By Timothy S. Morton

Table of Contents

Regeneration
Adoption
Justification
Imputation
Sanctification
Reconciliation
Propitiation
Redemption

INTRODUCTION

The following is a set of eight outlines intended to help a born again Christian better understand his salvation. Many Christians neglect to study the doctrines that define New Testament salvation and miss the rich blessings that understanding them brings. Salvation has many different aspects; no single term or principle can adequately define it. To show believers the extent of what they have in Christ, the Holy Spirit put no less than eight separate doctrines in the Bible to explain New Testament salvation. Each one describes it from a slightly different perspective. A good understanding of these doctrines is essential for a Christian to become mature in the faith and truly appreciate what God has done for him. Every Christian should be fully acquainted with the terms justification, sanctification, regeneration, etc., yet many have only a shallow knowledge of these doctrines if any knowledge of them at all. However, if the believer will study the scriptures as the Lord commands him to (2Ti 2:15), the Holy Spirit will reveal these truths to him (Joh 14:26). He will then have a greater confidence in the permanence of his salvation and also be better equipped to serve his Savior.
Furthermore, the primary reason God has given man the Bible was so he could learndoctrine (2Ti 3:16). God wants the sinner to learn that without Christ he is lost and headed for Hell, and He wants the Christian to learn what happened to him when he received Christ. Apart from the scriptures no one could know either. In several places in the Bible the Holy Spirit pleads with believers to not be ignorant of doctrine (Rom 11:25; 1Co 12:1; etc.), and the doctrines that are the most profitable for any believer to learn are these eight on salvation. Once they are mastered, the saint will be better prepared to understand some others that are more difficult.
The reader is to study all the references given below in his Bible. He is NOT to use these outlines by themselves as a substitute for this study. They are intended only to aid him in finding out what the Bible says about the subject of salvation. The Bible alone (KJV) should be the Christian’s final authority for this matter (and every other matter), so a believer should never let any other reading material, Christian or otherwise, stand between him and his personal study of it. Personal study is the only way he can know for certain what the Bible says and determine if any teaching or doctrine he may be confronted with is scriptural. Many believers because of failure to do this are confused about many aspects of Christianity and often fall away from the truth. Every Christian should have the same attitude towards the Bible as the”Bereans,” who after hearing the apostle Paul’s words, “…searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so” (Act 17:11-12). Since the Holy Spirit commended these people for checking the words of an apostle against the Bible, how much more should believers today check everything they read and hear with the Scriptures also?
The reader will find that the names of these eight doctrines are not terms Christians generally use to describe salvation. They usually describe what God has done for them by saying their sins have beenforgiven, remitted, or pardoned. Though all three of these words can be found in the Bible in some form, they are not words the Holy Spirit places emphasis on. The above words are not even mentioned in the books of John, Romans, and Galatians (except “forgiven” quoted in Rom 4:7), and these are the books which tell us the most about salvation. Of course, salvation includes forgiveness and remission of sins, but it goes much beyond the meanings of these terms. It contains eternal life, a standing of righteousness, perfect holiness, a new birth, a new nature, and a host of other virtues, all purchased by the death and shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. All who personally receive Christ are freely given these blessings, and it is only fitting that each believer have a good understanding of what they are.
Also, dear believer, please understand that these doctrines speak of blessings and virtues you possess NOW. They do not refer to something the Lord will give you in the future, or to rewards you earn by obedience; they became fully effective in you the moment you received Jesus Christ. It is your UNION with Christ that makes them your own. Dear saint, please do not cheat yourself by neglecting these precious doctrines. God has rich blessings for those who invest in the study of them. The time it will take you to “search the scriptures” and learn them will be nothing compared to the rich dividends you will reap for the rest of your life!
Again, Christian, KNOW these doctrines. Meditate on them until they become familiar friends (1Ti 4:15); study them so you can give a good answer to a skeptic (1Pe 3:15);memorize them so you can help others understand (Psa 119:11); and rely on their truths so you can have the”…peace of God, which passeth all understanding…” (Php 4:7). Once you really grasp what God has given you, and realize what all salvation contains, NO ONE will be able to talk you out of your security in Jesus Christ. No matter how many “good words and fair speeches…” (Rom 16:18) someone may use to try to convince you otherwise, you will KNOW that you have”…passed from death unto life” (Joh 5:24) and will dwell with your Savior for ETERNITY!
“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (2Co 9:15) and let all praise, honor, and glory go to God the Father, and His Son, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!