CVF101: Foundation and Salvation

Lesson 1: Understanding the Core Principles of Christian Faith

Purpose:
1. To provide a foundational understanding of Christian faith.
2. To explore the essential doctrines concerning God, humanity and
salvation.
3. To equip attendees with core biblical truths for spiritual growth.

Course Objectives:
• Define “Foundation” and ”Salvation” in a Christian context
• Identify key attributes of God
• Understand the nature and consequence of sin
• Grasp the significance of Jesus Christ’s work
• Explain how salvation is received and lived out
FOUNDATION – The Nature and Attributes of God

Who is God?
He is the Supreme Being, Creator of all things.

Key Attributes:

• Omnipotent – All-powerful (Jeremiah 32:17)

• Omniscient – All-knowing (Psalm 139:1-6)
• Omnipresent – Present everywhere (Psalm 139:7-12)
• Eternal – Without beginning or end (Psalm 90:2)
• Holy – Set apart, perfect purity (Isaiah 6:3)
FOUNDATION – The Nature and Attributes of God

Key Attributes:

• Just/Righteous – Always fair and right (Deuteronomy 32:4)

• Loving/Merciful – Compassionate, gracious (John 3:16, Ephesians
2:4-5)
• Unchanging – Consistent in character and purpose (Malachi 3:6)
 One God in Three Persons:
The Holy Trinity
God the Father: The planner,
creator, ultimate authority.

God the Son (Jesus Christ):

The redeemer, revealer of the
Father, incarnate Word.

God the Holy Spirit: The

comforter, guide, empowerer,
indwelling presence.
 Biblical Basis:
The Holy Trinity
Genesis 1:26 ("Let us make man in
our image")

Matthew 28:19 (The Great

Commission - baptizing in the
name of the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit)

2 Corinthians 13:14 (Benediction -

grace of Lord Jesus Christ, love of
God, fellowship of Holy Spirit)
 The Act of Creation:
God as Creator • God created the heavens and the earth "ex
nihilo" (out of nothing) - Genesis 1:1

• Creation was intentional, orderly, and good

(Genesis 1:31).

Purpose of Creation:
• To glorify God (Psalm 19:1).
• To share His love and goodness.

Humanity's Special Place:

• Created in God's image (Imago Dei) - Genesis
1:26-27.
• Given dominion over creation (Genesis 1:28).
• Designed for relationship with God.
The BIBLE: God’s Revealed Word
"All Scripture is God-
breathed"
(2 Timothy 3:16).

Written by human
authors, guided by the
Holy Spirit
(2 Peter 1:20-21).
The BIBLE: God’s Revealed Word
Purpose of the Bible:
1. To reveal God's character and plan.
2. To teach, rebuke, correct, and train in
righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).
3. To lead us to salvation through faith in
Christ (John 5:39).

How to Approach the Bible:

1. Read it regularly.
2. Study it diligently (observation,
interpretation, application).
3. Pray for understanding.
Humanity and the Problem of Sin
Original State of Humanity:
Created innocent and in perfect
fellowship with God (Genesis 2).
Given free will.

The Fall (Genesis 3):

Disobedience of Adam and Eve.
Introduction of sin into the world.
Humanity and the Problem of Sin
Consequences of the Fall:
1. Separation from God: Spiritual death
(Romans 6:23).

2. Corruption of Human Nature: Inherited

sinfulness (Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:23).

3. Physical Death: (Romans 5:12).

4. Broken Relationships: With God, self,

others, and creation.
Humanity and the Problem of Sin
The Nature of Sin:

1.Missing the mark of God's

perfect standard.
2.Rebellion against God's will.
3.Any thought, word, or deed
contrary to God's law
Salvation – The Problem and God’s Solution
The Dilemma:

• God is holy and just; He cannot tolerate sin.

• Humanity is sinful and separated from God.
• How can a holy God reconcile with sinful
humanity without compromising His justice?

Humanity's Inability to Save Itself:

• No amount of good works can remove sin
(Ephesians 2:8-9).
• Religious rituals or self-effort are insufficient.

God's Initiative:
• Out of His great love and mercy, God provided a solution.
• His plan of salvation is revealed throughout Scripture.
Salvation – Jesus Christ: The Core of Salvation
Who is Jesus?
Fully God: Equal with the Father (John 1:1,
Philippians 2:6).
Fully Man: Born of a virgin, lived a human life
(John 1:14, Hebrews 4:15).
The perfect God-man, uniquely qualified to bridge
the gap between God and humanity.

His Earthly Ministry:

Taught God's truth.
Performed miracles, demonstrating His divine
power.
Lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15).
Salvation – Jesus Christ: The Core of Salvation
His Sacrificial Death:
Died on the cross as a substitute for
humanity's sins (Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians
5:21).
The Atonement: Jesus paid the penalty for
our sins, satisfying God's justice.

His Victorious Resurrection:

Rose from the dead on the third day,
conquering sin and death (1 Corinthians
15:3-4).
Proved His deity and validated His claims.
Salvation – The Only Way
Jesus' Exclusive Claim:
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through
Me" (John 14:6).
There is no other name under heaven by
which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

Why Only Jesus?

Only He lived a sinless life.
Only He is both God and man, able to
represent both.
Only His sacrifice was perfect and
sufficient to atone for all sin.
Salvation – Receiving Salvation
It's a Gift, Not Earned:
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should
boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Key Components of Receiving Salvation:

Repentance: A change of mind leading to a change of direction;

turning away from sin and towards God (Acts 3:19).

Faith: Trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. Believing in His

death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins (Romans 10:9-10).
Confession: Acknowledging Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9).
Baptism (as a public declaration): A symbolic act of identifying with
Christ's death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4).
Living Out Salvation
Salvation isn’t just a one-time event—it’s a three-part process that
unfolds in the life of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Understanding justification, sanctification, and glorification helps
you rest in God’s grace, walk in truth, and hope in your future.

Let’s take a look at each part—rightly divided (2 Timothy 2:15)

1. Justification
2. Sanctification
3. Glorification
 Living Out Salvation
What Happens After Salvation?
1. Justification – You Are Declared Righteous
What it means: Justification is a legal declaration from God that you are righteous in
His sight, not because of your works, but because of Christ’s finished work.

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” –
Romans 3:24
“Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ.” – Romans 5:1
Justification happens the moment you trust the gospel:
Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again – 1 Corinthians 15:3–4
It’s a gift, not a process. You don’t earn it. You don’t improve it. You simply believe.
Not by water baptism, not by confession, not by law-keeping.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he
saved us…” – Titus 3:5
 Living Out Salvation
What Happens After Salvation?
2. Sanctification – You Are Set Apart to Walk in Holiness
What it means:
Sanctification is the process of being set apart unto God. It’s about your daily walk and
growing in the knowledge of truth.
There are two kinds:
• Positional sanctification – happens at salvation (1 Cor. 6:11)
• Practical sanctification – your ongoing walk by faith (1 Thess. 4:3)
“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification…” – 1 Thessalonians 4:3
“That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” – Ephesians
5:26
Sanctification is NOT about staying saved—you are already saved!
But it is about walking in the identity you already have in Christ.
You grow by renewing your mind through the rightly divided Word of God (Rom. 12:2),
not by keeping Israel’s law or following church traditions.
“Ye are not under the law, but under grace.” – Romans 6:14
 Living Out Salvation
What Happens After Salvation?
3. Glorification – You Will Be Perfected Forever
What it means:
Glorification is the future completion of your salvation—when you receive a new,
glorified body and are fully conformed to the image of Christ.

“Whom he justified, them he also glorified.” – Romans 8:30

“We shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” – 1 Corinthians 15:49

This will happen at the Rapture, when:

• Dead in Christ rise
• Living saints are caught up
• All are changed (1 Thess. 4:16–17, 1 Cor. 15:51–53)
No more sin, no more struggle, no more imperfection.
The Role of the Holy Spirit
1. Indwells believers (1 Corinthians 6:19).
2. Empowers for Christian living and
service.
3. Guides, teaches, and comforts.
4. Produces the fruit of the Spirit
(Galatians 5:22-23).

Discipleship and Christian Living:

Growing in knowledge of God's Word.
Prayer and fellowship with other
believers.
Obedience to God's commands.
Serving others.
Salvation – Eternal Life and Assurance
The Promise of Eternal Life:
Not just life after death, but a new quality of life
that begins now in Christ (John 17:3).
Living forever in God's presence.

Assurance of Salvation:
Based on God's promises in His Word, not on
feelings (1 John 5:13).
The Holy Spirit bears witness (Romans 8:16).
Evidenced by a changed life and desire to follow
Christ.

The Hope of Christ's Return:

Looking forward to His second coming and the full
realization of God's kingdom.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!