The Work of Saving Grace

How Does Saving Grace Change ME?

---

 

The Work of Saving Grace

 

 

1. Saving Grace Creates a New Heart in Me!

REGENERATION

Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who quickeneth the dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God’s free and special grace along.  (II Cor. 5:17, John 3: 1-18, Gen. 3:15, Exodus 3: 14-17, Matthew 1:21)

 

Ephes. 2:1, 4 & 5

Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. 4But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, 5that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's special favor that you have been saved!)

 

Ezekiel 36:26-27

And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart. 27And I will put my Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command.

 

 

2. Saving Grace Gives Me a New Direction. (I turn from sin and self toward God.)

REPENTANCE

Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin, humbleth himself for it with Godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrence, with a purpose and endeavor to walk with God so as to please Him in all things. (Luke 13:3, 5, Acts 2:21, 4:12, 5:11, 16:30-31)

 

1 Samuel 7:3

Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you return to the Lord with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the Lord and serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines."

 

 

3. Saving Grace Grants Me a Right Standing with God!

JUSTIFICATION

Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners, who believe in Christ, from all sin, through the satisfaction that Christ has made; not for anything wrought in them or done by them; but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith.  (Romans 5: 8-10, 10: 1-13)

 

Romans 5:8-10

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's judgment. 10For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life.

 

4. Saving Grace is Unshakable Trust in God!

FAITH

Saving faith is the belief, on God’s authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His word concerning Christ, accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification, sanctification and eternal life.  It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a Life of holiness.  (Eph. 2: 8-10, Hebrews 11,John 3: 3-21, 36, 5:4, 10:9, 28-29)

 

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

 

Job 13:15 (KJV)  

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. 

5. Saving Faith Generates a Desire for a New Lifestyle in Me!

SANCTIFICATION

Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified, by God’s Word and Spirit dwelling in them.  This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength which all Saints seek to obtain, pressing after a Heavenly Life in cordial obedience to all Christ’s commands.  (Romans 6: 1-23, 8: 1-18, 29-39, 10: 9-10-13, I Cor. 6: 19-20, II Cor. 5: 17-20)

 

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? ... And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.                      1 Cor. 6:9, 11

 

to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:                                         1 Cor. 1:2

 

"You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.

Leviticus 19:2

 

What are the Signs that Saving Grace is Working in Me?

 

1. Obedience to Christ!

1 John 3:9

No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

 

2. Overcoming the Pressures and Temptations You Encounter!

1 John 5:3-4

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

 

3. You Are Growing Fruit!

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.