Lewis Sperry Chafer delineated at least 33 blessings that the believer receives upon coming to Christ. He comments: “The Scriptures reveal 33 stupendous works of God which together comprise the salvation of the soul. They are wrought by God instantaneously, are grounded on the merit of Christ, and are eternal. Accordingly each member of the human family is either perfectly saved or entirely lost. All 33 elements comprise the riches of grace which a Christian receives in salvation.” [135-6.]
1. In the eternal plan of God. I.e., “In eternity past God determined that He would provide grace for a fallen race even before man was created.” [p. 136.] This is demonstrated through His foreknowledge, predestination, election, choice and calling of men. Cf. Rom. 8:29-30, among a vast number of references. “These many references to the eternal plan of God indicate that salvation for sinners is not an afterthought in God’s creation but was fully in view when God decreed all future events including Creation.” [137]
2. Redeemed. Not only set free from the bonds of Satan, but having the confident expectation of the future redemption of the body (1 Pt. 1:17-19; 1 Cor. 15:35-49).
3. Reconciled. Cf. 2 Cor. 5:18-21.
4. Related through propitiation. I.e., God is satisfied by the death of Christ and is free to act on behalf of sinners (1 Jn. 2:2).
5. Forgiven all sins. ALL sins are forgiven Col. 2:13; Eph. 1:7; 4:32; Rom. 8:33-34)!
6. Joined to Christ. The believer is ETERNALLY connected to Christ, like the body to a head (Rom. 6:1-10).
7. Freed from the Law. Once and for all it is demonstrated that man cannot justify himself before God on the basis of his own righteousness — that burden is completely lifted (Jn. 1:17; Rom. 6:14; Gal. 3:23-25; 5:18).
8. Made a child of God. “Having received eternal life from God believers are sons or children of God not merely by title but by actual generation.” Cf. Gal. 3:26; 1 Jn. 3:2; 2 Cor. 5:17. [p. 139.]
9. Adopted into God’s family. I.e., the “divine act by which one who is already a child of God by actual birth through the Spirit of God is placed in the position of being an adult son in his relationship to God.” Cf. Eph. 1:4-5; Rom. 8:23. [p. 139.]
10. Made acceptable to God.
- Made righteous (2 Cor. 5:21)
- Sanctified positionally (1 Cor. 6:11)
- Perfected forever (Heb. 10:14)
- Made accepted in the Beloved (Col. 1:12)
11. Justified. I.e., the declaration that he is completely righteous (Rom. 5:1).
12. Brought near. There is a closeness to the relationship between God and His redeemed child (Eph. 2:13; Heb. 10:22).
13. Delivered from darkness. No longer is the believer under the power and blindness of Satan’s domain (Col. 1:13).
14. Translated into the Kingdom. Cf. Col. 1:13; 1 Thess. 2:12; 2 Pt. 1:11.
15. Placed on the Rock. I.e., Christ is his foundation and his life is secure in Christ (Mt. 7:24-27; 1 Cor. 3:10).
16. Becomes a gift to Christ from God. Cf. Jn. 17:6-9, 11-12, 24.
17. Spiritually circumcised. I.e., the new believer is considered separated from the world and to Christ (Col. 2:11; Eph. 2:11).
18. Partaker of the priesthood. “Because Christ is both King and Priest, a believer in Christ likewise is a member of the royal family and his priesthood is a royal priesthood. In keeping with this Christians can pray to Christ as their High Priest and will share in His earthly reign in the millennial kingdom (2 Tim. 2:12).” Cf. also 1 Pt. 2:5, 9. [p. 141.]
19. Chosen. “They are a ‘people belonging to God’ in the sense that they are citizens of heaven, perfected in Christ, and appointed to live in His power to the glory of God.” cf. 1 Pt. 2:9. [p. 142.]
20. Given heavenly citizenship. With that citizenship also comes a position as Christ’s ambassador on earth (Phil. 3:20; Heb. 11:13; 2 Cor. 5:20).
21. Members of God’s household. There is a unique relationship as with a family with others who believe in Christ (Eph. 2:19; Gal. 6:10; 2 Tim. 2:20-21).
22. Fellowship with the saints. The unity (and fellowship) of believers on earth is made possible through the baptism of the Spirit (Jn. 17:11, 21-23; Eph. 4:3-5).
23. Made a part of a heavenly association.
- Partners with Christ in life (Col. 1:27; 1 Jn. 5:11-12)
- Partners with Christ in position (Col. 3:1)
- Partners with Christ in service (1 Cor. 1:9; 3:9; 2 Cor. 6:1)
- Partners with Christ in suffering (Phil. 1:29; 1 Pt. 4:12-14; Col. 1:24; Rom. 8:18)
- Partners with Christ in prayer (Jn. 14:12-14)
- Partners with Christ in marriage (2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:25-27)
- Partners with Christ in expectation (Titus 2:13; Heb. 10:13)
24. Given access to God. This access is to His grace (Rom. 5:2), to the Father Himself (Eph. 2:18), and God’s truth and fellowship (1 Cor. 2:10; 2 Cor. 13:14).
25. Made a recipient of God’s abounding grace. Since they are loved by God, they are assured of His continuing grace and safekeeping (Eph. 2:7-9; Rom. 5:2) as well as instructed by His grace (Titus 2:12-13). Moreover, he is a recipient of:
- God’s faithfulness (Phil. 1:6; 1 Thess. 5:24)
- God’s peace (Rom. 5:1; Jn. 14:27)
- God’s consolation (2 Thess. 2:16-17)
- God’s intercession through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:26) and Christ (Heb. 7:25)
26. Recipient of an inheritance in Christ. Cf. Eph. 1:18.
27. Recipient of an inheritance in heaven. The things possessed now on earth serve as a “deposit guarantee” of the eternal inheritance (Eph. 1:14; 1 Pt. 1:4).
28. Made a light on God’s behalf. “The secret of walking in the light is to follow the revelation of God’s Word which casts light on one’s conduct, and to let the indwelling presence of God manifest itself in his life.” Cf. Eph. 5:8-9; 1 Jn. 1:5-7; Ps. 119:105. [146]
29. United to the Trinity. Through salvation, there is a new relationship of unity to the Father (1 Thess. 1:1; Eph. 4:6); the Son (Rom. 8:1; Jn. 14:20); and the Spirit (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 2:12).
30. Blessed with the deposit of the Holy Spirit. This deposit is one in which the Spirit then releases His power and effectiveness in the life of the believer (2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:14).
31. Glorified. Rom. 8:18, 30; Col. 3:4.
32. Made complete. “Because of a Christian’s vital union with Christ, he partakes of all that Christ is, and he is viewed by God the Father as one who is perfected in his position in Christ.” Cf. Col. 2:9-10. [p. 148.]
33. Possessing every spiritual blessing. “All the possessions which together measure the riches of divine grace are traced to the believer’s place in Christ.” Cf. Eph. 1:3. [148; the following three benefits were added by Prof. Ramesh Richard]
34. Reception of eternal life. Cf. Jn. 5:24
35. Given victory over sin. Cf. 1 Jn. 4:4-5; 5:4-5
36. Given eternal security. Cf. Rom. 8:28-39
“As all these blessings indicated, salvation is a work of God for man, not a work of man for God. What a Christian experiences is what God’s love has prompted Him to do for those who had no merit before Him but who are now recognized in the merit of His Son because of their faith in Christ. the truth of the riches of divine grace are most overwhelming, and it is difficult to give it proper recognition. Those who preach the Gospel, however, must make clear how abundant are the riches believers have in Christ when they place their faith in Him and how blessed is their eternal state.” [148]
Words of Grace 