THE TWO DIMENSIONS OF SALVATION

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THE TWO DIMENSIONS OF SALVATION
THE OBJECTIVE FACTS AND THE SUBJECTIVE EXPERIENCE
OF THE GOSPEL
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• One of the main reasons why so many Christians
  have no assurance of salvation is because they
  have failed to see the distinction between the
  Gospel and its experience.
• This is a major problem that has robbed most
  believers of the joy and peace of salvation.
• As a result they have become poor witnesses of
  the incredible good news of the Gospel.

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The Two Dimensions of the Gospel

• The Bible speaks of two dimensions of the Gospel
  that are related but distinct.
• On the one hand it speaks of salvation as an
  already accomplished fact in the birth, life,
  death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus
  ChristJohn 317 174 1930.
• These are the objective facts of the incredible
  good news of the Gospel
• Luke 210.

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• On the other hand, Scripture speaks of salvation
  as a subjective experience, by those who have
  accepted Christ as their personal SaviorJohn
  316.
• To avoid confusion between the objective facts of
  salvation and its subjective experience one must
  realize the distinction between the two
  dimensions of the Gospel.
• Otherwise the Gospel becomes good advice rather
  than good news, thus robbing believers of the
  peace and joy of salvation.

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The distinction between the objective Gospel and
its subjective experience

• 1. The Gospel is universal.
• It includes the entire human race. No one is
  excluded 1 Timothy 25-7 Titus
  211. (Few of the universal texts).

• 1. Its experience only applies to believers.
• The Gospel is Gods supreme gift to mankind and
  only believers will be saved John
  318, 36 Mark 1615, 16.

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• 2. The Gospel is a finished work.
• To which we can add absolutely nothing Romans
  104 Colossians 210

• 2. Its experience is an on-going process.
• We are growing in Christ until the 2nd Advent
  Romans 824, 25 Philippians 320, 21.

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• 3. The Gospel is unconditional good news.
• We are saved by grace alone, apart from law
  keeping or any good works
• Romans 328 45
• 56-10 Ephesians 21-6.

• 3. Its experience, on the other hand, is
  conditional.
• Justification is by faithRomans 51.
• Sanctification is by walking in the
  SpiritGalatians 516.
• To be Glorified we must endure unto the endMatt.
  1016-22.

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• 4. The Gospel is meritorious.
• This is what qualifies believers for heaven, now
  and in the final judgment John 524 Romans
  81 1 John 416-18.

• Its experience is demonstrative.
• This is what witnesses or gives evidence of our
  salvation to unbelieversJohn 1334, 35 Titus
  38.

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The relationship between the two dimensions of
salvation

• All true Christian experience is based on the
  objective facts of the Gospel The birth, life,
  death and resurrection of Jesus Christ 1
  Corinthians 311-13. THEREFORE
• If our knowledge of the Gospel facts is
  incomplete so will be our experience.
• If our knowledge of the Gospel facts is incorrect
  so will be our experience.

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• It is therefore extremely important that Gods
  people have a clear understanding of the truth
  as it is in Christ, the objective facts of the
  GospelHis birth, life, death resurrection.
• This is the foundation of all Christian
  experience.
• Jesus made it clear that only as we understand
  the truth as it is in Him will we be free to
  experience the full power of the Gospel John
  832, 36.
• MAY THIS BE TRUE OF ALL OF US.