Important themes
There are main themes running through the Scriptures. To understand how God’s grace and our salvation come together, we need to keep the following truths in mind:
God
- God, the Creator, is holy, loving, just, righteous, merciful and faithful (Isaiah 6:3; 1John 4:8, 16; Exodus 34:6-7; Nehemiah 9:32-33.)
Man
- Adam and Eve were created in the image of God, and were capable to choose between good and evil—however, they believed Satan, chose evil, and as a result lost their free will. (Genesis 3:1-6, John 8:44, James 1:13-15, Revelation 12:9)
Sin
- Every person ever born after Adam and Eve is born in sin (Psalm 51:5; Job 15:14; John 3:6; Romans 5:12-17; 1Corinthians 15:21-22.)
- Sin separates us from God (Genesis 3:6-8; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23).
- Sinful as we are, based on our own efforts, we don’t have the capacity in ourselves to establish a relationship with God (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 3:10-12; Colossians 2:13).
Christ, the Holy Spirit and new birth
- God demands a perfect redemption to make us his children. Jesus Christ, being perfect God (sinless) and perfect man (born as a human being, yet without sin) is the only answer to our need to live in a relationship with God (Hebrews 7:18-25; 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1John 3:5).
- Based on the perfect redemption of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit gives us birth from above and enables us to live, work and pray as children of God (John 3:3-6, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 8:9-10)
The Bible
- The Bible is the inspired, inerrant and infallible Word of God through which we know God, hear of God’s grace, know our sinfulness, and learn about the gifts of grace through Jesus Christ. (1Corinthians 15:1-2, 1Peter 1:23-25, 2Peter 1:20-21, Hebrews 4:12)
Christian living
- Jesus’ death and resurrection satisfied God’s righteousness: this is the only means by which God declares us righteous to be adopted as His children. God made us holy to live holy lives, honouring Him in what we do. (Romans 5:6-8; Galatians 3:10-14; Hebrews 9:11-14; Matthew 5:13-16, 1 Peter 1:15, 22, 2Peter 2:9-12)
Eternal life
- Faith unites us with Christ, and faith in Him makes us share in his inheritance, which is eternal life with God (Romans 6:5-6; Colossians 2:9-12).
Application
1. Read through the verses under each of the headings above. Write in your own words what the Bible says about
1.1 God
1.2 Man
1.3 Sin
1.4 Christ, the Holy Spirit and new birth
1.5 The Bible
1.6 Christian living
1.7 Eternal life
2. Now, using the structure of the headings above and write your testimony of how God called you to be his child
2.1 How did you learn more about God?
2.2 How did you become aware that you need salvation?
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2.3 Once you became aware of your lostness in sin, who did you go to for forgiveness?
2.4 What role does the Bible play in your spiritual development?
2.5 How do you apply Biblical principles in your daily living?
2.6 Does eternity matter? Why?
3. In a short paragraph apply what you know from this section to tell others about the grace of God’s gracious salvation for sinners?
Ultimate Standards 