Salvation

Salvation
Statement of belief:
Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all men, and those who repent and believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, and become children of God.

I understand the following terms to mean.
"salvation" I understand salvation as the who, what, when, where and why of Jesus’ accomplishments before, during and after his crucifixion on the cross on the behalf of humankind. Salvation has come to mean many things in our current American culture. But most people understand it to mean a means of rescue by someone or something from someone or something very bad. I believe that in the context of the statement above it means that we, as sinful humans, were provided, via Jesus Christ sacrifice, an opportunity for hope and deliverance from hell.

"repentance" I believe repentance to mean three things. First, repentance means to realize ones personal sinful action/actions. Second, one must then separate oneself from the sinful action/actions. Third, and finally one must then seek to enter into a fellowship relationship with God. 2 Chronicles 7:14 When repentance happens in this sequence great personal and even corporate freedom from sin will take place. I also believe that repentance is the primary prerequisite to salvation. Acts 2:38

"believe" I understand the word “believe,” used in the statement above, to be a very close companion to faith. To believe as a matter of salvation means to lay a hold of the promises and work of Christ. Matthew 9:28 Hebrews 11:6 I must add that it is not a matter of wishful thinking. To believe in Christ is all about action and not mere theory. I believe that Jesus made it clear in John 3:16, to believe, meant to have utter confidence in the Son of God that through Him eternal salvation will benefit the one placing belief on Him.

"regeneration" I understand the term regeneration to mean a transforming spiritual experience performed by God on the other side of the experience of salvation of an individual. Romans 3:9-20 speaks of the human spiritual condition as one of denial and death. Based on the condition of the human spiritual condition something must take place in order to make it alive to God. Regeneration is that something. Jesus spoke of it to Nicodemus in John 3:3 as being born again. The apostle Paul wrote that after regeneration a person becomes a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 I admit that it is a process, which is hard to understand but a necessary part of the work of God for every Christian.

"justification"
Justification is the incredible task that is performed by God making sinful man, who has accepted the salvation of Christ, righteous before God. In this action God wipes away the pre-existence human spiritual condition of sinfulness as well as the acts of sin committed by humankind before salvation. God has requirements for dealing with sin. In the Old Testament the people of God made animal sacrifices to cover their sins. Leviticus 4. In the New Testament the sacrifice for sin was accomplished by the atoning death of Christ. Romans 4:25 Justification is entirely the work of God and humankind can only benefit from it.

In what sense is salvation provided "for all men?"
I believe that salvation is provided for all who act on belief/faith in Christ Jesus. John 3:16 It is the "living water" that Christ spoke of to the women at the well in John 4. In regards to whom it effects, one must examine the word "all." This topic usually brings itself to the term of selection or predestination. I have believed for many years that the offer of salvation is simply for everyone who calls on the name of Christ. Joel 2:32, Romans 10:12-13 I read Ephesians 1:5 as a statement of assurance in the saving work of Christ. I believe that Paul was writing to the church in Ephesus with future implications of the future church to follow that those who choose to believe will be chosen to live eternally with God in heaven. I do not believe that this scripture was meant to theologically separate humankind into a place of doom or redemption. This statement is reinforced by 1 John 2:2 "and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world." NASB

The divine aspects and human aspects in the statement above.
The divine aspects of above statement are as follows: 1. Salvation is for humankind through Jesus Christ who is God's son and the member of the Holy Trinity. 2. Regeneration of the human spirit is made possible through the power of the Holy Spirit also a part of the Holy Trinity. 3. The gift of eternal life to humankind is accomplished through the power of God. The human aspects of statement 6 are as follows: 1. Repentance is the action of the will of humankind. 2. Belief is an act of the human will, which believes that the offer of salvation is true, and from God. 7. It is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be sanctified wholly, being separated from sin and the world and fully dedicated to the will of God, thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service. This is both a crisis and a progressive experience wrought in the life of the believer subsequent to conversion.