"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might."  Ephesians 6:10"But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation."  1 Thessalonians 5:4-8 “What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture.”  Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death (1985) SALVATION SEEN AS:• A process of divine grace being gradually (infused) in an individual through a prescribed system.• A legal act whereby we are declared righteous in the sight of the living God by virtue of the work of Jesus on the cross for our sins (imputation)."For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."  2 Corinthians 5:21IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS:1. Builds confidence/assurance."Of this article nothing can be yielded or surrendered, even though heaven and earth, and whatever will not abide [all created things], should sink to ruin. For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved, says Peter (Acts 4:12). And with his stripes we are healed (Isa. 53:5). And upon this article all things depend which we teach and practice in opposition to the pope, the devil, and the world. Therefore, we must be sure concerning this doctrine, and not doubt; for otherwise all is lost, and the pope and devil and all things gain the victory and suit [rule] over us."  Martin Luther, The Smalcald Articles2. Leads to the full embrace of life.New City Catechism: Question 26Q: What else does Christ’s death redeem?A: Christ’s death is the beginning of the redemption and renewal of every part of fallen creation, as he powerfully directs all things for his own glory and creation’s good.3. Leads to joy and hope because of the unchanging nature of the mercy of God."I change- He changes not;the Christ can never die;His love, not mine, the resting place;His truth, not mine, the tie.My love is oft-times low;my joy still ebbs and flows;but peace with Him remains the same;no change Jehovah knows."Bonar, I Hear the Words of Love“...dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.”  Edward Mote, My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less (1834)4. Leads to a compelling nature of justification. “We shall be made truly free when God fashions us, that is forms and creates us new, not as men– for he has done that already– but as good men, which his grace is now doing, that we may be a new creation in Christ Jesus.”  Augustine (354–430 AD)Freed by grace, driven by love. New City Catechism: Question 29Q: How can we be saved?A: Only by faith in Jesus Christ and in his substitutionary atoning death on the cross; so even though we are guilty of having disobeyed God and are still inclined to all evil, nevertheless, God, without any merit of our own but only by pure grace, imputes to us the perfect righteousness of Christ when we repent and believe in him. Speaker: Buster Brown