapter 5, which is the conclusion of chapters 1 to 4. Chapter 5 and verse 1 starts with the word, "Therefore...", which means that we take into account all that was said in chapters 1 to 4, and then we conclude with this:

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  (2)  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Jesus conditions everyone at all times to do THREE works for salvation

Dear reader,

I frequent a few social media sites in order to post the good news of the grace gospel and provide some insights into understanding the Bible rightly divided. It is becoming more and more apparent that people are so deceived when it comes, not only to sound Biblical doctrine, but, to the core of our faith, which is the gospel. The root of this deception is an absolute lack of Bible knowledge, not only in the earthly ministry of Christ, but more so, in the crucial lack of rightly dividing the Word between prophecy and mystery.

The reason for posting these comments from individuals is to educate you. We need to know firstly how people interpret the Word, so we can be prepared to answer them in their errors. Secondly, we need to know ourselves what the grace gospel is. Then, thirdly, we need to know what the correct understanding of the topic is based on right division.

Below is another wildly flawed understanding of salvation in this grace dispensation. Please read it and familiarize with why it is wrong and what the correct understanding is all about. Let's learn and correct these misconceptions so that we can be a voice to those who need to hear the truth.

STATEMENT:

If we don’t work at doing good works, then we will not be saved. I have no doubt about it according to Matt 25:41-46. If you doubt that, I will offer the verse that Jesus conditions everyone at all times to do this work, THREE works in fact…

Insights into the messed up 'Modern Denominational' view of Salvation (incl. the Olive Tree)

Insights into the messed up 'Modern Denominational' view of Salvation

Below is a comment on one of my posts regarding salvation by grace through Christ alone. After the comment, I reply with my answer, rightly divided.

COMMENT:

If people listen to the gospel that you preach, in which people are saved by grace alone, they would never be saved. Anybody can just narrate passages, but teachers should first learn before teaching. On a little side note before the shocker, Paul blatantly tells the Gentiles in the church that just as the Israelites have been cut out of the Olive tree, so can they, if they do not continue in His goodness. That means it is possible to NOT continue in His goodness, which he says will result in being chopped off! There are many more versus like I’LL SAY I NEVER KNEW YOU, and I’LL SPEW OUT OF MY MOUTH, and I WILL BLOT YOUR NAME OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE, and many more.

The Journey: Part 1 - Salvation

Start here at the Introduction: The Journey Begins

The Journey: Part 1 - Salvation

What is this journey I'm referring to? Simply put, it is the period of time BETWEEN salvation and glorification. The journey begins when you get saved, and it ends on that great day when Christ presents the church, His body, glorious, holy, and without blemish, before the Father, (Eph.5:26).

Rom.8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Was Paul saved into the Kingdom or the Grace Program?

Before we tackle this question, let's just define the Kingdom and the Grace programs so as to maintain context through the rest of this post.

• The Kingdom program belongs to the Jews who believe that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. Those saved into this law program have a future hope of an earthly inheritance, the Millennial Kingdom. Those who have died will be resurrected at the 2nd Coming of Christ. The remnant who are alive at Jesus 2nd coming will enter, together with those who were resurrected, into this 1000-year period of Christs reign.
  
  
• The Grace program belongs to ALL who believe in the grace gospel of Christ's death, burial and resurrection. Those saved into this grace program experience a current and assured salvation, and have a heavenly inheritance, and eternal destination. Those who have died are already present with the Lord. Those who are alive, at the end of this dispensation, will be silently raptured into the heavens and into Christ's presence. After this rapture, the Grace program ends and the 7-year tribulation begins.

So, our question remains if Paul was saved into the Kingdom or Grace program. Let me share with you my conviction of this interesting question.