CHAPTER 10: THE STUDY OF SALVATION (SOTERIOLOGY)

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The study of sin showed us clearly the great need for salvation. The study of salvation is called "soteriology," from the Greek word for "Savior¡¨ (Soter).

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1. THE NEED FOR SALVATION

We need God's salvation for two reasons:

  1. We are sinful. We are guilty and we need pardon. We are dead spiritually and we need life. Read Romans 5:12, 18, 19; 6:16; 8:5-8; Genesis 6:5; Ephesians 2:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4:3, 4; Isaiah 53:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:20-23; Romans 1:21-32; 3:19-23.

  2. God is righteous. God is holy. He will punish sin. He will "by no means clear the guilty¡¨ (Exodus 34:6, 7). There is eternal punishment away from God's presence. See John 8:21, 24; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:22-21; Revelation 20:11-15.

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2. THE PROVISION FOR SALVATION

The Gospel is good news. The Bible clearly teaches us two things:

  1. Christ came to be the Savior of sinners (Matthew 1:21). He became man so that He could provide salvation for you. Read John 3:16, 17; Mark 10:45; Matthew 9:12, 13; John 10:11, 15-18.

  2. Christ provided this salvation through His death and resurrection. Christ bore our sins in His own body. All of God's judgment against your sin fell on Christ. He fully satisfied God's righteous claims against sinners when He died for you. God showed that He accepted Christ's sacrifice for you when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own righr hand. Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:5; Romans 5:6-9; Acts 4:10-12, 5:31, 17:31.

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3. HOW TO GET SALVATION

All the work needed for our salvation was finished by Christ. We can be saved by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 16:31 says, "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved."  You cannot earn this salvation by your own good works. See Ephesians 2:8-9.

By a definite act of the will we must receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our own personal Savior (John 1:12). This is a very important act. Right now you may say from your heart: "Lord Jesus, I know that I am a guilty, lost sinner, but I believe that you took my sins on yourself and died in my place. I believe that there is nothing I can do to save myself and that you finished all the work needed to save me. I receive you now as my own Savior.¡¨

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4. HOW TO BE SURE OF SALVATION

How can we know for certain that we are saved? We can know because God has shown us plainly in His Word. In Christ he is safe and secure forever. Read Acts 13:38; 1 John 2:12; Ephesians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 John 5:13; Romans 5:1; 8:1; John 10:27-30.

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5. THE SCOPE OF SALVATION

Salvation has to do with the past, the present and the future.

The past. We are saved from the penalty of sin (John 5:25; Romans 8:1).

The present. We are also saved from the power of sin and from its control over us. At the time we believe, the Holy Spirit comes to live on us and He gives us a divine nature. As believers, we can enjoy deliverance from the power of sin in our lives (1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Peter 1:3, 4; Romans 6:1-14). However, we are still able to sin. We still have the evil nature called "the flesh."  If we want to be free from the power of sin, we must do the following:

  1. Read and study the Word of God and obey it (2 Timothy 2:15; James 1:22).

  2. Yield our bodies to God for a righteous and useful life (Romans 6:13; 12;1, 2).

  3. Always keep in touch with God by prayer (Hebrews 4:14-16).

  4. Immediately confess to God every sin we know about and try with God's help not to do it again (1 John 1:8, 9; Titus 2:11-15).

The future. Some day we will be free from the presence of sin. This will be when Christ returns. He will raise those believers in Christ who have died and He will change those believers in Christ who are alive so that they cannot die (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). This is the final part of our salvation that we are looking for (Hebrews 9:28).

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6. THE RESULTS OF SALVATION

There are many results of salvation (Ephesians 1:3-14):

  1. Peace with God (Romans 5:1).

  2. Acceptance as sons in God's family (Ephesians 1:5; John 1:12; Galatians 4:5, 6).

  3. Joy in God as His children (Romans 5:10, 11; 8:14-17; Galatians 3:26-4:7).

  4. Living for God (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15; Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 4:2-5).

  5. Service to God in doing good works and telling others about Him (Ephesians 2:10; Matthew 5:16; Mark 16:15).

  6. Worship, praise and prayer to God (John 4:23, 24; Hebrews 10:18-22; 13:15; 4:14-16).

  7. An eternal home in heaven (John 14:1-3; Revelation 22:1-5).

So, accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior now!

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7. BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR FURTHER STUDY

  1. William MacDonald - What the Bible Teaches (Emmaus Bible College).

  2. R.E. Harlow - Basic Bible Doctrines (Emmaus Bible College).

  3. Robert L. Saucy - The Church in God's Program.

  4. William Baker - Survey of Theology II - Understanding Salvation (Moody Bible Institute).

  5. Anderson, Sir Robert - The Gospel and Its Ministry (Glasgow: Pickering and Inglis).

  6. Chafer, Lewis S. - Salvation (Chicago: Moody Press).

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Return to Table of Contents

Go to Chapter Eleven 

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