Salvation Is God's Work

Complete salvation is God's work in us: past, present, and future. That is to say, in Christ we have been saved; we are being saved; we shall be saved. Three words describe God's work of salvation in us: justified, sanctified, and glorified.

Complete salvation is in Jesus Christ. We are justified by faith in Jesus Christ. We are being saved, growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Christ is our sanctification. We shall be saved, because Christ is our glorification. When Christ returns, we shall be glorified (Romans 8:30).

Complete salvation includes justification, sanctification, and glorification. It's all by God's grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our total salvation. In Christ, we are justified and free from all condemnation. In Christ, we are being sanctified until we are glorified. In Christ, we shall be glorified at his appearing (1 John 3:2).

Complete salvation is God's work in us through Christ. God began our salvation; God continues our salvation; God shall complete our salvation. "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). God justifies us in Christ (Romans 5:1). God sanctifies us in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2). God shall glorify us in Christ.

God's Mercy Saves Us

"So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy" (Romans 9:16). God shows mercy, not earned by our efforts, because "it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs." Our will power and works can never save us (Titus 3:5). God's mercy saves us. 

God's mercy is Christ crucified for our sins. That is to say, the sacrificial death of Christ satisfies the demands of God's holiness and justice against our sin. God's justice is satisfied for sinners who trust in Christ alone for mercy and justification. "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world" (1 John 2:2).

God's mercy is our salvation. God transforms and renews the mind (Romans 12:1-2). Such a change enables us to repent. The word "repent" comes from two Greek words. Meta means change. Nous means mind. God's mercy leads us to repent (Romans 2:4).

God's mercy cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). We confess our sins to God. He forgives us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Yes, God's mercy in Christ forgives and cleanses us from all sin.

God's Grace Saves Us

God's grace saves us in Jesus Christ our Lord. There is no way you can merit nor earn the favor of God. It comes to you only as the gift of God. Faith in Jesus Christ saves you by the grace of God. You cannot be good enough to merit God's favor. Grace is not for good people. Grace is for sinners, and that includes all of us (Romans 3:23).

Grace saves us from condemnation and everlasting punishment. It is by grace through faith we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9). God works in and through us to do his will by grace. The Spirit of grace works in your heart, which is your mind, will, and emotions. God's grace gives you the ability and desire to do God's will (Philippians 2:13).

Grace is effectual to save us through Christ. It is not in vain. "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (First Corinthians 15:10). As a believer in Christ, you can say by the grace of God, I am what I am.

Grace saves us through a personal relationship with Christ. Grace reveals God in you through the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). It's not what you do for God (Romans 11:6). Grace is what God has done for you in Christ. All that you are, or ever hope to be, is by God's grace in Christ.

Our Spiritual Warfare

Temptation is part of our spiritual warfare, and it comes through thoughts. You have a spiritual enemy who temps with thoughts. When those thoughts are not rejected, they become strongholds, leading to bad habits and addictions. The spiritual battle is won or lost in your thoughts. 

Spiritual warfare involves tempting thoughts. The Bible warns of thoughts that become strongholds, hindering your relationship with God. Those thoughts must be pulled down and brought captive to Christ. This is your spiritual warfare, the battle within you. Bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Ask God to bring your attention to any pattern of thinking which opposes his good will for you. Pray that all such thoughts be pulled down and brought captive to Christ. The power of temptation is broken as strongholds are destroyed. O LORD, You have searched me and known me ... You understand my thoughts afar off (Psalm 139:1-2).

Thoughts make a difference in your relationship with God. He gives thoughts that will encourage, strengthen, and comfort you. Those thoughts are found in the Bible. Feed your mind on the thoughts of God. In our spiritual warfare, God will give victory through thoughts of love, grace, mercy and peace. Think God's thoughts, according to the Scripture.