State Doctrine 7
“We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, are necessary to salvation.”
State Doctrine 8
“We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.”
Vocab: Salvation
a Trinitarian act that involves human participation
Vocab: Repentance
sincere determination to renounce sin and obey God
Vocab: Shub (Heb)
to turn to, to return
Vocab: Metanoian (Greek)
to repent (meta – with, noian – mind, intention, will)
Vocab: Faith
trusting acceptance of God’s grace in Christ and confidence in a pardoning God
Vocab: Regeneration
“new birth”, “new life”
Vocab: Grace
unmerited, undeserved
Vocab: Justification
act of God which changes the relationship between ourselves and him. (declared free)
Vocab: Imputed Justification
when God considers us righteous; instantaneous, we are seen through the eyes of Jesus
Vocab: Imparted Justification
God makes us righteous; transformational, possible because of the Holy Spirit
Salvation is… (1,2,3)
- An initial experience: conversion
- A continuing experience: daily growth
- A fundamental experience: sanctification
2 conditions of salvation
- Repentance towards God
2. Faith in Jesus Christ
Stages of repentance
- Conviction of sin
- Hatred of sin
- Sorrow for sin
- Renunciation of sin
- Confession of sin
- Desire to be forgiven
- Submission to God
- Desire to make restitution
Describe saving faith
- Personal faith based solely in God for salvation and responds to the message of the Gospel.
- It is accompanied by repentance (sees the sin, seeks God, and trusts God to forgive)
- Result in commitment: intentional and determined
What is the double expression of faith
- Passive: to rest in the promises of God (to be quiet and know that God is in control and be confident)
- Active: to live to do the will of God (in obedience, fruitfulness, and faithfulness)
Describe the cycle of regeneration:
Generation -> Relationship -> Degeneration - > Brokenness -> Regeneration -> Restoration -> Generation
Other terms for regeneration:
- New creation
- New birth – Born Again
- Born of the Spirit
- Born of God
- Pass from death to life
- Pass from darkness to light
- Raised up – alive in Christ
- Receive “enteral life”
- Changed into a temple where the Holy Spirit dwells
- Christlikeness
The process of regeneration:
- The Holy Spirit works in the power of the atonement and resurrection of Christ
- The Holy Spirit dwells in the heart of the believer
Regeneration is to fulfill the purpose of God:
- Restored relationship: creator-creation; father-child
- ‘image of God’ renewed – His image in us
- Perfect cleansing – sanctification
Prevenient Grace:
- A stimulus to spiritual awakening; the work of the Holy Spirit before conversion
- Convicts sin and guilt, convicts of God’s holiness and His original intention for us (holiness and relationship), and convicts of judgment (the penalty of sin)
How grace is a gift from God:
- Not by our own actions, works or deeds,
- Not by our own strength, goodness, or merit
- Not by our own intentions or design
- Simply by acceptance in faith
Faith is a matter of the:
- Heart – the heart believes and receives justification
- Mouth – confesses and seals salvation
- Will
- Relationship – trust brings a blessing and no shame
