Salvation

Ephesians 1:3-14

“[Union with Christ is] the central truth of the whole doctrine of salvation.” - John Murray

Life Group Discussion Questions

  1. We are told in verse 3 that we are blessed with “every spiritual blessing in Christ.” List each of the blessings described in this passage. Which seems most precious to you? Why?

  2. Which of these blessings is most difficult for you to believe in/hold on to? Why? How can you grow in your delight and confidence in this truth?

  3. What comfort can we, as Christians, derive from the fact that God has known, chosen, and loved us from before the foundation of the world?

  4. Notice the repeated phrase “to the praise of his glory” (1:6, 12, 14). What does this tell you about why God created us and saved us? What does it mean to live “to the praise of his glory?” In what area of your life do you find it most difficult to live this way? How can you grow - to do this more/more consistently?

Proposed Statement of Faith

We believe salvation is offered to all people and comes by grace alone through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It results in justification through the grace of election, calling, regeneration, and spiritual adoption. Salvation continues in sanctification and will culminate in the perseverance and glorification of all saints when Christ returns. There is no salvation apart from personal repentance of sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; salvation cannot be gained in any other way. Since humans are sinners both by nature and choice, they naturally face the condemnation of God apart from salvation. The Holy Spirit regenerates and draws sinners to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. In that moment, they become new creations in Christ, delivered from condemnation and gifted with eternal life.

In keeping with the Protestant tradition, we believe that salvation comes by faith alone, in Christ alone, by God’s grace alone, according to the Holy Scriptures alone, to the glory of God alone. There is no mixture of faith and works in regards to salvation. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and who have been sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end.

Main Text: Ephesians 1:3-14

Other Key Texts: Ephesians 2:4-10; Colossians 1:21-23

For Further Study: Greg Gilbert, What is the Gospel?

“The gospel is…not just the ABCs of the Christian life, but the A to Z of the Christian life. Our problems arise largely because we don’t continually return to the gospel to work it in and live it out. That is why Martin Luther wrote, ‘The truth of the Gospel is the principle article of all Christian doctrine…Most necessary is it that we know this article well, teach it to others, and beat it into their heads continually.” -Timothy Keller