The Three Phases of Salvation: Justification, Works, and Final Assurance

The process of a person's salvation begins immediately upon turning to God in faith and repentance, establishing a present justification, and culminates in the final blotting out of sins and eternal life for those who faithfully endure to the end 🙏.

The journey to salvation involves distinct phases of experience and divine action:

1. The Beginning: Conversion and Justification

Salvation is fundamentally centered on Jesus Christ, who is the sinner’s only hope1888 212.1+1. The truths of God's Word meet man's great practical necessity, which is the conversion of the soul through faithCOL 100.2.

• Repentance and Faith: The call to salvation requires action, starting with repentance toward God and putting away sin12MR 323.2+1. Genuine saving faith in Christ brings the divine presence, power, virtue, and grace into the believer’s lifeGCB/GCDB 1893, page 301.6. When sinners believed the gospel, they were commanded to "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" Acts 2:38ARSH October 27, 1859, page 181.14.

• Justification: Justification by faith brings the believer into Christ, providing peace with God Romans 5:1JBF 23.2. It is not a myth, but a real experience that is the sole ground of hope for salvationARSH October 17, 1899, page 668.8+1. When we accept Christ as a Redeemer, we must also accept Him as a Ruler, thus demonstrating that our faith is a working faith1888 823.1. If a person will wholly distrust themselves and acknowledge that in them dwells no good thing, allowing the Holy Spirit to fill them, they receive the hope of righteousness by faithGTI 209.3.

• A New Beginning: Conversion is an event registered in heaven, and is the greatest, noblest work in which human beings can take partHST August 14, 1844, page 15.4+1. This work involves the transformation of the mind to receive the mind of Jesus Christ16LtMs, Ms 178, 1901, par. 54.

2. The Ongoing Walk: Obedience and Works

While we are justified by faith, salvation is not a static state, but requires ongoing allegiance and faithfulnessJBF 34.1.

• Faith and Works: Genuine faith cannot exist without corresponding works7BC 936.3. Good works are the sure and precious fruit of faith, serving as the only criterion by which individuals will be judged, though this does not interfere with the doctrine of justification by faith13LtMs, Ms 67, 1898, par. 16. If a person would be righteous, faith must come in as the source of all their actsGCB/GCDB March 4, 1897, page 254.3. An idler or sluggard should not expect salvation, just as a person might not expect a harvest where they have never sownT28 30.1+1.

• Maintaining Justification: Justification by faith is not considered a final procedure, as it looks to something beyond itself to be accomplished in the futureJBF 4.3. A person who is justified by faith may, by disobedience, lose that justification, and their previous righteousness will not be remembered Ezekiel 18:26JBF 34.1+1.

• Character Development: The righteousness of Christ in connection with the law is the most precious light to be constantly kept before the sinner as his only hope of salvation1888 212.1. Character must be developed daily, as those who delay preparation of character until the Lord's coming will be too lateGCB October 1, 1899, page 80.3.

3. The End: Final Assurance

The Bible assures us that final salvation depends on endurance and the final judgment, where all sins are permanently removedJBF 34.1.

• Blotting Out of Sins: The remission, or blotting out of sins, is the work of the judgment in the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary, which is the final work of Christ as Priest Acts 3:19ARSH August 30, 1864, page 109.10. The believer must stand justified by faith, looking to Christ for the accomplishment of this hopeARSH August 30, 1864, page 109.10.

• The Final Decision: Before Christ’s visible coming, individuals will be accounted worthy to escape the evils of the earth and to stand before the Son of man Luke 21:36ARSH January 16, 1900, page 40.3. At the close of probation, the decisive word is given, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still... and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still" Revelation 22:11ARSH January 16, 1900, page 40.3.

• Rejoicing in Heaven: When a single sinner repents and becomes obedient to Christ, there is exceeding joy in heaven, more than over the ninety and nine righteous persons who need no repentance Luke 15:7ST July 8, 1886, par. 4+1.

The true saving power comes from the gospel, which is "the power of God unto salvation" Romans 1:16SOTW 34.2.

The gracious truth is that coming to Jesus, or recognizing His love and grace, is what leads the soul to true repentance, meaning the sinner does not need to achieve repentance before drawing near to the SaviorRH April 1, 1890, par. 1+1. It is incorrect to believe that repentance must first be completed by the individual as a preparation before they can approach Christ for the forgiveness of sinsSTJ 21.2.

Here is a clearer look at the relationship between repentance and faith in the process of salvation:

Repentance is a Gift from Christ

We must understand that repentance is not a preparation or barrier the sinner builds for themselves, but is a divine gift 🎁.

• Repentance is granted by Christ just as certainly as forgiveness is provided Acts 5:31YI March 26, 1903, par. 5.

• The person seeking salvation cannot genuinely take the first step in repentance without receiving the indispensable help of ChristGCB March 5, 1895, par. 34.

• God first makes those whom He pardons penitent, demonstrating that the grace of contrition originates entirely with the SaviorYI March 26, 1903, par. 5.

The Order of the Experience

Although true repentance is a prerequisite for the forgiveness of sins, the act of recognizing Christ is what makes that repentance possible and realSC 26.1+1.

• The mechanism for receiving forgiveness requires a broken and contrite heart, which feels the profound need of a RedeemerSC 26.1+1.

• Christ is continuously drawing all people to Himself, and it is by beholding the Lamb of God sacrificed on the cross that the goodness of God leads the individual to repentanceRH April 1, 1890, par. 1.

• When a person comes to God, they must first believe that He exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him, establishing faith as the foundational element upon which true repentance rests Hebrews 11:6ARSH June 30, 1859, page 43.2.

• Therefore, true repentance is an act of faith and cannot be acceptably performed unless one first believes in ChristARSH June 30, 1859, page 43.2.

The journey begins when the sinner is drawn to Jesus, recognizing Him as the Savior, and this realization of divine love prompts the necessary, heartfelt repentance that precedes the remission of sins Acts 3:19RH April 1, 1890, par. 1.

The meaning of coming to Jesus, or being drawn to Him, is fundamentally the act of responding to the infinite love and sacrifice of God by accepting Christ as one's personal Savior and entering into a new life of fellowship and obedience John 12:321SM 323.2+1. This process is the necessary first step toward salvation1SM 323.2.

Here is a detailed explanation of what it means to be drawn to Christ and to come to Him:

The Divine Drawing Power

The initial movement toward salvation originates entirely with God, demonstrating His boundless compassion for fallen humanityPr 291.3+1.

• The Father's Initiative: No person can come to Jesus unless the Father, who sent Him, draws them John 6:44. This divine attraction is the first step toward salvation1SM 323.2.

• The Cross as the Center: Christ stated that if He were lifted up from the earth, He would draw all people to Himself John 12:32. This powerful, magnetic influence emanates from the cross, revealing the exceeding love and sacrifice required for human redemption1SAT 112.1+2.

• Love as the Magnet: The drawing influence is based on knowing and believing the love that God has for us 1 John 4:16MB 104.5. It is the manifestation of God’s love that woos men to repentance1SM 323.2.

• Unconscious Influence: Even when individuals begin to make efforts to reform and put away evil habits, if this effort springs from a sincere desire to do right, it is the unconscious power of Christ's grace that is drawing them toward Him2MCP 600.2+2.

The Human Response: Coming to Christ

To "come to Jesus" means to yield to this powerful, loving attraction by taking deliberate steps of faith and surrender.

• Laying Hold of Merits: Coming to Christ involves laying hold wholly and entirely upon the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Savior through living faith6MR 32.2+1. It is through His imputed righteousness that we are accounted precious in the Lord's sightST June 18, 1902, par. 6.

• Acceptance and Confession: We must come to Jesus just as we are, confessing that we have transgressed His commandments, and praying for forgiveness13LtMs, Lt 76, 1898, par. 18. The true Christian recognizes the wickedness of their life and the deep-seated sin in their soul when drawn to look upon Christ on the crossSC 27.1+1.

• Self-Denial and Following: Coming to Christ requires accepting Him as a personal Savior and necessitates self-denial: "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" Luke 9:23RH December 1, 1910, par. 10+1.

• Character Transformation: As we come to Christ, our former life appears disgusting and hateful; we receive a new mind, new affections, and a new will2T 294.2. True conversion is essential, leading to the refinement and purification of the soul templeCSW 91.1+1.

The Privilege of Drawing Nigh to God

The ultimate result of being drawn to Christ is the privilege of approaching the Father directly and obtaining power for daily life.

• Mutual Approach: God offers the precious promise: "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you" James 4:810LtMs, Lt 2, 1895, par. 32+1. By trusting in this promise and drawing nigh, we keep life in our souls and obtain a sound experiencePC 163.2+1.

• Spiritual Closeness: This spiritual proximity involves deep communion, making it the habit of the soul to converse with God, forgetting the world and its distractionsRH December 3, 1889, par. 4+1. Through Christ, we both have access by one Spirit to the Father Ephesians 2:18.

• Overcoming the Enemy: When we resist the devil by firm reliance upon God and draw nigh to Him, the enemy is forced to flee from us James 4:7DA 130.4+2.

• Cleansing and Purity: To draw nigh to God, we are commanded to "Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded" James 4:8YI February 8, 1894, par. 5+1. Those who are sanctified by the truth will show forth the praises of Christ in their words, behavior, and character, making them living recommendations of the truth's powerYI July 18, 1895, par. 1+1.

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