40 Things That Occur
at the
Point of Salvation
1. Imputed Righteousness* 21. Unseen Assets*
2. Justification* 22. Judgment of Sins
3. Children of
God*
(Regeneration) 23. Royal Adoption*
4. Communication
with
Holy Spirit 24.
Eternal Relationship to God*
5. Imputed
Everlasting Life* 25. We are on the
Rock Jesus Christ*
6. Baptism of the
Holy Spirit 26. We are a Gift to
Christ*
7. Propitiation* 27. Royal Priesthood*
8.
Reconciliation* 28. We
are a Chosen Generation*
9. Redemption* 29. Access to God*
10. Forgiveness* 30. Under the Much More
Care of God*
11. Remove
Condemnation 31. We are His
Inheritance*
12. Removal of
Domination
of the Old Sin Nature* 32. We Inherit Christ’s Eternal Future*
13. Remove
Satan’s Power* 33. We have a Partnership with God*
14. Freedom From
the Penalty
of the Mosaic Law* 34.
We Become Heavenly Citizens*
15.
Identification with Jesus
Christ 35.
We Become Members of the Royal Family of God*
16. Indwelling of
God the
Father 36.
We are Light in the Lord*
17. Indwelling of
Jesus Christ 37. We are United to the
Trinity*
18. Indwelling of
the
Holy Spirit 38.
We are Glorified*
19. Sealing of
Your Salvation* 39. We are Complete in
Him*
20. Circumcision
of the Soul* 40. We Receive Angelic
Protection and Service
This list was
first compiled by L.S. Chafer in his 1948 Systematic Theology work. *
The list included “thirty-three stupendous works of God which together comprise
the salvation of a soul.” (Systematic
Theology by Lewis Sperry Chafer, 1948,
volume 3, page 234-265.)
During the 1960’s
and 1970’s R.B. Thieme, continued to develop this list.
In his book “The Plan of God” Thieme
develops the list to include 36 “benefits of salvation.” (The Plan of God, 1973,
page 23-27)
Recently the original list of 33 things was expanded through the study of
Thomas Tyree, Jr. This list can be found on the web at:
http://www.egracebiblechurch.org/forty.htm
Galyn Wiemers has copied, combined and added to these notes in this
booklet.
The * indicates they were in Chafer’s original list.
At the moment of salvation, every believer in Jesus
Christ receives 40 things from God. Of the 40 things, 39 of them are permanent
and can never be removed from the believer - even by God himself! The only
temporary thing we can lose is fellowship with God which we lose due to our own
free will to sin and act against God. We can regain this fellowship and walk in
the light when we confess our known sins to the Father. Our position as a son is eternal and
unchangeable. Our daily state of
fellowship can change because it is based on our conduct as an obedient or a
disobedient son.
Imputed
Righteousness
Divine righteousness is imputed from God the Father
to our souls at the same time we share the righteousness of Christ through
Positional Truth. This is not something we can achieve or work for. Imputed
means in English, “to ascribe to one as author, responsible originator, or
possessor; to charge; to credit.” This
imputed righteousness does these things for the believer: 1)
Makes them positionally righteous before God.
2) Positional Sanctification (1 Cor. 1:30; 6:11)
3) Perfected forever (Hebrews 10:14)
4) Accepted
by God (Ephesians 1:6)
5) Qualified to share in the inheritance ( Col.
1:12)
Romans 4:3-5, 2 Corinthians 5:21 Romans 3:25-26
What
does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him
as righteousness." Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him
as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but
trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.
(Romans 4:3-5)
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in
him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through
faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his
forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished he did it to
demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who
justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:25-26)
2. Justification
As a result of this imputed righteousness, we are
"declared righteous" or justified by God the Father. We are
vindicated as believers because the justice of God the Father was satisfied by
the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross who paid the sin penalty
for all of our sins. He was our substitute and was found righteous in this
payment. There is a difference between being imputed with righteousness and
being declared justified. To have been
declared justified by God means we stand before him today innocent of all
charges and all sins. He is as much
obligated to defend us now as he was obligated to condemn us before. Romans 3:24-30.
And are
justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He
did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the
sins committed beforehand unpunished--he did it to demonstrate his justice at
the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have
faith in Jesus. Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On
that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man
is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Is God the God of Jews
only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is
only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised
through that same faith. (Romans 3:24-30)
3. Children of God (“Born again”
or “Regeneration)
We are "regenerated" or "born
again" through the power of the Holy Spirit. The new believer is
"born again." God becomes our legitimate Father and we become his
legitimate child. This reality is more
of a heavenly truth that an earthly experience.
The sons of God have not yet been revealed on earth (Rm. 8:19. To be born into an earthly home of privilege
is an outstanding advantage. Imagine the
advantage of being born into the family of God.
John 3:1-12, Titus 3:5, Romans 8:16, 1 Corinthians 2:14
Now
there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling
council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a
teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs
you are doing if God were not with him." In reply Jesus declared, "I
tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely
he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus
answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God
unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the
Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You
must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its
sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is
with everyone born of the Spirit." "How can this be?" Nicodemus
asked. "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not
understand these things? I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we
testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.
I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will
you believe if I speak of heavenly things? (John 3:1-12)
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done,
but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth (or,
“regeneration”) and renewal by the Holy Spirit, (Titus 3:5)
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are
God's children. (Romans 8:16)
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things
that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he
cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians
2:14)
Now we
are the children of God. (1 John 3:2)
4. A Human Spirit that Has
Communication with the Holy Spirit
We receive a regenerated human spirit The human
spirit is created by the Holy Spirit as part of His regeneration ministry.
Romans 8:16; 1 Corinthians 2:14
The Spirit himself testifies with our
spirit that we are God's children. (Romans
8:16)
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things
that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he
cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians
2:14)
5. Imputed Everlasting Life
We receive the imputation of everlasting life from
God the Father to our regenerative human spirit. And at the same instant, we
share the eternal life Christ through positional truth. This is our double
portion of eternal life. 1 John 5:11-12
And this
is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have
life. (1 John 5:11-12)
6. Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Baptized by the Spirit into Christ)
We are
placed into union with Jesus Christ through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:1-2; Romans 8:38-39; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 1 Corinthians 12:13; 1 John
5:11-12
Therefore,
there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through
Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and
death. (Romans 8:1-2)
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither
angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither
height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate
us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made
alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22)
For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one
body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one
Spirit to drink. (1 Corinthians 12:13)
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have
the Son of God does not have life.(1 Jn 5:11-12)
7. Propitiation
Propitiate means to appease and render
favorable. It is a synonym for
pacify. The word refers to the person
who was offended. In this case God was
offended and is appeased because of Christ’s death. We are guaranteed mercy, or "more
grace." This is because the just demands of the Holiness of God the Father
were satisfied (propitiated) by the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ on
the cross and we enjoy the benefits of that propitiation. Sin has been dealt with perfectly and is no
longer an issue that separates God and man.
God has already been satisfied.
The doctrine of
Propitiation teaches that sin must be dealt with before mercy
(grace in action) can be manifested. In your life
as a Christian, the Lord can only be satisfied with your service and good works
if they are produced by a person in fellowship with him. Exodus 25:17-22, Hebrews 9:4, 1 John 2:2
"Make
an atonement cover of pure gold--two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a
half wide. And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover.
Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the
cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. The cherubim are to have
their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are
to face each other, looking toward the cover. Place the cover on top of the ark
and put in the ark the Testimony, which I will give you. There, above the cover
between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet
with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites. (Exodus 25:17-22)
Which had the golden altar of incense and the
gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna,
Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. (Hebrews
9:4)
He is the atoning sacrifice (“propitiation” in the KJ) for our sins, and not only for ours but also
for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)
8. Reconciliation
Reconcile means to cause to be friendly again; to
bring back to harmony. Reconciliation
indicates that Christ’s death removed God’s enmity against man. We are
reconciled by God the Father because of the removal of the sin barrier between
man and God by the cross. This work of Christ guarantees our eternal access to
God. This "spanning of the great gap" between man and God by the
person and work of Christ on the cross provides the basis of our eternal relationship
with God. Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
For if,
when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his
Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
(Romans 5:10)
All this is from God, who reconciled (katallaxantoV means in
the Greek to effect a change, to exchange, to reconcile, Here the preposition
in the compound
is perfective and means “to
effect a thorough change back.”)
us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins
against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. (2
Corinthians 5:18-19)
9. Redemption
Faith in Christ as Savior means personal deliverance
or redemption from the "slave market of sin." 1 Peter 1:18-19 When a
Roman general returned to Rome after conquering an enemy he led the captives
back and sold them as slaves. The slaves
where placed on a slave block and purchased by individuals who could hold them
in a life of bondage and service. It was
rare, but it was possible, that a slave could be redeemed. They could be purchased and set free from
bondage by their new owner. You could
not set a slave free unless you were willing to pay the redemption price.
Justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ
Jesus (Romans 3:24)
For you
know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you
were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your
forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or
defect. (1 Peter 1:18-19)
It is
for freedom that Christ has set us free (Galatians 5:1)
With
your blood you purchased men for God.
(Revelation 5:9)
10. Forgiveness
At the moment of salvation we are granted total
forgiveness of the past by God the Father.
The soul is clean and ready to learn and utilize the assets of the
Christian life through the intake of Bible doctrine. Isaiah 43:25; Isaiah
44:22; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14
This forgiveness stands ready to meet all of our sins in the past, in
the present and in the future.
"I,
even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers
your sins no more. (Isaiah 43:25)
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins
like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you." (Isaiah
44:22)
In him we have redemption
through his blood, the forgiveness
of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
(Eph 1:7)
In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
(Colossians 1:14)
He
forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its
regulations. (Colossians 2:13)
11. Removal of Condemnation
At the moment of salvation, the sentence of
condemnation is removed by God the Father. Our salvation provides freedom from
the condemnation and wrath of the Justice of God. The sharing of the final
destiny of Satan and all the fallen angels is therefore eliminated. John 3:18;
Romans 8:1-3
Whoever
believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned
already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
(John 3:18)
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are
in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set
me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in
that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the
likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful
man, (Romans 8:1-3)
12. Removal of Domination of the
Old Sin Nature
At the moment of salvation, we are "dead"
to the domination of the Old Sin Nature. The Old Sin Nature should be a
"toothless tiger" in the life of the Christian. It has only the power
we allow it to have. At salvation, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit becomes
the new "ruler" of the body where He creates a temple for the
indwelling of our Lord Jesus Christ as the "Shekinah Glory." This is
the guarantee that we can be under divine blessing as we advance in the
spiritual life.
The Old Sin
Nature is not gone but has been judged and had its authority removed. The Holy Spirit now has the authority in the
believers life. The evil of the sin
nature can no longer restrain or prevent the Holly Spirit from working in our
lives. The Holy Spirit will:
1) Curb the power of the Old
Sin Nature
2) Produce righteousness in
our lives
Christ death was substitutionary so his death is shared with us. It is cocrucifixion, codeath, coburial and
coresurrection.
This is
also known as past Positional Truth, where we are identified with Christ on the
cross. We are identified with His death and burial. This is accomplished by the
Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The
application of this past Positional Truth is the Christian in fellowship with
God, possessing a continual attitude of rejecting, separating from, and being
dead to personal sin and the production of human good and evil! Romans 6:6-12
For we
know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be
done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin because anyone who
has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that
we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the
dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he
died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In
the same way, count
(“count” means
“consider, reckon” and is present imperative which means “do this continually.”)
yourselves
dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in
your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. (Romans 6:6-12)
Having
been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the
power of God, who raised him from the dead. (Colossians 2:12)
13. Removal of Satan’s Power
At salvation, we have freedom from Satan’s kingdom
of evil. Satan has sovereignty over the unsaved and authority over all those
who choose to live their lives in his cosmic (worldly) system of sin and evil.
Satan’s influence of mankind is through man’s Old Sin Nature. However, Satan’s
influence is "held in check" by God’s grace manifested in His laws of
Divine Establishment. Colossians 1:12-13; 1 John 5:19; Ephesians 6:11-12;
Ephesians 2:1-2; Galatians 5:1
Giving
thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the
saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of
darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, (Colossians
1:12-13)
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the
control of the evil one. (1 John 5:19)
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your
stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and
blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of
this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
realms. (Ephesians 6:11-12)
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and
sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of
the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who
are disobedient. (Ephesians 2:1-2)
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand
firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
(Galatians 5:1)
14. Freedom From the Penalty of
the Mosaic Law
At the moment of salvation, the believer is
delivered from the curse of the law. At that moment, God the Father graciously
imparts freedom from bondage to all clauses of the Mosaic Law. This means that
the Law, as a unit, can never curse any Christian for failing to obey it,
because our Lord Jesus Christ has perfectly obeyed it and that obedience is
transferred to us. The law of God is perfect in its content and purpose. It
instructed the Jew on the reality of disobedience of spiritual law.
The Law
does these things:
1) It revealed the answer to the sin problem.
2) It revealed the Laws of Divine Establishment for the entire human race.
This Christian freedom does not mean freedom
from these doctrines that are revealed in the law, but rather the actual
responsibility to it as a member of a Theocracy, which we are not! Free from the Law does not mean we are free
to sin or free of our responsibility revealed in the Law. It means we are free from receiving the curse
of the law.
The difference
can be seen in this statement from Chaffer: It is one thing to do a thing in
the law so you will be accepted or blessed; It is an entirely different thing
to do those same things because you are already accepted and blessed.
Personal
love toward the Triune God by the spiritually mature believer, plus our being
"in Christ," who fulfilled the law is our fulfillment. Romans 13:8;
Romans 8:2; Galatians 3:10-13; Jn. 1:17; Acts 15:24-29;; Rom. 6:14; Rm. 7:2-6;
2 Cor. 3:6-13; Gal. 5:18
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his
fellowman has fulfilled the law. (Romans
13:8)
Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of
life set me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)
All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for
it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything
written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by
the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not
based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live
by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse
for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a
tree." (Galatians 3:10-13)
Free
from law (Rm. 8:2)
Dead to law (Rm 7:4)
Delivered from the law (Rm. 7:6, 6:4)
15. Identification with Jesus
Christ
At the moment of salvation, the believer is
permanently identified with Christ’s work on the cross by God the Father. The Christian
is forever after identified with Christ in His death, burial, resurrection,
ascension, and present session at the Father’s right hand. This is synonymous
with "Past" and "Present" Positional Truth. Romans 6:3-12;
Galatians 2:20
Or don't you know that
all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We
were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just
as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may
live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we
will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that
our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away
with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin because anyone who has died has
been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also
live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he
cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he
died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same
way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore
do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
(Romans 6:3-12)
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live,
but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son
of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Gal. 2:20)
16. Indwelling of God the Father
The believer is indwelt by God the Father at the
moment of salvation. The reason why the Christian is indwelt by the Father at
that moment is to provide a guarantee of unseen, yet extremely powerful assets
and provisions for living the Christian life. In eternity past, the first
person of the Trinity authored all of these invisible assets and provisions. He
also granted all blessing in time and rewards for eternity "in
Christ." This indwelling is also for the glorification of His plan for the
Church Age. John 14:23; Ephesians 4:6
Jesus
replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will
love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (John 14:23)
One God and Father of all, who is over all and through
all and in all. (Ephesians 4:6)
17. Indwelling of Jesus Christ
The indwelling of Jesus Christ is the guarantee of
our membership in the Royal family of God that results in instant
transportation to heaven at death by our lord Jesus Christ Himself! Christ also
imparts encouragement to us as we grow spiritually through the Word of God.
John 14:20; Romans 8:10, 2 Corinthians 3:5; Colossians 1:27
On that
day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in
you. (John 14:20)
But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of
sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. (Romans 8:10)
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles
the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
(Colossians 1:27)
18. Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
The third person of the Holy Trinity
unconditionally and permanently indwells all Christians at the moment of
salvation. This makes their bodies temples for the indwelling of our Lord Jesus
Christ as the "Shekinah Glory" of God. Listen! God has "first
rights" to the use of your body - not the Old Sin Nature! 1 Corinthians
6:19-20; Matthew 3:11; John 14:17; Romans 5:5; Romans 8:9; Galatians 3:2
Do you
not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you
have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.
Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after
me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to
carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Matthew 3:11)
The Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because
it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and
will be in you. (John 14:17)
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured
out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans
5:5)
You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but
by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have
the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. (Romans 8:9)
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you
receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?
(Galatians 3:2)
19. Sealing of Your Salvation
At the moment of salvation, the sealing ministry of
the Holy Spirit occurs. This "sealing" is God the Father’s stamp of
ownership and the Holy Spirit’s signature of guarantee of eternal security,
protection, and preservation of our souls from certain angelic (demonic)
activity, such as demon possession. Ephesians 4:30; 2 Timothy 2:19; Ephesians
1:13
And do
not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)
Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this
inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone
who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." (2
Timothy 2:19)
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked
in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, (Ephesians 1:13)
20. Circumcision of the Soul
This is a "circumcision of the soul"
which renders null and void the issue of our past lives as unsaved persons. God
the Father places no value on the unsaved past of the new convert, so the
emphasis of his new life must not be on the successes or failures of his past.
He has been removed form the justification of Satan’s world-system of evil.
Moses
taught that a "circumcised soul" was a mind free of the hindrances to
capacity for life. Fear and worry emanating from arrogance hinder capacity for
life. To "circumcise" means to cut it off from the soul. We must not,
as Christians, try to base our spirituality on assets possessed before
salvation such as talent, ability, etc. Our past as unbelievers is cut away as
having any significance on God’s purpose for us right now. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24;
Jeremiah 4:4; Romans 2:29; Deuteronomy 10:16-17
Circumcise
yourselves to the LORD, circumcise your hearts, you men of Judah and people of
Jerusalem, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire because of the evil
you have done--burn with no one to quench it. (Jeremiah 4:4)
No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and
circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written
code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God. (Rm. 2:29)
Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be
stiff-necked any longer. For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of
lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts
no bribes. (Deuteronomy 10:16-17)
21. Unseen Assets
At the moment of salvation, we receive all of the
unseen assets of the Christian life. These assets are called “every spiritual
blessing in Christ.” For each of us to recognize and access these assets we
must grow spiritually by taking in the word of God and staying in fellowship
with God.
Spiritual
maturity enables us to utilize all these assets, provision, and blessing for
time and eternity.
Grace
and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms
with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and
blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons
through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of
his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
(Ephesians 1:2-6)
22. Judgment of Sins
All of our sins were judged under the spiritual
death of our Lord Jesus Christ. The application of this truth to our lives as
Christians is of the utmost importance because all of our personal sins were
judged at the cross. Whenever we confess all of our known sins to God the
Father, He forgives those known sins and he also forgives all of the unknown
sins.
This
"forgiveness and cleansing" is a reality in our lives because Christ
was judged for all sins in His spiritual death on the cross. also, our
confession of sins is the basis for the frustration of the Old Sin Nature
controlling our lives and our restoration to fellowship with God. 1 Pet 2:24;
Romans 4:25; 1 John 1:9
He
himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and
live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
He was delivered over to death for our sins and was
raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:25)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will
forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
23. Adoption
We are adopted into the Royal Family of God at the moment of salvation. In
the natural world adoption refers to bringing someone into the family who
is naturally outside. In reference to our salvation we have been
born into the family of God. Our
spiritual adoption is in reference to us instantly being recognized as adult
sons with full privileges. The years of
irresponsible childhood are skipped and we are instantly free from the tutors
of the law. We are received as adult
sons. Although we all begin the Christian life as "babes in Christ,"
we are all viewed by God as "full grown sons" in union with
Christ. This is our complete and
perfect relationship with God in Christ. Romans 8:15, Romans 8:23
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave
again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry,
"Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15)
Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits
of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the
redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:23)
24. Eternal Relationship to God
We are eternally related to God because of our
Lord’s presence at the Father’s right
hand. Knowledge and application of this great truth should produce a
corresponding experiential sanctification (i.e., walking in fellowship with the
Lord through the filling of the Holy Spirit). Ephesians 2:13; James 4:8;
Hebrews 10:25
But now
in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the
blood of Christ. (Eph. 2:13)
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your
hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8)
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the
habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see
the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)
25. We are on the Rock Jesus
Christ
We have an eternally secure relationship with God
from the point of salvation onward. 1 Cor. 3:11; 2 Cor. 1:21; 2 Cor. 3:11; Ephesians
2:20
For no
one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus
Christ. (1 Cor. 3:11)
Now it
is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, (2
Corinthians 1:21)
And if what was fading away came with glory, how much
greater is the glory of that which lasts! (2 Corinthians 3:11)
Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:20)
26. We are a Gift to Christ
We are given to Jesus Christ as a gift from God the
Father. As with all things that God does, it is permanent and can never be
given back. John 17:5; John 17:11-12; John 17:20; John 10:29
And now,
Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the
world began. (John 17:5)
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for
those who will believe in me through their message, (John 17:20)
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my
Father's hand. (John 10:29)
27. Royal Priesthood
We become partakers of a royal and holy priesthood.
As Christian priests (every one of us), we represent ourselves to God through
these things:
1) confession of sin,
2) the daily intake of the
Scriptures
3) daily prayer
4) praise
5) giving, etc. 1 Peter 2:5; 1
Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6
You
also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy
priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus
Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who
called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)
And has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his
God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. (Revelation
1:6)
28. We are a Chosen Generation (a Privileged Species)
We are a chosen generation and a peculiar (unique) people. The word
"generation" from the original Greek use in the New Testament is
GENEA. Although sometimes it refers to a literal generation (about 40 years),
here it refers to a new spiritual species, stock, or kind.
The word "chosen" means chosen for privilege and opportunity. All Christians have equal privilege of
the universal, royal and holy (set apart) priesthood for their spiritual growth
under the study of God’s Word. Equal privilege is further seen in the Christian
fulfilling his ambassadorship for Christ, as a result of spiritual growth under
his priesthood.
Also, we
all possess equal opportunity for daily spiritual advance because God provides
daily for all of our needs. He keeps us alive in the Devil’s world and gives us
the time necessary to grow up spiritually to become a mature believer. This
results in blessing from God’s "grace-giving" which honors our Lord
Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 5:17; 1 Peter 2:9; Titus 2:14
If
anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. (2 Cor. 5:17)
But you
are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to
God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness
into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)
Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness
and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is
good. (Titus 2:14)
29. Access to God
At the moment of salvation, we obtain access to
God. This eternal entree or access is ours because our Lord Jesus Christ, at
the Father’s right hand, is our great High Priest. He is also our:
ntercessor, our Advocate our Representative our
Surety that we will one day live with God forever!
This is our
Lord’s present session at the Father’s right hand. Ephesians 2:18; Romans 5:2;
Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 4:16; Hebrews 10:19-20
For
through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (Ephesians 2:18)
Through whom we have gained access by faith into this
grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
(Romans 5:2)
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone
through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we
profess. (Hebrews 4:14)
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,
so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
(Hebrews 4:16)
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter
the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for
us through the curtain, that is, his body, (Hebrews 10:19-20)
30. Under the “Much More” Care
of God
We are within the "much more" care of
God. We are objects of His love. Ephesians 2:4; Ephesians 5:2. We are objects
of His grace; 1) For salvation Ephesians 2:8-9, 2) For keeping Romans 5:2, 3)
For service Ephesians 4:7, and 4) For instruction Titus 2:12-13.
We are
objects of His power. Ephesians
1:9; Philippians 2:13.
We are objects of His faithfulness. Hebrews
13:5; Philippians 1:6.
We are objects of His peace. Colossians
3:15.
We are objects of His consolation. 2
Thessalonians 2:16.
We are objects of His intercession. Hebrews
7:25; Hebrews 9:24; Romans
8:34.
Since we
have been justified by his blood how much more shall we be saved from God’s
wrath. ( Rom. 5:9)
But
because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, (Ephesians 2:4)
And live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave
himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:2)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through
faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so
that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Through whom we have gained access by faith into this
grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
(Romans 5:2)
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ
apportioned it. (Ephesians 4:7)
It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions,
and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in
this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of
our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, (Titus 2:12-13
And he made known to us the mystery of his will according
to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, (Ephesians 1:9)
for it is God who works in you to will and to act
according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13)
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be
content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in
you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians
1:6)
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as
members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:15)
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who
loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, (2
Thessalonians 2:16)
Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to
God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Hebrews 7:25)
For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was
only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in
God's presence. (Hebrews 9:24)
Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more
than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also
interceding for us. (Romans 8:34)
31. We are His Inheritance
Not only does the Lord provide an inheritance for
every Christian in the eternal future, but every believer of the Church Age is
an inheritance provided by the Father for the Son. Ephesians 1:18
I pray
also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know
the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in
the saints, (Ephesians 1:18)
32. We Inherit Christ’s Eternal
Future
The Lord provides us an inheritance in the eternal
future. 1 Peter 1:4; Ephesians 4:14; Colossians 3:24; Hebrews 9:15
And into
an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, (1
Peter 1:4)
Since you know that you will receive an inheritance from
the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:24)
For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant,
that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now
that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the
first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15)
33. We have a Partnership with
God
We are partners with Christ in life. We see the
quality of life emphasized in Colossians 3:4.
As maturing
Christians, we have the capacity to enjoy life and we have an abundant life as
seen in 1 John 5:11-12.
When
Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
(Colossians 3:4)
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have
the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:11-12)
We are partners with Christ in position (Ephesians
2:6).
We are partners in service and production (1 Corinthians 1:9).
The Greek word KONONIA means a sharing in common, not only in social life with
other believers, but also fellowship with the Father and the Son.
We have a partnership
with the Trinity that indwells us. We have social life with other believers as
a result of true fellowship with God.
Christian fellowship is one side of the coin and
involves outreach, intake of Bible doctrine, spiritual growth, and missionary
action.
The other side of the coin is our partnership with the triune God. 1
Corinthians 3:9, 2 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 2 Corinthians 5:20; 2
Corinthians 6:4.
We
are partners with Christ:
1) In life
2) In position
3) In service
4) In suffering
5) In prayer
6) In marriage (bride of
Christ)
7) In expectation (1 Peter
4:12-13)
And
God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in
Christ Jesus, (Ephesians 2:6)
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son
Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. (1 Corinthians 1:9)
For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field,
God's building. (1 Corinthians 3:9)
You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of
our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not
on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (2 Corinthians 3:3)
He has made us competent as ministers of a new
covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the
Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:6)
We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were
making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled
to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every
way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; (2 Corinthians
6:4)
We are partners with Christ in suffering. This
suffering for blessing in time can either be undeserved or deserved and is
designed for blessing. Blessing in time becomes rewards in eternity. We will
suffer in Christ in time and reign with Him in eternity. 2 Timothy 2:12;
Philippians 1:29; 1 Peter 2:20; 1 Thessalonians 3:3; Romans 8:18; Colossians
1:24; 1 Peter 4:12-13
if we
endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;
(2 Timothy 2:12)
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not
only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, (Philippians 1:29)
But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for
doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it,
this is commendable before God. (1 Peter 2:20)
so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You
know quite well that we were destined for them. (1 Thessalonians 3:3)
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth
comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)
Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up
in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the
sake of his body, which is the church. (Colossians 1:24)
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial
you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But
rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be
overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12-13)
34. We Become Heavenly Citizens
Our seat of citizenship is in heaven. This
principle is found in Philippians 3:20-21 and is referred to as the Politeuma
privileges. We are made heavenly citizens at the moment of salvation. The Greek
word for citizenship is POLITEUMA and is used only once in the New Testament.
It refers to all the fantastic privileges and provisions the Father has made
for believers to live the Christian way of life. This is unique to the Church
Age believer. It refers to a place of citizenship and for the Church Age
believer his or her citizenship is in heaven. Ephesians 2:19
But our citizenship is
in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will
transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (Philippians
3:20-21)
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens,
but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household,
(Ephesians 2:19)
35. We Become Members of the
Royal Family of God
At the moment of salvation, we become members of
the Royal Family of God. Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This does not refer to him being the King
over the kings of the earth. Instead, we
are members of of royal family of God that consists of kings and lords. His
body, the Church, is the kings and lords that Jesus is the King of kings and
Lord of lords over. We are members of the Royal Family of God which is an
eternal dynasty. Ephesians 2:19; Ephesians 3:5; Galatians 6:10
Consequently,
you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people
and members of God's household, (Ephesians 2:19)
Which was not made known to men in other generations as
it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.
(Ephesians 3:5)
As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people,
especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal. 6:10)
36. We are Light in the Lord
This has to do with our position in Christ. In
union with Christ, we are in the light. Although temporary, as far as our relationship
with Christ in time, we can be in fellowship (walking in the light) or out of
fellowship (walking in darkness). However, at the moment of salvation, we are
eternally delivered from Satan’s cosmic system of darkness and we are eternally
"in the light." Light is used as an analogy to the essence of God. We
are in God, in union with Christ and we have a divine relationship. We have the nature of God since we are
children of God. It is from this nature
that we produce the fruit of the Spirit. Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:4
For you
were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of
light (Ephesians 5:8)
But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day
should surprise you like a thief. (1 Thessalonians 5:4)
Be
imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love,
just as Christ loved us. (Ephesians 5:1)
The
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22)
37. We are United to the Trinity
We are in God (1 Thessalonians 1:1). God is in you
(Ephesians 4:6). We are indwelt by God the Father. We are in Christ (Ephesians
4:20). Christ is in you (Colossians 1:27). We are indwelt by the Son. We are in
the Spirit (Romans 8:9). The Spirit is in you (1 Corinthians 2:12). We are
indwelt by the Holy Spirit. We are vitally united to the Trinity. Only the
Church age believers receive this fantastic blessing. 1 Corinthians 12:13; John
15:5; Ephesians 2:19; Ephesians 2:22; John 10:27-29; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Peter
2:5-9
Paul,
Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. (1 Thessalonians 1:1)
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through
all and in all. (Ephesians 4:6)
You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.
(Ephesians 4:20)
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles
the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
(Colossians 1:27)
We have not received the spirit of the world but the
Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks,
slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (1 Corinthians
2:12-13)
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man
remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do
nothing. (John 15:5)
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens,
but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household,
(Ephesians 2:19)
And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which
God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow
me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch
them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all;
no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. (John 10:27-29)
You also, like living stones, are being built into a
spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: "See, I
lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts
in him will never be put to shame." Now to you who believe, this stone is
precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders
rejected has become the capstone," and, "A stone that causes men to
stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they
disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for. But you are a
chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,
that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his
wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:5-9)
38. We are Glorified
From divine viewpoint, God sees us as we will be in
heaven. Positionally, we are in union with Christ. Positionally, we are
glorified. At the moment of salvation, God sees us glorified in heaven. This will be a reality experienced in our
lives when Christ returns. Romans 8:30;
1 John 3:2
We know
that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1
n.3:2)
And
those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those
he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8:30)
39. We are Complete in Him
In Christ, we share a strategic victory in the
Angelic Conflict. We are complete in Him who is the head of all angelic powers
and principalities. We share this strategic victory in union with Christ. The
person and work of Jesus Christ on the Cross broke Satan’s back and the back of
the Old Sin Nature through His spiritual death on the cross. Positionally, we
are higher than Satan himself and the angels. Colossians 2:10
And you
have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and
authority. (Colossians 2:10)
40. We Receive Angelic
Protection and Service
According to Hebrews 1:14, we all receive angelic
protection and assistance at the point of our salvation. Angels where created to serve God. Upon our being placed in Christ we become the
objects that receive their service as we fulfill God’s plan and purpose for our
lives. We were created lower than angels
but in Christ are over angels.
Are not
all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
(Hebrews 1:14)
You made him a little lower than the angels;
you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.”
(Hb.2:7)
Do you
not know that we will judge angels? (1
Corinthians 6:3)
Do you know
for certain that these "Forty Things" are yours? Have you received
Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? If you have, they comprise your eternal
relationship with God! You receive these "Forty Things" at the moment
of salvation. If you have not received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior,
then the issue for you is to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you
will be saved!" Acts 16:31
Membership
in the family of God is an honorable position with unimaginable benefits. Yet, it is not an exclusive club. Any unbeliever and sinner can call on the
name of the Lord and accept Jesus Christ’s payment on the cross for their own
sins. By placing faith in Jesus Christ
these 40 things will be transferred to any individual who believes.
They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you
will be saved - you and your household." (Acts 16:31)