God's Acts for Us

I am not pretending that this list and these definitions are rigorously derived from a long study, with definitions honed by voluminous reading and considering of different theologies and ideas. No, it is a brainstorm list. But I found it inspirational and hope you will too.

ELECTION - Before time, God knew us and specifically chose us to be in him.

DRAWING - Before we experience conversion, there are often experiences where we felt God was preparing us to come to faith.

GRANTING - We did not deduce God's existence (not the real God anyway), nor did we produce faith in and of ourselves. The Spirit enlightened our spirits and that is why we believe.

REGENERATION - The New Birth, our spirits are raised from death to life and we already are becoming New Creations.

DELIVERANCE - Also called "liberation," is a setting free from forces that cripple and control us, forces Paul refers to as Sin and Death.

RECONCILIATION - Here and now we are reconciled with God, no longer enemies and with no reason to fear divine anger.

SANCTIFICATION - The process of personal transformation, being conformed to the image of Christ, so that we will live according to love and holiness. This is empowered by God but requires our active involvement.

REDEMPTION - On the one hand, this has already happened, and on the other hand, we will see its fulfillment when we stand before God. This is a price paid (ransom) to take us out of bondage, but it also refers to our joyful reception by God when we have died and stand before him.

RESURRECTION - It is not that our old bodies will be revived, but that we will return to life as New Creations, so that our resurrection body is immune to Sin and Death forever.

GLORIFICATION - This goes along with resurrection, meaning that our new self is conformed completely to the love of Christ and we are perfect in love and joy forever.

ADOPTION - Contrary to common belief, being created by God does not in and of itself make us sons or daughters of God. Creation makes us creatures. God's desire and will for us from the beginning is that we would become his children, sharing in the divine life of the Trinity.