Way of Salvation - Dec. 9, 2012

Pastor Jim Welch gave the lesson on Sunday on "Way of Salvation". 
Jim started by reminding us that when we are saved we are saved from something to something.  Sin is the state of being separated from God, neighbor and self.  Sin is aloneness, and brokeness.  So if salvation is being saved from our sin, we are being saved to wholeness, to relationship with someone, and right relationship with God, neighbor and self. 
God's love is a seeking love so it doesn't matter how much we separate ourselves from God, he will always seek us out.  There are many Greek words for love: eros- word that means the kind of love we feel, philia- word for the kind of love we have with a friend, storge- word for love a parent has for a child or siblings have for each other, agape- word for sacrificial love/ how God loves us. 
In Luke 15 there are 3 parables - Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Lost Son.  All are found.  In each case, it's a story of a seeking love.  They are parables about God's character and how He seeks us out in every moment of life. 
John Wesley indentified 3 types of grace that helps us clarify God's love and grace.  Prevenient grace is that which goes before.  In comparing this to a house, it would be like standing on the porch and the porch light always being on.  It's a preparing grace which prepares us for God's love.  When we talk about repentance from our sin, repentance is going in the other direction, we think of turning toward the porch light of God's love.  Justifying grace is like walking through the door of the house.  It's a welcoming grace, an assurance that you are welcomed and will be embraced.  (1 John 1:9) Sanctifying grace is a holiness of life and heart.  With sanctifying grace we are inside the house and get to explore the house.  We are living worthy of God's love. 
John Wesley says that this grace that God offers us is a grace that helps us move on to perfection in our faith.  We work to move toward a perfect love.  Three general rules that Wesley says that we should live by are these: 1. Do no harm, 2. Do Good (or be in love with others), and 3. Attend to the ordinances of the Church (or live out that love).