Salvation includes:

Deliverance from the wrath of God. The opening of the individual's eyes. The turning of the believer from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. The forgiveness of the believer's sins. An inheritance among those who are sanctified [set apart to God as holy] by faith that is in the Lord Jesus.

Salvation is the change from the bondage of Satan to the moral image of Christ and to untroubled union with the Father through Christ.

This is what salvation is. It is a change of what we are. It is a new creation. The first man, Adam, must be crucified. The new Man is Christ, who Himself is the Kingdom of God.

For in Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. (Galatians 6:15)

The mainspring of the Christian salvation is death and resurrection. If we would experience the new covenant we must enter the death of the Lord and enter the resurrection of the Lord. The degree of the Divine inheritance assigned to a son of God depends directly on his or her willingness to enter the death and resurrection of Christ. Salvation includes:

Forgiveness. Deliverance and healing. Change into the image of the Lord. Union with the Father through Christ. A redeemed body.

Divine Grace

The grace of God is the Presence and power of Christ that produces the salvation we have mentioned. Grace is the Divine enablement that creates salvation. Image and union, and participation in the roles and functions of the Kingdom of God, which we shall mention in a moment, are made possible by the following elements of grace:

The body and blood of the Lord Jesus. The body and blood of the Lord Jesus provide:

Protection from Divine judgment. The forgiveness of sin. Deliverance from sin. Nourishment for the new man.

The born-again experience. When we truly receive Christ as our Lord and Savior He is born in us. After that He must continue to be formed until He indeed is our Life.

The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us:

Eternal Life. Power and wisdom to overcome sin. Power and wisdom to bear witness.

The written and personal Word of God. These include:

The Old and New Testaments. The wisdom and knowledge of the Lord.

The gifts of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives ministries and gifts to every member of the Body of Christ.

The ordering of tribulation and offenses. We usually do not think of offenses and tribulation as being part of the grace of God under the new covenant. However, the various chastenings that come upon us are a very important tool that the Lord uses to purge us from sin and to bring forth in us the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; (I Peter 4:1)

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. (I Timothy 4:16)

Every element of grace is necessary if we are to save ourselves and those who hear us.

To be continued.