BIG IDEA
We are in the midst of being saved.
READING
Rom. 8
THOUGHTS
The Plan
God provided a plan of salvation from sin and its effects from the moment it entered the world. The storyline of the Bible docu- ments the revelation and outworking of this plan.
God reveals this plan to several people throughout history before it happens. Each of these encounters helps to uncover a different aspect of this plan.
Some of the more prominent encounters include Eve (Gen. 3:15), Abraham (Gen. 12:3), Jacob (Gen. 35:10–13), Samuel (2 Sam. 14:14), David (2 Sam. 7:1–16; Ps. 22), Isaiah (Isa. 9:6–7, 53), Jeremiah (Jer. 23:5, 33:15), Micah (Mic. 5:2), and Zechariah (Zech. 9:9).
The basic plan was to set up the nation of Israel, through whom He would come as a sinless baby (Isa. 9:6–7; Luke 2) to feel sin’s effects and temptation (Isa. 53, Heb. 2:17–18, 4:15), to demonstrate God’s power over sin in His life, to voluntarily die on the cross as a sacrifice for sin (Lev. 17:11; Is 53:3–10; John 10:17–18; 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 5:2; Heb. 9:22–26, 10:12; 1 Pet. 3:18; Rev. 5:6–10),
to be raised from the dead with power over death (Rom. 8:34–35; Eph. 1:17–23), and to move to a place in history where sin is de- stroyed (1 Cor. 15:20–28; Rev. 21:3–5) and a new/renewed creation replaces it.
As we outlined in the last lesson, sin is a choice away from life and a path toward death. Jesus died to experience the death we first chose for us. He died taking our sin on himself. He offers us an exchange—His life for our sin.
Types of Personal Salvation
The Bible talks about three stages of salvation as it relates to the individual. Theologians use the words justification, sanctifi- cation, and glorification as a way of describing these stages of salvation.
Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:3
Justification: This refers to the moment in time that we are made right with God. It not only refers to the past event (Christ’s suffering, death, resurrection) but to the moment we receive that work for ourselves, as seen in the next session on receiving salva- tion (Rom. 5:1, 8:15–17).
Sanctification: This refers to the potential for ongoing progressive transformation inside that frees us from our propensity to sin. We have a choice to yield to the ongoing work of God in our lives (John 10:10; Rom. 6:16–22; Heb. 2:15).
Glorification: This refers to the final stage of salvation that affects our bodies and our souls. This is the final stage of salva- tion that promises recreated bodies and renewed mind, motives, and emotions (John 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:52). This stage also refers to the moment when God will set everything right; evil will be destroyed in the world, and God will create a new world for us to experience (Rom. 5:9; 1 Thess. 1:10; Rev. 22).
DISCUSSION
- In your own words, describe the difference between justification, sanctification, and glorification.
- Explain how God is currently working in your life to make you more like Jesus.