" THE AUTHOR OF SALVATION "
Lets take a look at - Ezekiel 36:24-28 -
For I will take you from among the nations,
gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.
Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean;
I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;
I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My Statues, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers;
you shall be My people,
and I will be your God. ( Ezekiel 36:24-28)
Now its gonna take us a while to diesect exactly what God
has revealed to me through these 4 verses.
This is God's divine motive for seeking salvation of wicked
people,
we will also be able to consider the actual work of CONVERSION in the individual believer.
This is one of the most beautiful and powerful Old Testament
prophecies concerning the new covenant that was to be
inaugurated by the coming of the Messiah.
It also provides us with one of the clearest illustrations of the
doctrines of regeneration and conversion found anywhere in
the scriptures.
For the believer who understands the content of this text,
it has a twofold purpose.
This text teaches us that genuine conversion is the result of a
supernatural work of God,
by which the very heart or nature of a person is changed,
making him responsive to the will of God.
It shows God's ongoing work of Sanctification and a growing
submission to His will marks the life of the truly converted.
Second, this text is an inexhaustible source of joy, consolation,
and comfort.
The first great truth that we will consider from this text is
that God is both the author and finisher of our salvation.
He initiates it, sees to its perseverance, and brings it to its
ultimate consummation on the day of Christ Jesus.
The sovereignty of God is here brilliantly displayed as the
foundation of the believers hope and the source of his strength.
The certainty of which God speaks is unmistakable.
This is apparent in the following phrase,
Notice the use of the pronoun " I "
(God is the one who acts)
Followed by an unconditional promise (He will not fail)
"I will take you from the nations."
"I will gather you from the lands."
"I will bring you into your own land."
"I will sprinkle clean water on you."
"I will cleanse you from all your filthiness."
'I will give you a new heart and put a new Spirit in you."
"I will take your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."
"I will put my Spirit within you. "
"I will cause you to walk in my statues. "
Hers God is not speaking about what He would do if He could
gain our cooperation.
Rather, He speaks as one who " does whatever He pleases"
and who "works all things according to the counsel of His will"
(Ps.115:3; Eph.1:11) Notice God is not telling what He will
do in the life of every Christian,
but He is also Gauranteeing the outcome of His work.
"You shall be clean."
"You will walk in my statues, and you will keep my statues and do them.'
"You will dwell in the land that I gave your fathers.'
"You shall be My people and I will be your God."
HE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN US WILL FINISH IT"
The power of God and the salvation of His church !!!!!
This is not a denial of human responsibility in salvation
or of the Christian's great struggle against sin.
There will be great loses as well as victories in our striving
for conformity to Christ.
However it does assure us that God has set out to make for
Himself a people, and by His own power,
He will see it done.
All whom He calls will come to Him, not one will be lost. (John 6:37,39)
Through the blood of Christ, we are justified, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, they are regenerated, sanctified,
and led. (John 3:3-8)
Although each may grow at a different pace and also to a different degree some may seem to fly to maturity while others
barely crawl, they will all, nevertheless, progress toward the upward call of God in Christ and demonstrate in word and
deed that they are His people and He has become their God. (Philippians 3:14)
MORE TO COME "AUTHOR OF SALVATION"
