THE ABUNDANT BLESSINGS OF SALVATION IN CHRIST
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Salvation marks the beginning of the Christian journey. It is gained through belief in Jesus Christ. There is no other name under heaven by which we are saved (Acts 4:12).
Salvation is for all eternity. Yet salvation is also for the here and now. The abundant blessings… the bounty of God’s goodness… reaped through salvation are for our lives today. This is our inheritance as children of the kingdom.
In the Book of Romans, the apostle Paul details the rewards of salvation in Christ. When we understand and appreciate all that God has bestowed on us through His Son Jesus, we can live our lives with purpose, impact and joy.
What rewards of salvation in Christ do we have as believers?
Romans 3:
† Righteousness – God bestows on us the righteousness of Christ
“Righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” – v. 22
† Redemption – Jesus paid the ransom for our sins with His life
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” – v. 23-24
Romans 4:
† Faith – We are united by faith to our exalted Savior
“To the one who… trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.” – v. 5
† Forgiveness – Jesus exchanged our sins for His righteousness
“Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” – v. 7-8
Romans 5:
† Justification – Our sins are washed away, making us just in God’s eyes
“We have been justified through faith… by His blood.” – v. 1, 9
† Peace with God – God now sees us through the lens of His perfect Son
“We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – v. 1
† The Holy Spirit – The gift of Christ’s Spirit fills us with His love
“God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” – v. 5
† Protection from God’s Wrath – We are saved by the blood of the Lamb
“Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him!” – v. 9
† Reconciliation with God – We are united to God through Christ’s atoning sacrifice
“When we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son.” – v. 10
† God’s Grace – We live in God’s overflowing mercy and favor
“Those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one Man, Jesus Christ.” – v. 17
Romans 6:
† A New Life – We have been raised from death to life in Christ
“For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.” – v. 5
† Freedom from Sin – Sin no longer wields dominion over us
“Our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.” – v. 6
† Eternal Life – We will spend eternity in God’s loving presence
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – v. 23
Romans 7:
† Purpose – Our lives bear the fruits of righteousness for God’s glory
“You… belong to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.” – v. 4
† Deliverance – Jesus delivered us from the kingdom of darkness
“Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” – v. 25
Romans 8:
† Acceptance – Jesus bore the condemnation for our sins with His atoning sacrifice
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” – v. 1
† Atonement – Only the Lamb without blemish could perfectly fulfill the law for us
“He condemned sin in the flesh in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us.” – v. 3- 4
† Adoption into the Kingdom – Our Abba Father calls us His own
“Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” – v. 14
† Freedom from Fear – No longer do we live in fear of sin and death
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again.” – v. 15
† A Legacy with Christ – As children of God, we share in a heavenly inheritance
“If we are children, then, we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” – v. 17
† God’s Favor – God works all for our spiritual, eternal good
“In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” – v. 28
† Sanctification – We journey toward holiness and Christlikeness
“Those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His son.” – v. 29
† A Refuge in God – Our mighty God defends those He calls His own
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” – v. 31
† God’s Blessings – The greatest gift of God to us is His Son
“He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” – v. 32
† Jesus’ Intercession – Jesus intercedes in power on our behalf with the Father
“Christ Jesus who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” – v. 34
† Victory – We triumph over all evil through Christ, the Victorious One
“We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” – v. 37
† God’s Eternal Love – We can never be lost to God’s everlasting love for us
“Neither death nor life… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – v. 38-39
