Let’s Recap

What is the gospel?

The word Gospel means “good news.”

The Gospel is the message of:

• The death of Jesus Christ

• The burial of Jesus Christ

• The resurrection of Jesus Christ

Because of His finished work, salvation is available to everyone who believes.

How Are We Saved?

Romans 10:9 "...if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

Saving faith involves two realities:

• Believing in your heart

• Confessing Jesus as Lord

The Gospel is the message of:

• The death of Jesus Christ

• The burial of Jesus Christ

• The resurrection of Jesus Christ

Calling Jesus "Lord" isn't merely saying the words. Lordship means surrendering to His authority. Genuine faith eventually produces a life that reflects His rule.

Why Was a Sacrifice Necessary?

Sin brings death. Under the Old Covenant, sacrifices temporarily covered sin year after year. Those sacrifices pointed toward Jesus, the Lamb of God, who would become the once-for-all sacrifice that completely fulfilled God's plan of redemption.

Jesus: The Ultimate Sacrifice

John 1:29 "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."

Jesus became the substitute for sinful humanity.

We deserved the penalty of death because of sin, but Jesus stepped into our place and received that penalty on our behalf. The sacrifices of the Old Testament temporarily covered sin. Jesus came to take sin away.

His death was the once-for-all sacrifice, making the old sacrificial system unnecessary.

Because of Jesus:

• Our sins can be permanently forgiven

• We can be reconciled to God

• We have direct access to the Father

• No additional sacrifice is necessary

Jesus didn't simply cover sin. He removed it. Because of His sacrifice, believers now have direct access to the Father without the need for another sacrifice.

Salvation and Regeneration

Salvation rescues us from the penalty of sin, eternal judgment, and separation from God. These benefits are received through faith in Jesus Christ, not through our works.

5 Benefits of Salvation

1. We Are Adopted into God's Family

“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” - Romans 8:16–17 NASB1995

Through Christ we become children of God and heirs with Christ.

Our identity changes the moment we are saved.

2. We Have Peace with God

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” - Romans 5:1 NASB1995

God’s wrath against sin was poured out on Jesus, our substitute. This means believers are no longer living under God’s punishment.

There is an important difference between punishment and consequences.

Our choices may still produce natural consequences. However, those consequences do not mean that God is angry with us or trying to repay us for our sins.

3. We Have Access to the Father

“for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,” - Ephesians 2:18–19 NASB1995

The veil has been torn.

We no longer need a priest or a temple to approach God.

Through Christ, we have continual access to the Father.

4. There Is No Condemnation

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” - Romans 8:1 NASB1995

Those who are in Christ are free from condemnation, guilt, and shame. God does not want believers to continue punishing themselves for sins that Jesus has already forgiven.

Freedom from condemnation is not permission to continue living in sin. Instead, forgiveness should produce gratitude and a desire to honor God.

We do not live righteously to earn forgiveness. We live righteously because we have already been forgiven. We live from forgiveness, not for forgiveness.

5. Every Promise Is "Yes" in Christ

“For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.” - 2 Corinthians 1:20 NASB1995

God keeps His promises. Because His character never changes, believers can confidently trust His Word in every season.

One of the greatest hindrances to receiving those promises is often a personal feeling of unworthiness. Condemnation causes us to believe that God’s promises are available to everyone except us. However, the promises are secured through Christ, not through our personal perfection.

How salvation affects the whole person

Spirit, Soul & Body

Our spirit is immediately made alive, while God continues working in our mind, will, and emotions throughout our walk with Him.

Spirit Saved instantly through regeneration.

Soul

Being transformed daily through sanctification.

Body

Will ultimately be redeemed and glorified.

What Is Regeneration?

Regeneration is God's supernatural work of making a spiritually dead person spiritually alive. Regeneration is the Inner cleansing and renewal of the human nature by the Holy Spirit. Mankind’s spiritual condition is transformed from a disposition of sin to one of a new relationship with God

It is:

• Being born again

• Receiving a new heart

• Becoming a new creation

• Receiving new life through the Holy Spirit

Conversion vs. Regeneration

Conversion - Our response to God Regeneration - God’s Response to us

We Repent

We are born again

Place our faith in Him

God gives us a new heart.

We turn away from sin & toward Christ

The Holy Spirit makes us spiritually alive.

• Conversion is the human response of repentance and faith.

• Repentance means changing our minds, turning away from sin, and turning toward Jesus Christ.

• Regeneration is God’s response.

We believe first. God regenerates us. Transformed behavior follows as the evidence of His work.

This distinction reminds us that salvation is ultimately God's work. We respond in faith, but only God can give new life.

Our New Identity

Because of Christ, we are no longer defined by our past or by our sin. Though believers may still struggle, sin is no longer their identity.

In Christ we have been:

• Justified

• Washed

• Regenerated

• Made the righteousness of God

Living the Regenerated Life

Regeneration isn't simply a theological idea. It changes how we live. Because our old self was crucified with Christ, we are called to:

• Resist temptation

• Feed the new nature

• Starve the old nature

• Walk in obedience

• Submit to Christ's Lordship

Transformation doesn't begin with behavior modification. It begins with believing the Gospel. God regenerates us, and changed behavior becomes the evidence of His work within us.

Old Testament Reference

Ezekiel 36:25–27 NLT – Promise of a New Heart and New Spirit

“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.”

God promised that He would:

• Cleanse His people

• Give them a new heart

• Put a new spirit within them

• Remove the heart of stone

• Give them a heart of flesh

• Place His Spirit within them

• Enable them to walk in obedience

This Old Testament prophecy anticipated the work of regeneration. The desire to follow God is evidence that something has changed internally. God has given the believer a new heart that desires Him.

New Testament Reference

Titus 3:5 NLT– Washing of Regeneration and Renewal by the Holy Spirit

“he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.”

God saved us because of His mercy, not because of righteous works we performed. Regeneration is completely the work of God. We cannot earn the new birth, produce it through good behavior, or make ourselves spiritually alive. The Holy Spirit washes, renews, and gives new life.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT– A New Creation in Christ

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

When we are in Christ:

• Our identity changes

• Our spiritual condition changes

• Our relationship with God changes

• Our desires begin to change

• Our old life no longer defines us

Regeneration creates a new person with a new spiritual nature.

Romans 6:6–7 NLT– Freedom from the Power of Sin

“We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.”

Our old self was crucified with Christ so that we would no longer be slaves to sin. Sin may still tempt us, but it no longer has dominion over us. The believer is no longer powerless against sin. Through Christ, the power of sin has been broken.