From Death to Life In Glory

Evangelism - Part 2

From Death to Life In Glory
October 27, 1996

Romans 8:29-30

29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.³⁰ Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. NKJV

Introduction

Last week we discussed the spiritual condition of the human race with respect to its standing before the Lord. We determined that all humans, those descendants of Adam, are both spiritually dead and are under the dominion of physical death.

The Calling of the Lord - Universal versus Particular

Acts 17:30-31

30 "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,³¹ "because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." NKJV

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.²⁷ But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;²⁸ and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,²⁹ that no flesh should glory in His presence.³⁰ But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—³¹ that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord." NKJV

There are two ways that the word "calling" is used in the Scriptures. The first is a general calling to all men to repent and turn from their ways to the Lord. This calling goes out and is heard by all.
The second way that the word calling is used is a particular call that God issues which efficaciously results in the salvation of the one called. Notice in the second set of verses that God’s calling is tied to His choosing those who would be in Christ Jesus.

Regeneration - The New Birth

John 3:5-9

5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.⁶ "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.⁷ "Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.^’8 "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."⁹ Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?" NKJV

We see here that our Lord teaches that we cannot enter the kingdom of God unless we are born a second time. We must be made anew. If it were possible to enter His kingdom with our old hearts, eyes and mind it would not be necessary to receive new ones. Most importantly, notice that the Spirit goes where He wishes. He is not beckoned or commanded to go to certain places, His work is according to His agenda.

Repentance & Belief - The Firstfruits

Acts 11:16-18

16 "Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.^’17 "If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"¹⁸ When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life." NKJV

This is not something that one can do apart from first being born again. After we have been born a second time, we are now capable of seeing our spiritual condition accurately. This is the point in the process that the gospel is proclaimed in faith and in response the born again person will be granted repentance and will believe the gospel.

Justification - No Longer Condemned

Romans 3:21-26

21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,²² even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,²⁴ being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,²⁵ whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,²⁶ to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. NKJV

In response to the gospel, having seen their sinfulness for the first time in the same way that the Lord does, the person cries out for forgiveness. Having confessed our sin, repented and believed in the gospel, God gives forgiveness and where the law once stood in condemnation over someone now they no longer stand guilty.

Sealed with the Spirit

2 Corinthians 1:21-22

21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,²² who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. NKJV

Given that the verse states that we have already been established in Christ, this baptism of the Spirit of God happens after the gospel has been believed by faith. This indwelling of the Spirit is by a seal and is a deposit guaranteeing our future inheritance. If the Spirit could come and go, then there is no seal and there is no guarantee.

Sanctification - Set Apart and Becoming More Like Christ

Hebrews 10:10-14

10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.¹¹ And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.¹² But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,¹³ from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.¹⁴ For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. NKJV

There are really two different ways that the Scriptures speak of our sanctification. Once saved, we are carved out from the population of those who are unsaved and declared to be distinct, separate, and holy. This type of sanctification is an event and something that is accomplished at conversion. The second type of sanctification is the lifelong process where by means of the Spirit of God we are putting to death the deeds of the body and becoming more and more like Christ.

Perseverance - God’s Grip is Sure

1 Corinthians 1:7-9

7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,⁸ who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.⁹ God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. NKJV

Those who are truly saved will be preserved until the end. This happens not because of the tenacity of the Christians but because they have become the possession of a new master, a gracious master, who is faithful and able to keep them from being snatched away by anything. In that final day, because of God’s faithfulness, we know we will be spotless, blameless and that the law will not condemn us and the righteousness of Christ will be sufficient to save us from the eternal judgement.

Glorification - Brothers with Christ

Romans 8:12-17

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.¹³ For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."¹⁶ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. NKJV

An absolutely amazing part of God’s great salvation, is that not only has He spared us from the onslaught of His wrath for our sin, He has adopted us as sons and guaranteed that we will share in the eternal inheritance with His Son our Lord. We have been lifted up and exalted to this position. We will not be slaves or servants in the home but rather sons.