Didaskalos Outlines

Benefits Of Salvation (Dr Lewis Sperry Chafer)
Divine Decrees, Doctrine Of
Election, Doctrine Of
Election, Part Two
Eternal Security
Eternal Security (Part Two)
Expiation, Doctrine Of
Gospel, Doctrine Of The
Grace, Logistical
Grace, Doctrine Of
Logistical Grace (Part Two)
Human Spirit, Doctrine Of The
Imputation, Doctrine Of
Justification (Declaration Of Righteousness)
Position In Christ
Position In Christ (Part Two)
Propitiation
Reconciliation Of Christ
Redemption
Repentance
Unlimited Atonement, Doctrine Of

Position In Christ

Position In Christ (Part Two)

Repentance, Doctrine Of

Eternal Security Of The Believer

From the testimony of the Scriptures, a Christian should know that he is saved. There is abundant Biblical witness on this point, and it can hardly be deemed commendable to be in doubt on this vital question; yet to many it may seem to be presumptuous in the extreme for one to be assured of his own salvation. Where there is a lack of assurance there is usually an impression that so long as the daily life is quite imperfect (and how immodest it would be to claim that it is otherwise) it is unreasonable to do any more than hope that through some special exercise of mercy on God's part it will not be as bad in the end as it might otherwise be. Unwittingly such attitudes of mind disclose the appalling fact that persons who hold such views have never turned from dependence on their own works and merit to a dependence on the all sufficient work and merit of Christ. If salvation depends in any degree on personal goodness, there could not be even a saved person in the world, and therefore no ground in it for assurance. Salvation is not offered to those who have purposed to be good, or religious, nor is it guaranteed to those who hope God will Himself be good and gracious in the end. It is offered to all meritless, helpless sinners who are willing to believe that God has already been good in that He has provided, in Christ, not only what they need now, but all they need in time and for eternity. This, too, is believed on no other evidence than that God has said it in His Word. In looking away from self and one's failure to Christ and His saving grace, one will find adequate grounds for a God-honoring certainty as to position and destiny in Christ Jesus. No life would ever be good enough to merit anything but condemnation from a holy God if judged on the grounds of moral equity. On the other hand, no sinner has fallen so low, or is so weak in himself, that he cannot find absolute rest and assurance of his salvation in looking away to Christ and the finished provisions of His grace. The attitude one may hold on the question of assurance may thus become somewhat of a test as to whether he has really believed on Christ, although it should not be assumed that such is invariably the case.

There are certain general facts about Christian assurance which may well be stated. The evidence underlying a positive conviction, or assurance as to personal salvation, is primarily the fact of the faithfulness of God as revealed in the Word. When God has made an unconditional declaration of His faithfulness, it is hardly becoming in one of His children to entertain any uncertainty in those things which He has promised. He has promised to save and keep all who put their trust in Him. Having put one's trust in Him for salvation, one must either believe Him to do what He has said, or in the measure in which one fails to do so suppose Him to be untrue.

At this point a doubt is sometimes expressed as to whether one has really believed in the saving way. As a matter of f act, such a doubt is still one in regard to himself rather than of God. This, of course, is another question altogether; but one so important that nothing else can be undertaken or determined until it is settled. The only cure for this uncertainty is to end it with certainty. Let such an one f ace his own utter sinfulness and meritlessness with the revelations of the cross and discover, as he must, no hope in himself, and then and there, once for all, appropriate the provisions of divine grace for every need of a sin-cursed soul. If need be, note the very day and hour of such a decision and then believe in the decision itself enough to thank God for His saving grace and faithfulness, and in every thought, act and word thereafter treat the decision as final and real. It is the crying need of a multitude of religious people that they bring themselves to some final dealing with the Son of God with regard to their sins and His salvation. They should be positive enough in this matter to face the eternal question before Him as to whether they choose to stand in His grace alone, or in something within themselves, even in the slightest degree. No very deep conviction of assurance can grow in any heart where the mind is still wondering whether it has really believed in a saving way, and where no impressions of certainty are allowed to take root. Confidence in the faithfulness of God will not thrive when one is constantly singing hymns which have been written to voice the position of the unsaved, such as the hymn in which one is assuming to be "coming to the cross." Let that issue be sealed and past, so far as salvation is concerned, and rather let one be occupied with those blessings which are vouchsafed to those who have believed. It would be much more reasonable to sing "In the cross of Christ I glory."

Assurance is born of confidence in Christ. He has said: "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." Having come, there is but one question remaining: "Has He cast me out?" This, it will be noted, is a serious question involving the very trust-worthiness of Christ. To doubt salvation at this point is not modest or commendable: it is the sin of distrusting God, or making Him untrue. Without faith it is impossible to please God. On the other hand, it is quite possible for one in facing this question to seal his confidence in God by a faithful "Amen" to every word God has spoken as to His plan and purpose in salvation. Who can look at the cross of Christ and not be convinced that God's love has been manifested toward us and that He Who paid such a price to redeem us will not instantly receive any soul that trusts in Him?

The word of Scripture becomes the title deed, or official writings, as to the certainty of the transaction. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life." Such wonderful knowledge, therefore, is to be gained through the things written. The written things are His exceeding great and precious promises; but these promises can be of no avail to the heart that will not believe Him, or take Him at His word. Normal Christian experience and the joy and peace that results from believing can never even begin in the heart until God has been trusted to the extent that the record of His saving grace has been believed and received.

There is a normal Christian experience. There are new and blessed emotions and desires. Old things do pass away, and behold all things do become new; but all such experiences are but secondary evidence, as to the fact of salvation, in that they grow out of that positive repose of faith which is the primary evidence. There is very much Scripture about the results that are sure to appear in a transformed life. True salvation must result in just such realities. It is inconceivable that Christ should come to live in a human heart and its experiences remain unchanged. There must be, under such conditions, a new and vital relationship to God the Father, to fellow Christians and to Christ Himself, a, new attitude toward prayer, toward the Word, toward sin and toward the unsaved. This is the viewpoint of the Apostle James when he contends so earnestly for works that" will justify. It must be remembered, however, that James is here concerned with the appearance our professions make to the outside world., rather than of our acceptance before God. Men can judge only by the outward appearance, and works alone can justify the Christian profession in their sight. God looks on the heart and before Him no works can avail. Before God man must be justified by faith alone. This, James clearly asserts to be true as illustrated in the case of Abraham (James 2:23).

The First Epistle of John is full of references to the outward evidence of the inward fact of the newly imparted divine life. This little book, standing near the end of the Bible, may be taken, in one sense, as an examination of the believer. "Hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments" (there is no reference here to the commandments of Moses) ; "In this the children of God are manifested, and the children of the devil: whoso doeth not righteousness is not of God (cf. John 6:28,29), neither he, that loveth not his brother"; "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren"; "Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother"; "And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us"; "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love"; "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God" (cf. 1 Cor. 12:3).

Such a precious experience as is described by these passages may become clouded by sin or lost in the depression of some physical weakness, and were we depending upon the experience as primary evidence that we are saved, all grounds of assurance would be swept away. The primary evidence is clearly stated in the same Epistle as the final word of testing here given and the final grounds of confidence: "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath the life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life. These things (about having the life) have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that we may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:9-13). The possession of the indwelling Son of God is the abiding fact of the newly created life in Him, and should never be confused with some imperfect and changeable experience in the daily life. He is received by faith. His presence most naturally leads to blessed new realities in experience. Certainly experience never leads to the realities of the presence of the indwelling Son of God.

The Bible use of the word "assurance" will be found in several passages: "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith" (Heb. 10:22). This is the confidence that grows out of a repose of faith in the faithfulness of God that He will fulfill every word He has spoken. "And unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2). This is the breadth of confidence that grows as one increasingly enters into the vastness of God's revelation of His grace in Christ Jesus. Some are so limited in spiritual vision when they believe that their first step in faith is centered on one promise alone. To such there will be a growing understanding and a corresponding increase of confidence and assurance as other promises and facts of grace are apprehended. "And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence of the full assurance of hope unto the end" (Heb. 6:11). Here is a reference to that assurance which is the full conviction that every promise and revelation concerning the future will be surely fulfilled. This, like all assurance, is simply the result of believing God.

(Dr. Lewis S. Chafer,  Salvation, 1917, Sunday School Times Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1919 edition, Chapter VIII, pgs. 78-85.)

Election, Doctrine Of

Expiation, Doctrine Of

Human Spirit, Doctrine Of The

Imputation, Doctrine Of

Justification (Declaration Of Righteousness)

Grace, Logistical

Logistical Grace (Part II)

Propitiation (Christ's Payment For Us)

Reconciliation Of Christ

Redemption, Doctrine Of

Benefits Of Salvation (Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer)

In considering the Bible doctrine of salvation it is important to distinguish between those things which have already been done for all, and those things which are done for the individual at the instant he believes. The sum total of that which has been done for both classes constitutes "the riches of grace in Christ Jesus." But the things divinely accomplished at the instant of believing alone form that aspect of salvation which is already accomplished in and for the one who believes. This is salvation in its past tense aspect, i. e., salvation from the guilt, penalty and condemnation of sin. This portion of the doctrine of salvation, like the other tense aspects, includes only what God is said to do for man, and nothing whatsoever that man is said to do for God, or for himself. There is an important distinction to be made, as well, between the drawing, convincing work of the Spirit for the unsaved when He convinces of sin, righteousness and judgment, and "the things that accompany salvation." The former is the work of God in bringing the unsaved who are blinded by Satan (2 Cor. 4:3, 4) to an intelligent decision for Christ; the latter is the outworking of that salvation after they believe. So, also, there is a difference to be noted between the work of God in the past tense aspect of salvation and the growth and development of the one who is thus saved. He is to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." He is to be "changed from glory to glory." These, too, are divine undertakings for the individual, and are in no way a part of that which is wrought of God the moment one believes.

Most of the great doctrinal epistles of the New Testament may be divided into a general two-fold division: namely, first, that which represents the work of God already accomplished for the believer, and, second, that which represents the life and work of the believer for God. The first eight chapters of Romans contain the whole doctrine of salvation in its past and present tense aspects: the last section, beginning with chapter twelve (chapters nine to eleven being parenthetical in the present purpose of God for Israel) is an appeal to the saved one to live as it becomes one thus saved. This section opens with the words, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Such a manner of life is naturally to be expected from the one who has been divinely changed. It is a "reasonable service." So the entire closing section of Romans is an exhortation to that manner of life befitting one who is saved.

The first three chapters of Ephesians present the work of God for the individual in bringing him to his exalted heavenly position in Christ Jesus. Not one exhortation will be found in this section. The helpless sinner could do nothing to further such an undertaking. The last section, beginning with chapter 4, is altogether an appeal for a manner of life befitting one raised to such an exalted heavenly position. The first verse, as in the opening words of the hortatory section of Romans, is an epitome of all that follows: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called."

The first two chapters of Colossians reveal the glory of the Son of God and the believer's present position as identified with Him in resurrection life. This is followed by the two closing chapters, which are an appeal that may again be briefly condensed into the first two verses of the section: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above."

It is important to note the divine order in presenting these most vital issues. The positions to which the believer is instantly lifted by the power and grace of God are always mentioned first and without reference to any human merit or promises. Following this is the injunction for a consistent life in view of the divine blessing.

It is obvious that no attempt to imitate this manner of life could result in such exalted positions; but the positions, when wrought of God, create an entirely new demand in life and conduct (in the Word of God these demands are never laid upon unregenerate men). Such is always the order in grace. First, the unmerited divine blessing; then the life lived in the fullness of power which that blessing provides. Under the law varying blessings were given at the end according to the merit: under grace full measure of transformation is bestowed at the beginning and there follows an appeal for a consistent daily life. It is the divine purpose that a Christian's conduct should be inspired by the fact that he is already saved and blessed with all the riches of grace in Christ Jesus, rather than by the hope that an attempted imitation of the Christian standard of conduct will result in salvation.

In turning to the Scriptures to discover what it has pleased God to reveal of His saving work in the individual at the instant he believes, it will be found that there are at least thirty-three distinct positions into which such an one is instantly brought by the sufficient operation of the infinite God. All of these transformations are superhuman, and, taken together, form that part of salvation which is already the portion of every one who has believed. Of these thirty-three positions at least five important things may be said:

First, They are not experienced. They are facts of the newly created life out of which most precious experiences may grow. For example, justification is never experienced; yet it is a new eternal fact of divine life and relationship to God. A true Christian is more than a person who feels or acts on a certain high plane: he is one who, because of a whole inward transformation, normally feels and acts in all the limitless heavenly association with his Lord.

Second, The Christian positions are not progressive. They do not grow, or develop, from a small beginning. They are as perfect and complete the instant they are possessed as they ever will be in the ages to come. To illustrate, sonship does not grow into fuller sonship, even though a son may be growing. An old man is no more the son of his earthly father at the day of his death than he was at the day of his birth.

Third These positions are in no way related to human merit. It was while we were, yet sinners that Christ died for the ungodly. There is a legitimate distinction to be made between good sons and bad sons; but both equally possess sonship if they are sons at all. God is said to chasten His own because they are sons, but certainly not that they may become sons. Human merit must be excluded. It cannot be related to these divine transformations of grace; nor could they abide eternally the same if depending by the slightest degree on the finite resources. They are made to stand on the unchanging Person and merit of the eternal Son of God. There are other and sufficient motives for Christian conduct than the effort to create such eternal facts of the divine life. The Christian is "accepted (now and forever) in the beloved."

Fourth, Every position is eternal by its very nature. The imparted life of God is as eternal in its character as its Fountain Head. Hence the Word of His grace: "I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish." The consciousness and personal realization of such relationship to God may vary with the daily walk of the believer; but the abiding facts of the new being are never subject to change in time or eternity.

Fifth, These positions are known only through a divine revelation. They defy human imagination, and since they cannot be experienced their reality can be entered into only by believing the Word of God. These eternal riches of grace are for the lowest sinner who will only believe.

That God may in some measure be glorified, some. if not all, of these position are here given. "That half has never been told." The reader is humbly invited to remember that these things are now true of each one who believes, and if there should be the slightest doubt as to whether he has believed that question can be forever settled even before the following pages are read:
 
 

I. In the Eternal Plan of God:

  1. Foreknown, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son" (Rom. 8:29. See also 1 Pet. 1:2).
  2. Elect, "Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God" (1 Thes. 1:4. See also 1 Pet.1:2; Rom. 8:33; Col. 3:12; Tit. 1:1).
  3. Predestinated, "Being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the council of his own will" (Eph.1:11; Rom. 8.29, 30; Eph. 1:5).
  4. Chosen, "For many are called, but few are chosen" (Mt. 22:14; 1 Pet. 2:4).
  5. Called, "Faithful is he that calleth you" (1 Thes. 5:24, etc.).

II. Reconciled:

  1. Reconciled by God, "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 5:18, 19; Col. 1:20).
  2. Reconciled to God, "Much more being reconciled to God" (Rom. 5:10; 2 Cor. 5:20).

III. Redeemed:

  1. Redeemed by God, "In whom we have redemption through his blood" (Col. 1:14; 1 Pet. 1:18; Rom. 3:24, etc.).
  2. Out of all condemnation, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1; John 5:24; 1 Cor.11:32; John 3:18).

IV. Related to God Through a Propitiation:

  1. "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:2; Rom. 3:25, 26).

V. All Sins Covered By Atoning Blood:

  1. "Who his own self bare our sins in his body on the tree" (1 Pet. 2:24; Rom. 4:25, etc.).

VI. Vitally Conjoined to Christ for Judgment of the "Old Man" Unto a New Walk:

  1. "Crucified with Christ," "Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him" (Rom. 6:6).
  2. "Dead with Christ," "Now if we be dead with Christ" (Rom. 6:8) ; "We being dead to sin" (1 Pet. 2:24).
  3. "Buried with him," "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death" (Rom.6:4; Col. 2:12).
  4. Raised with Christ to walk by a new life, principle, "That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4; Col. 3:1).

VII. Free from the Law:

  1. "Dead," "Wherefore, my brethren, ye, also are dead to the law by the body of Christ" (Rom. 7:4).
  2. "Delivered," "Now we are delivered from the law" (Rom. 7:6; Gal. 3:25; Rom. 6:14; 2 Cor. 3:11).

VII. Children of God:

  1. "Born again," "Ye must be born again"(John 3:7; 1:12; 1 Pet. 1:23).
  2. "Quickened," or made alive, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13).
  3. "Sons of God," "Beloved, now are we the sons of God" (1. John 3:3; 2 Cor. 6:18; Gal. 3:26).
  4. "A new creation," "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature" (creation) (2 Cor.5:17; Gal. 6:15; Eph. 2:10).
  5. "Regeneration," "But according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Tit. 3:5; John 13:10; 1 Cor. 6:11).

IX. Adopted (placed as adult sons):

  1. "Ye have received the Spirit of adoption" (Rom. 8:15, etc. So, also, a future adoption, see Rom. 8:23, etc.).

X. Acceptable to God by Jesus Christ:

  1. "Made the righteousness of God in him," "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe" (Rom. 3:22; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9).
  2. Sanctified positionally,, "Christ Jesus, who is made unto us ... sanctification" (1 Cor.1 :30; 6:11). This is in no way to be confused with experimental sanctification as mentioned in John 17:17, or the final perfection of the believer (Eph. 5:27; 1 John 3:3).
  3. "Perfected for ever," "For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified" (Heb. 10:14:).
  4. "Made accepted in the Beloved" (Eph.1:6; 1 Pet. 2:5).
  5. "Made Meet," "Giving thanks to the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light" (Col. 1:12).

XI. Justified:

  1. "Therefore being justified by faith" (Rom.5:1; 3:24; 8:30; 1 Cor. 6:11; Tit. 3:7).

XII. Forgiven All Trespass:

  1. "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins" (Col. 1:14; 2:13; 3:13; Eph. 1:7; 4:32. A distinction is necessary here between the complete and abiding judicial forgiveness and the oft repeated forgiveness within the family of God. See 1 John 1:9).

XIII. Made Nigh:

  1. "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Eph. 2:13. With this there is a corresponding experience; see James 4:8; Heb. 10:22).

XIV. Delivered from the Powers of Darkness:

  1. "Who hath delivered us from the powers of darkness" (Col. 1:13; 2:13-15).

XV. Translated into the Kingdom:

  1. "And hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Col. 1:13).

XVI. On the Rock Christ Jesus:

  1. "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor.3:11; Eph. 2:20; 2 Cor. 1:21).

XVII. A Gift from God to Christ:

  1. "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me" (John 17:6; 11,12, 20; John 10:29).

XVIII. Circumcised in Christ:

  1. "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ" (Col. 2:11; Phil. 3:3; Rom. 2:29).

XIX.Partakers of the Holy and Royal Priesthood:

  1. "Holy priesthood," "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood" (1 Pet. 2:5).
  2. "Royal priesthood," "But ye are ... a royal priesthood" (1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6).

XX. A Chosen Generation and a Peculiar People:

  1. "But ye are a chosen generation, ...a peculiar people" (1 Pet. 2:9; Tit. 2:14).

XXI. Having Access to God:

  1. "For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Eph.2:18; Rom. 5:2; Heb. 4:14-16; 10:19,20).

XXII. Within the "Much More" Care of God (Rom. 5:9, 10):

  1. Objects of His love, "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us" (Eph. 2:4; 5:2, etc.)
  2. Objects of His grace,
    1. For salvation, "For by grace are ye saved" (Eph. 2:8).
    2. For keeping, "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand" (Rom. 5:2).
    3. For service, "But to every one of us is this grace given" (Eph. 2:7).
    4. For instruction, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present age" (Tit. 2:12, 13).
  3. Objects of His power, "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward" (Eph. 1:19; Phil. 2:13).
  4. Objects of His faithfulness, "For be hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb.13:5; Phil. 1:6).
  5. Objects of His peace, "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which ye are called in one body" (Col. 3:15).
  6. Objects of His consolation, "Our Father which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation" (2 Thes. 2:16).
  7. Objects of His intercession, "Seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb.7:25; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24).

XXIII. His Inheritance:

  1. "That ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints" (Eph. 1:18).

XXIV. Our Inheritance:

  1. "An inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (1 Pet. 1:4; Eph. 1:14; Col. 3:24; Heb. 9:15).

XXV. A Heavenly Association (Eph. 2:6):

  1. Partners with Christ in life, "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear" (Col. 3:4; 1 John 5:11, 12, etc.)
  2. Partners with Christ in position, "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6).
  3. Partners with Christ in service, "God is faithful, by, whom ye were called into fellowship (partnership) with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor. 1:9); "Workers together with God" (I Cor. 3:9); "Workers together with him" (2 Cor. 6:1); "Ambassadors" (2 Cor. 5:20); "Ministers of God" (2 Cor. 6:4); "Ministers of the New Testament" (2 Cor. 3:6); "Epistles" (2 Cor. 3:3).
  4. Partners with Christ in suffering, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him" (2 Tim. 2:12; Phil. 1:29; 1 Pet. 2:20; 4:12, 13; 1 Thes.3:3; Rom. 8:18; Col. 1:24).
  5. Partners with Christ in betrothal, "That I may present you a chaste virgin to Christ" (2Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:25-27).

XXVI. Heavenly Citizens:

  1. "For our citizenship is in heaven" (Phil.3:20, R.V.; Eph. 2:19; Heb. 12:22; Luke 10:20).

XXVII. Of the, Family and Household of God:

  1. "Fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God" (Eph. 2:19; 3:15; Gal. 6:10).

XXVIII. Light in the Lord:

  1. "Now are ye light in the Lord" (Eph.5:8; 1 Thes. 5:4).

XXIX. Vitally United to the Father, Son, and Spirit:

  1. "In God" (1 Thes. 1:1).
  2. "In Christ" (John 14:20).
    1. A member in His body (1 Cor. 12:13).
    2. A branch in the Vine (John 15:5).
    3. A stone in the building (Eph. 2:19-22).
    4. A sheep in His flock (John 10:27-29).
    5. A part of His bride (Eph. 5:25-27).
    6. A priest of the kingdom of priests (1 Pet. 2:5, 9).
    7. A saint of the "new generation" (1 Pet. 2:9).
  3. "In the Spirit" (Rom. 8:9).

XXX. Blessed with the "First Fruits" and the "Earnest" of the Spirit:

  1. "Born of the Spirit" (John 3:6, etc.).
  2. "Baptized with the Spirit," "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body" (1 Cor.12:13; 10:17).
  3. Indwelt by the Spirit. "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own" (1 Cor. 6:19; 2:12; ,John 7:39; Rom. 5:5; 8:9; 2 Cor. 1:21; Gal.4:6; 1 John 3:24).
  4. "Sealed by the Spirit," "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30; 2 Cor. 1:22).

XXXI. Glorified:

  1. "And whom he justified, them he also glorified" (Rom. 8:30).

XXXII. Complete in Him:

  1. "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power" (Col. 2:10).

XXXIII. Possessing Every Spiritual Blessing:

  1. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly in Christ" (Eph. 1:3).
Such is the work which is now fully accomplished in and for the lowliest sinner who has believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. It is all superhuman and God alone could do it: nay, if man could even have any part in that work it would at that point of contact be imperfect, and therefore be blasted and ruined forever. These marvels of grace constitute that "good work" which He has but begun in those who trust Him. To this much more is yet to be added according to Phil. 1:6. "He that hath begun a good work in you, will perform it, until the day of Jesus Christ." The "riches of grace" are the beginning; the final presentation in glory in the likeness of Christ will be the completion. Such a final perfection and such an eternal being is the greatest divine undertaking for the one who has been lost in sin. Nothing less than this would satisfy the infinite love of God. That He might thus be free to satisfy His boundless love for us He met all the issues of sin for a lost and ruined world, and so perfectly has He wrought that man need now but believe and thus receive the bounty of His grace. It is "Grace reigning through righteousness." "For God has concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."

(Dr. Lewis S. Chafer, Salvation, 1917, Sunday School Times Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1919 edition, Chapter VI, pgs. 54-68)



 
 

Unlimited Atonement, Doctrine Of

Doctrine Of Divine Decrees

Election, Doctrine Of (Part Two)

Eternal Security, Doctrine Of (Part Two)

Gospel, Doctrine Of The

Grace, Doctrine Of