Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 5 - A Transition is at Hand)

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

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 5 - A Transition is at Hand)

Romans chapter 5 is a chapter of transition. It concludes the topic of justification, and it introduces a new topic; that of sanctification, which is the next step in the broader understanding of salvation. The primary purpose of this study is actually to expound on the content of Romans 6 to 8, which I cannot wait to get into, but let me draw important attention to the fact that none of the information in chapters 6 to 8 would mean a thing if one skips over Romans 1 to 4. One cannot be saved without Romans 1-4. One cannot start to walk after the Spirit and bear the fruits of the Spirit if one ignores the gospel and disregards justification.

So, with this said, let me remind you what we have already covered from Romans 1 to 4 with the few points listed below. I want you to remember these points because we will not be returning to them in Romans. Once Paul concludes justification in Rom.5:11, he does not expound it again in this epistle. It becomes a settled fact, and Paul expects you to take the next step upwards and press on to higher revelation.

Be careful of bad understanding and bad advice concerning our grace doctrine

Be careful of bad understanding and bad advice concerning our grace doctrine

The following post is in response to a comment made on one of my posts in this lesson series concerning the process of salvation. A comment like this is a good illustration of the lack of good biblical knowledge and understanding concerning our grace doctrine today. These types of comments, although they have a measure of truth, are also harmful, as they can make people ignorant of truth and rob them of knowledge and inheritance. 

In my reply, I will prove that there is more to salvation than just what this comment suggests. If you truly believe that the Bible is God’s words and instruction to us, and if you truly believe that God has done much more for you through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ than ‘just saving you from hell’, then I appeal to you to read my rely and go and do a study on Romans and Ephesians that clearly shows the value and greater truth of salvation than just the first step of escaping the flames. God has SO MUCH MORE for you if you simply turn to His word, read it, and believe it.

Social media comment on one of my posts:

SALVATION IS A GIFT – NOT PROGRESSIVE

My response to the above comment:

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 4 - He staggered not, but was strong in faith)

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

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 4 - He staggered not, but was strong in faith)

Rom 4:3-5  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

In the beginning of Romans, Paul appealed to us (the reader of his epistles) that we should have faith in ‘the faith’; our doctrine that God inspired Paul to write, that contains the principles which should govern our lives. We should have faith not only in the words he wrote, but we ought to have faith that they are the very words of God, 1Cor.14:37; God’s will for us, His desires for us, the way He wants us to walk and function as members of the Body of Christ.

Now, in chapter four of Romans, after having delivered the doctrine of justification: concerning the wrath of God, concerning His righteousness and justice, and concerning His love for us through His Son, Paul writes to us of faith, again, appealing to us to have faith in the gospel, in like manner that Abraham had faith in God, believing that He was able to do what He promised Abraham,

Rom 4:20  He [Abraham] staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;  (21)  And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.  (22)  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 3 - God's Wrath, Righteousness, and Love)

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

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 3 - God's Wrath, Righteousness, and Love)

Paul starts his exposition of the grace gospel with reference to the wrath of God in Rom.1:18,

Rom.1:18-19  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;  (19)  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

Why does Paul do this? Isn't the gospel supposed to be 'good news'? What is so good about knowing about God's wrath? Well, this question has two answers,

1. God's wrath cannot and shouldn't be ignored. It is a true and very important fact to know.
2. God's wrath brings value to the sacrifice of Christ, and confirmation of His great love for us.

If one had to share the gospel with someone, they'd only have half the gospel if you only shared the cross, the resurrection, and God's love. These aspects are emphasized by the fact that God despises and cannot tolerate sin, and the fact that we are sinners, qualifies us utterly to be the recipients of His righteous and horrific wrath. As utterly loving and forgiving God is towards us, we can expect no less than His utter vengeance and righteous wrath upon us for our rebellion. 

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 2 - From faith to faith)

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

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 2 - From faith to faith)

After Paul has introduced himself as a servant of Jesus Christ and an apostle, separated unto the gospel, he mentions something very important as he introduces the gospel of grace. Paul says the following,

Rom 1:16-17  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  (17)  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

What does it mean that the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, and that the just shall live by faith? This is something important and worth elaborating on before we dive deeper into the broader term of salvation.

I have already written a post on this topic, so I will point you to it for a fuller exposition. 

See from faith to faith.

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 1- Intro)

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 1)

A while back, after a bible study session, a friend of mine asked me to teach a series of lessons on, “the process of salvation”. We had just finished a series of teachings dealing with the judgement seat of Christ, so I thought the request was a bit surprising, since he was an established Christian, but I have also never hesitated or questioned this topic, as I believe that there can be no more important subject and information than to know salvation, and to know what it means, and to know what happens to one in the process of receiving it and growing in it.

Thus, this post, and a few subsequent ones, will be digging into the topic, from the epistle of Romans, and seeking out to understand its truth and effects on the human heart and mind. Now, before you all think this is a basic topic concerning the cross of Christ, which every Christian thinks they know, I want to inform you ‘off the bat’ that this topic is far deeper than the average Christian realizes. Salvation is a VERY broad term and involves a LOT more than what Christians know. Romans may be the foundational epistle in the curriculum of Paul's 9-church epistles, but foundational does not mean the information stops at being basic. Romans contains the words of God, and we all know that God is infinitely wise. There are depths to this topic that continually surface as one studies it more and more.