Theological Words Every Youth Worker Should Know: Salvation Edition
Teaching the Bible is hard work. It can be even harder if you do not have the right tools in your toolbelt to describe the concepts God has revealed in his word. In the “Theological Words Every Youth Worker Should Know” Series we will be defining some terms everyone should know so they can faithfully talk about how God has revealed himself in scripture. In this post, we’ll see four words that will help you teach and think more clearly about Salvation.
Regeneration: The act where God takes a dead heart and makes it alive. A heart that has been made alive is then able to follow God by faith.
Key Scriptures
Ezekiel 36:26: I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Ephesians 2:4-5: But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
Why it Matters
Do people trust in Jesus because they’re smarter than the other people around them? No, they trust in Jesus because God has taken their dead heart and made it alive. Students need to know that their salvation is all about what Jesus has done for them.
Justification: The act of being made righteous in the sight of God. Justification changes nothing about you except your status. By faith in Christ you are transferred from the category of “sinner” to “saint.”
Key Scriptures
Habakkuk 2:4: But the righteous one will live by his faith.
Romans 5:1: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Why it Matters
Students need to know that their acceptance before God is not because they’ve worked hard and done good works. Justification can give students hope because their eternity is wrapped up in Christ’s work and not theirs.
Sanctification: The act of God, by His Spirit, making you more righteous. This does not happen all at once, but is a progression throughout the entire Christian life. Sanctification does not make you right with God, but it the fruit of being right with God.
Key Scriptures
Leviticus 20:8: Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sets you apart.
Philippians 1:6: I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Why it Matters
Students need to know that being in Christ will lead to becoming like Christ. Good works are not the root of our salvation, but they are always be the fruit of our salvation.
Glorification: The act where God finally removes all traces from the believer upon their death or his return. This also includes the believer receiving their resurrected body.
Key Verses
Daniel 12:3-4: Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to disgrace and eternal contempt. Those who have insight will shine like the bright expanse of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
2 Corinthians 3:18: We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at, the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Why it Matters
Students suffer daily as the deal with the effects of sin. Glorification can give them hope that one day sin, death, and pain will be completely done away with.