IX.
Justification, Regeneration, and Adoption
We believe that justification is the gracious and judicial act
of God by which He grants full pardon of all guilt and
complete release from the penalty of sins committed, and
acceptance as righteous, to all who believe on Jesus Christ
and receive Him as Lord and Savior.
We believe that regeneration, or the new birth, is that
gracious work of God whereby the moral nature of the repentant
believer is spiritually quickened and given a distinctively
spiritual life, capable of faith, love, and obedience.
We believe that adoption is that gracious act of God by
which the justified and regenerated believer is constituted a
son of God.
We believe that justification, regeneration, and adoption
are simultaneous in the experience of seekers after God and
are obtained upon the condition of faith, preceded by
repentance; and that to this work and state of grace the Holy
Spirit bears witness.
(Luke 18:14; John 1:12-13; 3:3-8; 5:24; Acts 13:39;
Romans 1:17; 3:21-26, 28; 4:5-9, 17-25; 5:1, 16-19; 6:4; 7:6;
8:1, 15-17; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21;
Galatians 2:16-21; 3:1-14, 26; 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:6-7; 2:1,
4-5; Philippians 3:3-9; Colossians 2:13; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Peter
1:23; 1 John 1:9; 3:1-2, 9; 4:7; 5:1, 9-13, 18) |
