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PREAMBLE
A/300. The Christian life can be consciously experienced because
it is a relationship between persons - the personal God and humans
made in His likeness. Every person is confronted by this personal
God, and the outcome of this confrontation is primarily affected
by how the person responds.
In love God has fully provided for the salvation of all mankind.
But only those who respond in repentance and faith can experience
His grace as a redemptive reality.
God deals with all men as free and responsible persons. Therefore,
He not only makes His grace available on condition of a free response,
but He also reveals himself and makes known His life to all who
put their trust in Him. The redemptive relationship with Jesus Christ
is experienced as an awareness of His love and fellowship.
Those who are justified by faith experience the peace of God. When
His Holy Spirit comes to the heart, there is joy. The Holy Spirit's
indwelling presence is the assurance of our relationship to God
as His dear children.
1. AWAKENING TO
GOD
A/301. The Scriptures teach that men and women are corrupt in every
aspect of their nature and have gone far from original righteousness.
Added to the depravity common to human beings because of the Fall
there are the enslaving effects of committed sins. It is impossible
for them to come to God in themselves, but God in His grace reaches
out to every sinner.
God takes the initiative in making sinners aware of their needs,
using His Word, the revelation in Jesus Christ, the gospel proclamation
of the church, the witness of individuals, and the circumstances
of life. By such means, the Holy Spirit awakens sinners to their
needs and to the truth of the gospel (John 16:8, 13). Awakened,
they must make a response, either rejecting the call of God or turning
to God in repentance and faith. (Back
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2. REPENTANCE
AND RESTITUTION
A/302. Awakened by the Holy Spirit to their lost condition before
God, sinners may move toward God. Since "all have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), all must repent
in order to come into a right relationship with God.
Repentance calls for a sincere and thorough change of mind. To repent
is to turn from sin with genuine sorrow and to turn to God in confession
and submission. The whole person is involved: mind, feelings, will.
Repentance is more than regret for wrongdoing or sorrow at being
caught. It is personal sorrow that one has sinned against God. Repentance
demands a radical turning from sin and a sincere turning to God.
The result is a saving relationship with Christ.
Sincere repentance leads to moral renewal, often evidenced by restitution
- the effort to right one's wrongs whenever possible. Acts of restitution,
as in the case of Zaccheus, are certainly fruits befitting repentance
(Luke 19:8; 3:8). Neither repentance nor restitution save, however,
without faith in Christ (Romans 3:22). (Back
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3. TRUST
A/303. Trust is confidence in and utter reliance upon
God (2 Cor-inthians 3:4-5; 1 Timothy 4:10). Trust includes full
acceptance of the promises of God, complete dependence on Christ's
sacrifice for salvation, and unconditional commitment to the will
of God. God's grace and blessings are open to those who turn to
Him with firm reliance on His integrity, love, and ability.
Christians experience God's loving care and guidance as they trust
and follow Him (Ephesians 3:12). When they think they are sufficient
unto themselves they become frustrated by trying to do for themselves
what God wants to do for them. Self-sufficiency is inconsistent
with perfect trust (1 Timothy 6:17).
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4. ASSURANCE
A/304. God gives assurance of salvation and peace of heart to all
who repent and put their faith in Him (Romans 5:1-2). The Holy Spirit
witnesses to their own spirits that they are forgiven of their sins
and adopted into the family of God (Romans 8:16).
The Christian has peace with God through Jesus Christ because guilt
is taken away and fear of judgment is removed (Hebrews 10:22; 1
John 4:17-18). God continues to give assurance to believers through
the Scriptures, the conscious presence of the Holy Spirit, and love
for and fellowship with other Christians (1 John 3:14).
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5. CONSECRATION
_A/305. God calls His people to set themselves apart to His will
and purpose (Romans 6:13; 12:1). Anything thus set apart is said
to be consecrated.
All Christians are called to be holy and without blame before God
in love (Ephesians 5:27). Christ demands that His disciples follow
Him in mind and spirit (Romans 7:24-25). If Christians are to witness
effectively in the world they must be distinguished by righteousness,
peace, joy, faith, hope, and love (John 13:35; 14:15; Galatians
5:22-24). God wants a special kind of people for His work (Matthew
16:24; Romans 14:17; 8:6-9; John 17:17; Psalm 100:2). When Christians
sincerely follow Christ and listen to the Holy Spirit as He speaks
in the Scriptures, they should sense their need of cleansing from
inward sin. They should desire earnestly to be filled with the love
of God and long for a relationship with Christ which will satisfy
their deepest inward need and empower them to serve and obey the
Lord (Ephesians 5:1-14; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 14:1; Acts 1:8).
Christians, therefore, must consecrate themselves to God and surrender
their wills to the will of the Heavenly Father (Matthew 19:21).
Those who desire inward sanctification must deny themselves, bear
the cross, and follow Christ. Devotion to self is idolatry. Christians
who are divided in their loyalty cannot serve God victoriously and
steadfastly. Christ must be given the preeminence. He must be the
Lord of the Christian's life (John 15:10; Mark 14:36; 1 Peter 1:14).
Therefore, to be open to the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit,
believers must give themselves without reservation to God, freely
yielding all they have to the purposes of God and devoting every
desire and ambition to the service of Christ rather than to self
(Colossians 3:8-13). No Christian can be delivered from the dominion
of sin if self is permitted to reign in the life. No one can serve
two masters (Matthew 6:24).
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