Foreword

My Journey to Life provides the keys for living every day with peace of mind, harmony of body and wonderful relationships. As you read through each lesson guide, your daily outlook will be transformed and renewed by the Spirit. We pray you will experience a growing adoration for the greatest Teacher this world has ever known. Let’s begin walking, step-by-step, on the pathway toward a new life together with Jesus. JTL3 1.1

Preface

We are born with a fallen, sinful nature. Unfortunately, that is something over which we have no control. We do, however, have the power of choice. We can choose a new life provided to us through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. This renewal happens when we daily surrender our life to Jesus. JTL3 1.2

Step Three—Salvation

How are we saved from sin and its consequences? “In infinite love and mercy God made Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him we might be made the righteousness of God. Led by the Holy Spirit, we sense our need, acknowledge our sinfulness, repent of our transgressions, and exercise faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, Substitute and Example. This saving comes through the divine power of the Word and is the gift of God’s grace. Through Christ we are justified, adopted as God’s sons and daughters, and delivered from the lordship of sin. Through the Spirit we are born again and sanctified; the Spirit renews our minds, writes God’s law of love in our hearts, and we are given the power to live a holy life. Abiding in Him, we become partakers of the divine nature and have the assurance of salvation now and in the judgment.”—Seventh-day Adventists Believe, p. 135 JTL3 1.3

Bible Discovery:

Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 45:22; 53; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 33:11; 36:25-27; Habakkuk 2:4; Mark 9:23, 24; John 3:3-8, 16; 16:8; Romans 3:21-26; 5:6-10; 8:1-4, 14-17; 10:17; 12:2; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Galatians 1:4; 3:13, 14, 26; 4:4-7; Ephesians 2:4-10; Colossians 1:13, 14; Titus 3:3-7; Hebrews 8:7-12; 1 Peter 1:23; 2:21, 22; 2 Peter 1:3, 4; Revelation 13:8 JTL3 1.4

Further Reading:

Ellen G. White, The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 2, pp. 38.2, 39.1 JTL3 1.5

1. What does “salvation” mean?

For the Christian, salvation means being redeemed or rescued from sin and its curse of eternal separation from God. It means being restored to relationship with Jesus Christ. This restoration of humanity with their Creator through His death and resurrection is the universal theme of Scripture. Salvation is experienced by grace though faith. JTL3 1.6

Bible Discovery:

1 Chronicles 16:35; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 10:9, 10; Galatians 3:13 JTL3 2.1

Further Reading:

Ellen G. White, Gospel Workers, p. 315.2 JTL3 2.2

2. What motivates God to save us?

We might rescue someone out of a sense of obligation, for reward, or some self-serving purpose. Not so with God. His sole motivation is love for us. The depth of that love we may never fully understand. He longs for our companionship and gratitude in this life, and to be with us as a family throughout eternity. JTL3 2.3

Bible Discovery:

Isaiah 53:10; John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Ephesians 1:4, 5; 3:18, 19; 1 John 3:2, 3; 4:8, 9 JTL3 2.4

Further Reading:

Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 13.2 JTL3 2.5

3. When did the Godhead decide to redeem humanity?

The plan of salvation was formulated by the Godhead from the days of eternity, long before the entrance of sin described in Genesis 3. The center of that plan has always been and will always be the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus, “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Thus, salvation is both past and present, culminating in the future as Christ redeems His children at His Second Coming. JTL3 2.6

Bible Discovery:

Zechariah 8:7, 8, 13; 1 Corinthians 2:7; 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14; Hebrews 10:7; Revelation 13:8 JTL3 2.7

Further Reading:

Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 22.2 JTL3 2.8

4. How can I be saved?

Scripture tells us we must believe in Jesus and accept Him as Lord to be saved. This involves more than just intellectual assent that Jesus was a good person who lived long ago in Palestine. Rather, we must first recognize that we are sinners, that the wages of sin is death, and then invite Jesus to be our Savior from the deadly consequences of sin. Whatever our past or present mistakes, however we may have spiraled out of God’s plan for our life, His Spirit continually seeks to remind us of God’s unfailing love, bringing us to repentance. Jesus waits for us with open arms! JTL3 2.9

Bible Discovery:

John 6:37; 14:6; Acts 4:12; 16:25-31; 17:30-31; Romans 6:23; 8:1 JTL3 2.10

Further Reading:

Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 175.5 JTL3 2.11

5. After I have accepted salvation, is it possible to lose it, to become “unsaved?”

After we have accepted Jesus, nothing can take salvation from us except our own choice. Our past acceptance of Jesus as Savior will not automatically ensure our future salvation if we turn our back on Him. This means that after we have been grafted into the Vine (Jesus), we can be broken off for unbelief and our name blotted out of the Book of Life. However, even if we have become careless, unbelieving, or rebellious; God calls on us to repent, seeking pardon and forgiveness. JTL3 3.1

Bible Discovery:

Isaiah 27:5; Ezekiel 33:13; Romans 11:22; Colossians 1:22, 23; Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:26, 27; 2 Peter 2:18-21; Revelation 3:5 JTL3 3.2

Further Reading:

Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 155.2 JTL3 3.3

6. How does the scroll of Revelation 5 relate to salvation and impact our lives today?

An angel carrying a scroll sealed with seven seals calls out, “Who is worthy to open the seals?” (Revelation 5:2). In dismay, John the Revelator initially sees no one worthy to break the seals and open the scroll. As he looks at the throne, John rejoices to see a Lamb that had been slain but is now alive—majestic, powerful, Spirit-filled. This represents the eternal Jesus who rescues humanity from the tyranny of Satan, thus providing us the gift of salvation. Because of the Lamb of God, you and I can celebrate the ultimate victory of God over sin. Indeed, “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13). JTL3 3.4

Bible Discovery:

Psalm 40:7, 8; Hebrews 10:7; Revelation 5:5, 9, 10 JTL3 3.5

Further Reading:

Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 589.2, 590.1-2 JTL3 3.6

7. Why does God forgive some, offering them salvation, while He punishes others and withholds salvation?

God is unwilling that ANY perish; however, if any of us refuse His offer of mercy through His grace, we must bear the consequence of our own choice. God’s character is a perfect combination of justice and mercy. His love is eternal; nevertheless, God is a consuming fire to sin. We all must choose to be a recipient of God’s mercy or of His judgment. JTL3 3.7

Bible Discovery:

Exodus 34:6, 7; Psalm 7:12; Jeremiah 5:7; 31:3; Isaiah 55:7; Hebrews 12:29; 2 Peter 3:9 JTL3 3.8

Further Reading:

Ellen G. White, 6LtMS Letter 1f, November 1890, pars. 29, 30 JTL3 3.9

8. Why is Christ’s substitutionary death a necessity for salvation?

Sin, the complete opposite of God’s character of holiness and purity, brings on God’s wrath, separating the sinner from Jesus. Because of God’s relentless love for humanity, He presented Christ as the propitiation, or atonement for our sins, so we may be restored into relationship with God. Unlike pagan deities, God always loves His creation, although He cannot ignore sin. Justice and mercy meet at the cross of Christ, making our salvation possible. “He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His” (The Desire of Ages, p. 25.2). JTL3 4.1

Bible Discovery:

Isaiah 53:5, 6; 59:1, 2; Ephesians 5:2; John 3:36; Romans 3:25, 26; 5:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21 JTL3 4.2

Further Reading:

Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 13.1-2 JTL3 4.3

9. What is the role of blood in salvation?

Blood represents life. In the Old Testament sacrifices, the blood of the slain animal pointed forward to Christ’s death on the cross. (See My Journey to Life #5, The Sanctuary) Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice brings us forgiveness, cleansing from sin, and reconciliation with God through Jesus’ shed blood. We could say that God “purchased” our redemption with His own blood. That blood symbolizes both our death to sin and our new life in Christ. JTL3 4.4

Bible Discovery:

Leviticus 17:11; Acts 20:28; Romans 3:25; 1 Corinthians 11:24, 25; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:14, 22; 1 John 4:10 JTL3 4.5

Further Reading:

Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, March 14, 1878, pars. 3, 4 JTL3 4.6

10. In what way are both Jesus’ life as well as His death necessary for salvation?

Jesus’ life as well as His death are our bridge to reconciliation with God. Jesus shares His perfect, holy, and sinless life, achieved through complete reliance on His Father, with us! This is known as Jesus’ robe of righteousness and this “robe” is wrapped around us as we repent of our sins. Christ’s goodness then replaces our own futile attempts at achieving righteousness. Subsequently, when God sees us wrapped in Christ’s robe of righteousness, it is as though He is looking at His own perfect Son. Jesus’ story of the wedding garment helps us understand the utter necessity of our accepting His garment of righteousness as our own. JTL3 4.7

Bible Discovery:

Matthew 22:10, 11; Isaiah 61:10; Isaiah 64:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:10; 1 Peter 2:21-23 JTL3 4.8

Further Reading:

Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 62.2 JTL3 4.9

11. What is involved in the experience of salvation?

The salvation experience can be broken into five components: repent, confess, forgiveness, justification, and sanctification. Let’s briefly define each. Repentance is a gift of God. It includes sorrow for our sin, and turning away from that sin, motivated by Christ’s love demonstrated at Calvary. The Holy Spirit points out to us specific sins in our lives and leads us to confess those sins to God and to those we have harmed. In Christ, we’re not only pardoned and forgiven but we are completely acquitted! This experience is called justification. This pardon and our justification are simultaneous. Through faith in Jesus, we are justified by His grace. This simply means we are made righteous through the divine act of God, and then the Holy Spirit sanctifies us, or makes us holy, so that we continue to become more like Jesus every day. Though justification can happen in a moment, sanctification is the work of a lifetime. Justification is our title to heaven—what God does for us, while sanctification is our fitness for heaven—what God does in us. Neither are due to our merit, rather both are due to Christ’s grace. [NOTE: These topics will be discussed in greater detail in subsequent guides.] JTL3 5.1

Bible Discovery:

Psalm 51:3, 10; Isaiah 43:25; Zechariah 3:2, 4; Proverbs 12:13; John 16:33; Acts 2:37, 38; 5:31; Romans 8:15-17; Ephesians 1:7; 3:16, 17 JTL3 5.2

Further Reading:

Ellen G. White, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 115.1 JTL3 5.3

12. Is salvation only a present work, or does it extend to our future?

Our salvation will be fully accomplished at the Second Coming of Jesus, when God shares with the redeemed His own radiant glory. This is the wonderful hope and expectation of every Christian—the glorification of our mortal bodies when we see Jesus face-to-face! Jesus’ Second Coming is the fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation. JTL3 5.4

Bible Discovery:

Romans 5:2; 8:23; Philippians 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14; Hebrews 9:28 JTL3 5.5

Further Reading:

Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 601.3 JTL3 5.6

Reflection…

Salvation comes through Christ alone; learning to reflect His character is the work of a lifetime. The Bible refers to salvation as being past, present, and future: we have been saved, we are being saved, and we shall be saved. If we cling to Jesus and trust Him, our salvation is assured. The choice to trust Him is always ours. JTL3 5.7

Next Step…

Moses and the children of Israel were given a tangible depiction of Christ’s work of redemption when they were instructed to build a tabernacle in the wilderness. Each compartment had special significance to the plan of salvation. The Bible says that this earthly sanctuary was a copy of the heavenly sanctuary. In the next step, we will explore a beautiful picture of the salvation process, given long ago to the Israelites. Come along as we take an in-depth look at the sanctuary and its meaning for us today. JTL3 5.8

Discussion Questions

1. How can I know I am saved?
2. What is the relationship between salvation and good works?
3. Can I lose my salvation?

Further Reading

Official Adventist Website: https://www.adventist.org/experience-of-salvation JTL3 6.1

Contact Information

Ellen G. White Estate: mail@whiteestate.org JTL3 6.2

Request a personal Bible study: https://www.bibleschools.com/en/personal-studies JTL3 6.3

Visit your local Seventh-day Adventist Church: https://www.adventistlocator.org JTL3 6.4

Online prayer room: https://www.wepray.mobi JTL3 6.5