Dynamic Christian Foundations

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The series of books which comprise Dynamic Christian Foundations have been written as a beginner’s manual for those who have never studied God's word and need something to start them on their way.

The compiling and editing of the writings by Dr. Ken Chant have been taken from his books This We Believe and Asked and Answered.

I would like to thank Charlotte Fry and Julie Chant for their constant encouragement and typing skills without which these books would not have been completed.

I pray that this manual will be useful to many who wish to study the things of God and that they will benefit from these pages.

New Revised edition 2012

Alison Chant

A NOTE ON GENDER

It is unfortunate that the English language does not contain an adequate generic term (especially in the singular number) that includes without bias both male and female. So he, him, his, man, mankind, with their plurals, must do the work for both sexes. Accordingly, wherever it is appropriate to do so in the following lessons, please include the feminine gender in the masculine, and vice versa.

ENDNOTES

A work once fully referenced will thereafter be noted throughout the whole series of lessons either by ibid or op. cit.

BOOK ONE

THE WAY OF SALVATION

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Introduction to Lesson One

Lesson One - So Great Salvation

Introduction to Lesson Two

Lesson Two - Ye Must Be Born Again

Introduction to Lesson Three

Lesson Three - How Can We Be Born Again

Introduction to Lesson Four

Lesson Four - The Atonement Of Jesus Christ

INTRODUCTION TO LESSON ONE

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Newton the famous preacher and hymn writer of the 19th century was converted from a wicked and immoral life. He was a sailor and was involved in the slave trade. He gave his life to Christ during a violent storm when he despaired of any hope of rescue. He and his companions were saved just as the last of the food and water were being shared out. On shore Newton spent some time learning about his new faith and in preparing to receive communion. Some time later he sailed on another voyage and, being with his former companions, he gradually drifted away from his conversion. It was during this time he found he had no apparent strength to overcome sin.

Whenever temptation came along he would yield to it immediately. In the end, his state, if that could be possible, was worse than before. Finally he took sick with a fever, because of his immoral way of life, and lay at death's door. In desperation he cried out to God for forgiveness and mercy. After strong crying and many tears he came to a place of peace. He said that after this experience sin no longer had the same power over him. He went on to become one of the best loved pastors and hymn writers of his time.

In this first lesson we learn how Jesus has saved us from the PENALTY AND POWER of sin. Even though it is not possible for us to overcome sin on our own, Jesus has broken the power of sin for us. He has, as it were, taken away the weapons of the enemy.

"...and having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." Cl 2:15

Remember each day to put on the whole armour of God that you might be able to stand against all the wiles (deceptions, tricks, enticements) of Satan. (Ep 6:10-18). Learn as much as you can of the Word of God, so that when Satan tempts you to sin you can quote Scripture as Jesus did. (Mt 4:1-11). With any temptation God has promised us a way of escape. Look for that way of escape that you might be able to stand un-ashamed in that great day when Jesus comes again. (1 Co 10:13).

We will also concentrate on the different aspects of salvation and what they mean to us in our daily lives.

SALVATION

This means -

a. Deliverance from the power and effects of sin.

b. Preservation from destruction or failure.

c. Deliverance from danger or difficulty.

It is the first aspect of these that the Christian is most concerned with. We can be saved from drowning, or from a fire that is threatening our lives, by someone who is brave and resourceful, but only Jesus can save us from the power and effects of sin. He does this when we accept his sacrifice on Calvary for us. He not only frees us from all the sin we have committed in the past, but he also promises to free us from the power of sin in our lives. We need no longer feel helpless!

JUSTIFICATION

This means -

a. The act, process, or state of being justified by God.

b. Something that justifies.

When we are justified by God it simply means that he now looks on us as though we had never sinned. When he looks at us after we have received Jesus as our Saviour, he sees, not us, but Jesus. Someone once said to look at the word this way: JUST AS IF I'D NEVER SINNED. This is the meaning of justification. Remember, we are justified by faith, we simply have to believe what God says about us. (Ro 5:1).

SANCTIFICATION

This means -

a. The state of being sanctified.

b. The state of growing in divine grace as a result of Christian commitment after

baptism or conversion.

While our standing before God is one of justification, we still have to go on living and developing as Christians, and this is where sanctification comes in. Our sanctification is a gradual changing and developing of our total being into the image of Jesus. It is the conscious setting apart of ourselves for the service of God. (Ro 12:1-2).

I therefore urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercies, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, - this is your spiritual act of worship (Rom 12:1)

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing, and perfect will. (Rom 12:2)

LESSON ONE

SO GREAT SALVATION

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...how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? He 2:3a

WHAT IS SALVATION?

Salvation means being brought into a state of soundness and wholeness before God. It means coming into a place of safety: escaping the stormy winds of the wrath of heaven and entering into God's great harbor of mercy and kindness.

Salvation has three aspects:

I am saved.

I am being saved.

I am about to be saved.

Or, to express it more fully ...

1. I am saved from the PENALTY of sin.

"...But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved." Ep 2:4-5

"...For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Ro 6:23

This is the past tense of salvation, and speaks of completed freedom from condemnation for all those who have entered in and who have put their wholehearted faith in Christ as their Saviour.

2. I am being saved from the POWER of sin.

"…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Ph 2:12b-13.

"...Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 2 Pe 1:10-11.

This is the present tense of salvation, and speaks of the Christian entering more and more into victory over sin, and growing more and more like Christ.

3. I am about to be saved from the PRESENCE of sin.

"...But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." Ph 3:20-21.

"...For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him." I Th 5:9-10.

"...so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not be bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." He 9:28.

This is the future tense of salvation, and speaks of the great hope that lies before us, the second coming of Christ, the day of resurrection, and the immense reward waiting for those who have faithfully served their God.

Or we could express it this way ...

If I have accepted Christ as Saviour, and walk with him day by day, then ...

1. I have been delivered from all PAST sin - that is I am JUSTIFIED.

"...Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses." Ac 13:38-39.

"...Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,..." Ro 5:1.

JUSTIFICATION means that although we are guilty of gross sin and deserving of heavy punishment, God, by his own grace, has restored us to fellowship with him and reckons us to be just or righteous. Because of our trust in the atoning sacrifice of Christ, God has pardoned us of all our sin, accepts us as now being made righteous, and treats us as though we have never sinned.

2. I am being delivered from all PRESENT sin: that is, I am SANCTIFIED.

"...Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God's will that you should be sanctified; that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honourable,..." 1 Th 4:1-4.

"...But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth." 2 Th 2:13.

SANCTIFICATION means that although we stand legally before God as justified (released from all guilt of sin) there is still a need for us to be made actually free from the power of sin. Being justified, opportunity is then given us to separate ourselves from all unrighteousness and set ourselves apart for the service and honour of God. Whereas we are justified solely by the free kindness of God, on the basis of our faith in Christ, the work of sanctification involves the active co-operation of the believer. If we earnestly endeavour to sanctify ourselves, that is, to separate ourselves from sin, detaching our affections from the world and its defilements, and lifting them up to a supreme love for God, then we are said to be in a state of sanctification. In this state we are granted the omnipotent grace of God, the supreme power of the blood of Christ, the sharp edge of the Word of God, and the strong influence of the Holy Spirit, all designed to shatter the strength of sin, to loose the bonds that bind us, and to bring us into the glorious liberty of the sons of God!

3. I will be delivered from any PROSPECT of sin: that is, I will be GLORIFIED.

"...In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Pe 1:3b-5.

"...Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2

In the kingdom of God sin will be no more ...

"...And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Re 21:3-4.

Every Christian has a tremendous hope lying before him, a hope of honour, of reward, of eternal happiness. If we abide in Christ unto the end, then we can indeed say with Paul:

"...The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Ro 8:16-18.

DEFINITION OF SALVATION

A simple definition covering the whole range of this threefold salvation would be - Salvation embraces everything God provided for us by Jesus Christ's sacrifice at Calvary. It includes the mercy of God; adoption into the Father's family; forgiveness of all sin; victory over Satan's power; healing of body mind and spirit; a complete and free righteousness; abundant supply of every need; peace of heart and mind; a part in the resurrection; and a calling to reign as a prince with Christ when he establishes his kingdom.

Many of these outstanding benefits are considered elsewhere in these lessons, but here we are primarily concerned with the first feature, namely: I AM SAVED FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN.

This is the first fundamental. Our desperate need in the eyes of God makes it most urgently important that we should be saved from the penalty of sin. So we discover that the Bible declares every man to be ...

A DOOMED SINNER

"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Ro 3:23.

"...For the wages of sin is death...." Ro 6:23a.

"...Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned." Ro 5:12.

ALIENATED FROM GOD

"...We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way;" Is 53:6a.

"...But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." Is 59:2.