Midweek “Good to Know Series” Notes

SALVATION

• Salvation – CVC believes that Salvation is God’s gift to us. This gift includes: the forgiveness of sin, acceptance into God’s family; a new life and nature; His presence within us: and assurance of our eternal life in heaven. While this gift is free to us, it was paid for by Jesus suffering on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.  We can never make up for our sin by “self -improvement or good works”.  Trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness, is the only way anyone can be saved from the penalty of sin.  When we repent from our self-ruled life to Jesus in faith, accepting His forgiveness, we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment a person receives Jesus Christ by Faith. *
• Salvation is the work of God, The Son, and the Holy Spirit.   
• God the Father –“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him would not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
• The Son – “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could  be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
• “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.” 1 Peter 2:24
• The Holy Spirit -The Holy Spirit exposes evil, reproves evildoers, and convinces people that they need a Savior leading them to repentance. And when he (the Holy spirit) comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. John 16:8

God’s Salvation-concerns a person’s eternal and spiritual deliverance.

• What do we need salvation from?
• The first two chapters in Genesis describe how mankind had a perfect relationship with God. Genesis 3 describes how mankind sinned through Adam and Eve’s disobedience. Now their perfect relationship with God was broken.
• Romans 3:23 says that “All have sinned” we all sin with our thoughts, words, and actions. Romans 6:23 says that “the wages of sin is death.”
• Because of Adam-we now are born with a sin nature.  (A child never has to be taught to lie.)
• You might ask…how is this fair, for us to live with the consequences of Adam’s sin, when it wasn’t “I” who ate the forbidden fruit?
• Romans 5: 12-19 explains how sin entered the world through Adam, however, Grace, forgiveness and eternal life entered the world through Jesus Christ! 12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. 14 Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. 15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one-person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

ETERNAL SECURITY

• Eternal Security – Cielo Vista Church believes that because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure that salvation is for all eternity. If a person is genuinely saved, salvation cannot be lost. Salvation is given and sustained by the grace and power of God, not by self-effort. It is the grace and keeping power of God that Gives a believer security. *
• These verses show that our security is sealed by the Holy Spirit!
• “…And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him. Ephesians 1: 13-14
• “For my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” John 10:29-30
• “Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” Hebrews 7:25
• “and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.” 1 Peter 4-5

DISCUSSION

1. Can you remember a time when you repented of your sins before God, and received the gift of salvation, and asked him to be Lord of your life? ___________________________________________
2. Are you still not fully convinced that God’s plan of Salvation is for you? ______________________
3. Are you still “dating Jesus”? Meeting with him on Sundays and Wednesdays, but not fully committed to him? Are you ready to fully commit to him?  __________________________________
4. Are you unsure of your salvation? Will you allow your leader to pray for you? __________________