The Dialogue on Christianity

EPILOGUE

Man is sinful. Romans 3:23; Galatians 3:22

Man deserves God's just judgment. Hell is God's ultimate expression of that judgment. Romans 1:18-19; Hebrews 9:27; Matthew 10:28

Only Christ (fully God—fully man) has satisfied the Father by His perfect life. The Father said of the Son, "In You I am well pleased." By taking on our sins and dying on the cross, He fully appeased the Father's wrath against sin as the righteous substitute for all who would believe on Him. By rising from the dead, He proved that His substitution for us was complete, and that He has ultimate power over sin and death. He is alive today in that same glorified body in heaven. 1 Peter 1:18-21; Romans 5:6-11; 1 Corinthians 15:1-19

There is therefore no other hope for you than Christ and the pardon for sin He is able to give as the only adequate sin-bearer. Only through union with Christ as your sin-bearer can you be declared righteous even though you are a sinner. To stand before God without Christ as your substitute is certain damnation. Colossians 1:13; 2 Timothy 1:12; Romans 4:1-8; John 3:36

This righteousness is applied when the guilty person repents and believes in Christ. Repentance is not only a rejection of bad works, but also of what the sinner thinks are his good works, which are self-righteous. All are sin. Belief or faith is more than just mental, but includes a trusting of the entire life on Christ on the basis of His work on the cross in the believer's place. Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3; John 3:16-21; Romans 1:16; Romans 10:4

It is this repentant, trusting person who is justified in God's sight and will spend eternity in heaven. The believer is indwelt by the Spirit of God in order to cause him to will and to act of God's good pleasure. John 6:47; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Timothy 1:14; Philippians 2:12-13

The forgiven, justified believer in Christ gains assurance of his new life in Christ by:

1. The Spirit's communication to him—which is an inward confidence communicated to him by the Spirit who indwells him. John 10:27; Romans 8:16
2. The actual change in direction, affection, and obedience in his life. Matthew 12:33; Matthew 13:23; 1 John 3:4-10
3. The trustworthiness of God's promises to him. John 6:47; John 10:27-30; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; Jude 24

Copyright © 1994 Jim Elliff. Permission granted to print or photocopy for non-profit use. Copyright information must be included. All other uses require written permission. Visit www.WayToGod.org for more articles and helps.