Partnership with God

Salvation is a relationship -- two working together. Christ is the Head; we are the Body. He is the Bridegroom; we are the Bride. A “covenant” involves two parties.

“Grace” is God’s hand extended out to us. “Faith” is our hand extended out to Him. It takes BOTH! When we work together in partnership with God, then and only then, are we genuinely empowered to live the Christian life. (*P1)

Rom 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. …

John 15:5 “I [Jesus] am the vine. You are the branches. He whoremains in me, and I in him, the

same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. “

Phil 2:12-13 … work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works

in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

Col 1:29 … I also labor, striving according tohis working, which works in me mightily.

Eph 3:16-17 … that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the[your-NIV]

inward man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;

Eph 6:10 Finally, [you]be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.

Eph 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,

according to [his, NIV]power that works in us …

Col 1:11 [you] strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, …

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

Heb 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace … make you complete in every good work to do his

will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, …

2 Tim 2:1 You … be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

This is the truth that Augustine recognized when he talked about “co-operative grace”. To illustrate this truth about our salvation being a partnership with God, consider the following scriptures:

HE was crucified for us (*P2);

Luke 24:20 … the [leaders] delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.

Matt 28:5 … Jesus, who has been crucified.

Acts 2:36 "… God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

1 Cor 1:23 … we preach Christ crucified …

yet WE must continually experience “crucifixion". (*P3)

Luke 9:23 [Jesus said:]“If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross,

and follow me. "

2 Cor 5:15 He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him

who for their sakes died and rose again.

Rom 6:6 … our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with,

so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. …

Gal 5:24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

Gal 6:14 … the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me,

and I to the world.

HE was a sacrifice offering for us;(*P4)

Rom 3:24-25 …Christ Jesus; whom God set forth to be an atoningsacrifice, through faith in his blood,

1 John 2:1-2 … Jesus Christ … he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins …

1 Peter 1:19 it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw. (GNT)

Eph 5:2 … Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God …

1 John 4:10 … [God]loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

yet WE must continually offer ourselves as [living] sacrifices. (*P5)

Rom 12:1 … I urge you, brothers … to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable

to God, which is your spiritual service.

1 Peter 2:5 … let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as

holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. (GNT)

Heb 13:15-16 Through him, then, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, …

don't forget to be doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

HE cleansed us; (*P6)

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to

cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:7 … if we walk in the light, as he is in the light … the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son,

cleanses us from all sin.

1 Cor 6:11 … you have been purified from sin; you have been dedicated to God; you have been put right

with God by the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (GNT)

Titus 3:5 … he saved us, through the Holy Spirit, who gives us new birth and new life by washing us.(GNT)

Heb 10:22 let's draw near [to God]… having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having

our body washed with pure water

yet WE must continue to cleanse ourselves. (*P7)

2 Cor 7:1 … let us purify ourselves from everything that makes body or soul unclean, and let us

be completely holy by living in awe of God. (GNT)

1 Peter 1:22 Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth … (GNT)

Titus 2:11-12 … grace instructs us to give up ungodly living and worldly passions, and to live

self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this world, (GNT)

James 4:8 … Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

1 John 3:3 Everyone who has this hope set on him [Christ]purifies himself, even as he is pure.

Rev 7:14 … These are those who … washed their robes, and made them white in the Lamb's

blood.

1 Tim 5:22 … Take no part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. (GNT)

HE gives us righteousness; (*P8)

2 Cor 5:21 Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in

union with him we might share the righteousness of God. (GNT)

Phil 3:9 … be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but

that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

Rom 10:3-4 For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness,

they didn't subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Rom 1:17 For in [the gospel] is revealed God's righteousness from faith …

Rom 3:21-22 But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed … even

the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all … those who believe. …

1 Cor 1:30 … you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us … righteousness …

yet WE must continue to do His righteous works. (*P9)

1 Pet 2:24 who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins,

might live to righteousness; …

Phil 1:10-11 … being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ …

Rom 6:18 You were set free from sin and became the slaves of righteousness. (GNT)

1 Tim 6:11 But you, man of God, flee these [harmful] things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, …

2 Tim 2:22 Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace …

2 Tim 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking

error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living [righteousness] (GNT)

HE has already freely given us salvation; (*P10)

Eph 2:8-9 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the

gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.

2 Tim 1:9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but

according to his own purpose and grace, …

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy,

he saved us … (GNT)

yet WE must continue to work out our salvation. (*P11)

Phil 2:12 … my beloved, even as you have always obeyed … work out your own salvation with

fear and trembling.

1 Cor 1:18 For the message about Christ's death on the cross is nonsense to those who are being

lost; but for us who are being saved it is God's power. (GNT)

Phil 3:12-14 I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect. I keep

striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won me to himself. … So I run

straight toward the goal in order to win the prize … (GNT)

2 Peter 1:10 … brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do

these things, you will never stumble.

1 Cor 15:2 … you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you -- unless you believed

in vain.

Col 1:22-23 … in order to bring you, holy, pure, and faultless, into [God’s] presence. You must,

of course, continue faithful on a firm and sure foundation, and must not allow yourselves tobe shaken from the hope you gained when you heard the gospel. (GNT)

1 Tim 4:13-16 … pay attention to reading, to exhortation, and to teaching. Don't neglect the gift

that is in you, … Be diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, that your progress may

be revealed to all. Pay attention to yourself, and to your teaching. Continue in these things, for in

doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

James 1:26 If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn't bridle his tongue,

but deceives his heart, this man's religion is worthless.

HE gives us grace; (*P12)

Eph 4:7 But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (GNT)

1 Cor 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am. …

Rom 12:6 Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, …

1 Cor 1:4-5 … the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus; that in everything you were

enriched in him, in all speech and all knowledge;

1 Peter 4:10 According as each has received a gift [spiritual empowerment], be ministering it among

yourselves, as good stewards of the grace of God in its various forms.

2 Cor 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all

sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.

Act 20:32 … his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance …

yet we must continue to live and grow in that grace. (*P13)

2 Pet 3:18 But continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (GNT)

1 Cor 15:10 … His grace which was bestowed on me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them;

yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Titus 2:11-12 For God has revealed his grace for the salvation of all people. That grace instructs us to

give up ungodly living and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this

world (GNT)

2 Cor 1:12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity

of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, …

1 Pet 1:13 … prepare your minds for action, be sober and set your hope fully on the grace that will be

brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ --

HE makes us holy; (*P14)

Col 1:22 But now, by means of the physical death of his Son, God has made you his friends,

in order to bring you, holy, pure, and faultless, into his presence. (GNT)

Heb 10:10 …we have been sanctified[made holy] through the offering of the body of

Jesus Christ once for all.

Heb 13:12 … that [Jesus] might sanctify[make holy]the people through his own blood, …

Eph 1:4 … chosen us to be his through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and

without fault before him. … (GNT)

1 Cor 1:30 God has brought you into union with Christ Jesus … By him we are put right with God; we

become God's holy people and are set free. (GNT)

Heb 2:11 For both he who sanctifies[makes men holy] and those who are sanctified[made holy]

are all from one [family] … he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

2 Thes 2:13 … saved by the Spirit's power to make you his holy people … (GNT)

yet WE must continue to live holy lives. (*P15)

Col 1:22-23 … to presentyou holy and without blemish and blameless before him, if it is so that

you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the

gospel …

1 Pet 1:15 but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your

behavior;

2 Tim 2:21 Those who make themselves clean from all those evil things, will be used for special purposes,

because they are dedicated [made holy, NIV]and useful to their Master, ready to be used for every good deed. (GNT)

Heb 12:14 … try to live a holy life, because no one will see the Lord without it. (GNT)

2 Pet 3:11 Since all these things will be destroyed …’ what kind of people should you be? Your

lives should be holy and dedicated to God (GNT)

2 Tim 1:9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling …

1 Cor 1:2 To the church of God … to all who are called to be God's holy people (GNT)

1 Peter 1:2 You were chosen according to the purpose of God the Father and were made a holy people

by his Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be purified by his blood. May grace and peace be yours

in full measure. (GNT)

1 Thes 4:7 God did not call us to live in immorality, but in holiness. (GNT)

Rom 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brothers … to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,

acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service [worship].

1 Thes 4:3 God wants you to be holy and completely free from sexual immorality. … (GNT)

HE produces good fruit in us; (*P16)

John 15:5 “I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same

bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Phil 1:11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ …

Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. …

yet WE must continue to produce good fruit. (*P17)

John 15:4 “Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can't bear fruit by itself, unless it remains

in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.”

John 15:16 [Jesus said:] “… I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit …"

John 15:8 “My Father's glory is shown by your bearing much fruit; and in this way you become my

disciples. (GNT)

Matt 7:16 “By their fruits you will know them.”

HE empowers us to do good works; (*P18)

Phil 2:12-13 … work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you

both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

Col 1:29 To get this done I toil and struggle, using the mighty strength which Christ supplies

and which is at work in me. (GNT)

2 Peter 1:3 God's divine power has given us everything we need to live a truly religious life … (GNT)

Heb 13:21 May the God of peace provide you with every good thing you need in order to do his will,

and may he, through Jesus Christ, do in us what pleases him.(GNT)

2 Thes 1:11 We ask our God to make you worthy of the life he has called you to live. May he fulfill by his

power all your desire for goodness and [he] complete your work of faith. (GNT)

2 Cor 3:5 There is nothing in us that allows us to claim that we are capable of doing this work. The capacity

we have comes from God; (GNT)

yet WE must continue to use his power to do good works. (*P19)

Phil 2:12-13 … even as you have always obeyed … work out your own salvation …

Col 1:29 To get this done I toil and struggle, using the mighty strength which Christ supplies and

which is at work in me. (GNT)

2 Peter 1:5-10 …do your best to add [to your faith] goodness … knowledge … self-control … endurance …

godliness … Christian affection … love. These are the qualities you need, and if you have them in abundance, they will make you active and effective … try even harder to make God's call and his choice of you a permanent experience; if you do so, you will never abandon your faith. (GNT)

James 2:22 You see that faith worked with [Abraham’s] works, and by works faith was perfected;

HE is building; (*P20)

1 Cor 3:9 For we are … God's building.

Eph 2:19-22 … the household of God, being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,