[5] Rom. 5:1, 2. Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
vi. the freeness of salvation
We believe the Scriptures teach that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel:[1] that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith;[2] and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own determined depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel;[3] which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.[4]
[1] Isa. 55:1. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye in the waters. Rev. 22:17. Whosoever will; let him take the water of life freely.
[2] Acts 17:30. And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent. Rom. 16:26; Mark 1:15; Rom. 1:15–17.
[3] John 5:40. Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life. Matt. 23:37; Rom. 9:32.
[4] John 3:19. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. Matt. 11:20; Luke 19:27; 2 Thess. 1:8.
vii. regeneration
We believe the Scriptures teach that in order to be saved, men must be regenerated, or born again;[1] that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind;[2] that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the Holy Spirit, in connection with Divine truth,[3] so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel;[4] and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life.[5]
[1] John 3:3. Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:6, 7; 1 Cor. 1:14; Rev. 3:7–9; Rev. 21:27.