Bible Soteriology in English

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SOTERIOLOGY

Introduction

Jesus said "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man

give in return for his soul? (Mt. 16:26). The most important need of any man whether he realizes it or not, is

the salvation of his soul. No man can save his or any body else's soul by human effort (Ps.49:7-8). Salvation is

by trusting Christ and his work of salvation accomplished on the cross. Christ's death on the cross is the

ultimate demonstration of God's love for the lost man (Jn.3:16). It is the realization of man's lostness and

appropriation of God's demonstrated love that leads some one to salvation. Ultimately it is the grace of God

that lets any one to be saved.

A. Lostness of man

1. What (Meaning of lostness)?

➢ Sinful state of man is called lostness. He is in a state need to be brought back to the owner or need to

be restored. (Luke 15.)

➢ Man is away from the God or the creator- Relationship with God is broken (Eph.2:13)

➢ Jesus likened lost people to a lost sheep (Lk.15)

➢ Other comparison by Jesus: Patients (Lk.5:31); death (Lk.15:24) etc.

➢ Lost people are dead in their sins and transgression Eph.2:1

➢ Judgment and punishment is awaiting for the lost Heb. 9:27 (Taken from

➢ Lost people are object of God's wrath Eph.2:3

2. When and How?

➢ It happened in the Garden of Eden. (Gen. 2:16-17; 3.)

➢ We are born as lost or sinners. (Ps.51:5) We are born with the inherent nature of sinfulness (Rom.

7:18-19)j (Gen. 6:5). Every body is lost or sinner, it is a universal issue (Rom. 3:23; 10; Ps. 14:1,3). we

are sinners not because we commit rather we commit because we are sinners.

3. Way out

➢ Jesus is the way- back to home (Jn.14:6). Jesus said, "the son of man came to seek and to save the lost"

(Lk.19"10)

➢ Man need to be aware of his lostness (2 Cor.4:4)

B. Need of salvation

The fallen state of man or the lostness of man demands salvation to escape from the eternal hell.

1. Because we are lost or sinners (Rom. 3:23, Isa.53:6; 1Pet.2:25)

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➢ We stand condemned because of our relation to Adam's sin (Rom.5:12

➢ Indewlling sin nature in man (Rom. 6:12; 7:17-20) We are born with sin nature (Ps. 51:5)

➢ We all commit sin, which is the inevitable fruit of the sin nature (Rom.3:9-23). Every body needs to be

saved (Rom.3:23)

To deny sin is to deny many facts and evidences:

• Scriptural statement (all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God- Rom.3:23)

• Religious belief

• Our own failures

• Present day crimes

• Precautions that man takes: like using of locks, police protection etc.

2. The lostness would result in eternal punishment.

➢ The sin has separated us from God (Isa.59:2)

➢ God punishes sin (Rom.6:23)

God is a God of justice therefore he has to punish sin (Isa 30:18; Ezek. 18:20; Rom.6:23).

The body of man will perish as he dies, but man has a soul that does not cease to exist as man dies ( Heb.

9:27). The unsaved would go to hell, eternal separation from God (Mt.25:41,46; 5:22; Rev.21:8)

3. We cannot save ourselves because:

➢ The sin nature extends to every facet of man's nature and faculties (Rom.3:10-18)

➢ There is nothing in anyone that can commend him to a righteous God (Isa. 64:6; Eph.2:8)

➢ Inability to understand the things of God.(Rom.1:21, 22, 1 Cor. 2:14)

C. The provision of salvation

1. God's provision

➢ The provision of salvation is by God himself. Salvation of man is not an after thought of God rather it is

the plan of before the foundation of the world. (1Pet. 1:20; ph. 1:4; Rev.13:8; Mt.25:34; Tit.1:2) God

takes the initiative at the inability of man (Gen. 3:21; Gen. 22:13; Num.21:9; Jn. 3:14-15).

➢ Man is totally depraved, so he can not do anything for his salvation. (Isa. 64:6)

2. Salvation in the Old Testament

➢ Sacrificial death of Jesus Christ was the big picture or the reality of the Old Testament sacrifices that

were just shadow of the reality to come. (Heb.10:1-4)

➢ It was not by practicing law Gal.3:11; Law was a tutor to bring them to Christ (Gal.3:24)

➢ Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness (Rom.4:3; Hab.2:4)

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➢ David also saved by faith (Ps.32:1-2)

➢ Old Testament prophesied about the coming servant of the Lord, who would suffer for the sin of the

world (Isa. 53)

➢ Gospel is not an exclusively New Testament message. The old Testament contained it as well (Isa.53).

➢ The scripture foresaw that God would justify the gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in

advance t Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you" (Gal.3:8-9)

3. Salvation in the New Testament

Today we look back on the life, death, and resurrection of the savior and are saved by faith in Jesus Christ's

atonement for our sins (Rom.10:9-10)

4. Only one way

➢ God's provision of salvation is through His son Jesus Christ. And there is no other way provided by God

(Rom. 10:9; Act.4:12; Jn.14:6)

➢ God punished his Son for the sin of the world (Isa. 53:4-5; Jn.3:16).

➢ The purpose of Jesus coming to this earth was to save the lost. (Lk.19:10; Mt.18:11)

D. Doctrine of Election

By divine election God has chosen certain individuals to salvation and predestined them to be conformed to

the character of His son Jesus Christ.

1. Similar terms used

➢ Chosen- Mt. 24:22,31; Mk.13:20,22,27; Lk.18:7; Rm.8:33; Col.3:12; to Israel- Isa.44:1;45:4; to church-

Eph.1:4; 2Thes.2:13; 1Pet.2:9; to apostles-Jn.6:70; 13:18; Act.1:2)

➢ Called- Rom.8:30; 2Tim 1:9; 1Cor.1:9; 7:18,20,21; Eph.4:1,4; Col.3:15 etc.)

➢ Foreordination- (1Pet.1:20)

➢ Predestination- To predestine is to preplan a destiny. The death of Christ and its meaning were

predestined by God (Act.4:28; 1Cor.2:7) God's elect are predestined to adoption (Eph.1:5), to an

inheritance (Eph.1:11), and to ultimate conformity to Christ (Rom.8:29,30).

2. Method of election

➢ Unconditional election (1Cor.1:26-30)

➢ Election according to foreknowledge 1Pet.1:2- it is not talking about faith as condition but an

awareness of God as it is used in Act.2:23; Rom.11:2

➢ He chose us before the foundation of the world (Eph.1:4)

3. Purpose of election-

➢ For salvation (Rom.8:29-30)

➢ For good work (manward) (Eph.2:10; Jn.15:16; Gal.1:15-16)

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➢ Ultimate purpose- (Godward) His glory- (Eph.1:6; 12; 14) It is the theme of the Bible God does every

thing for his glory.

E. The meaning of the death of Christ

In a very simple way it can be stated that the meaning of the death of Christ is:

➢ It is the expression of God's love for humanity

➢ It is the one and only way for the salvation of mankind

This is the basic meaning and infact the essence of meaning of the death of Christ. But as we understand it in

more elaborate way from a doctrinal view point, the meaning is very broad; as God's servant and scholar

Charles C Ryrie points out:

1. Death of Christ was a substitution for sinners

Death of Christ was a substitutionary atonement for us. It means he died instead of us. He paid the penalty of

our sins (Mk. 10:45).

Man could atone for his sins personally only if he could suffer eternally the penalty the sin incurred. Man, of

course, could never do this, so in His love and compassion, God stepped into a hopeless situation and provided

a Vicar in Jesus Christ who did provide and eternal satisfaction for sin. (Mk. 10:45; 1Pet.3:18; 1Tim.2:6)

Substitutionary atonement in the Old Testament

The arrangements of the sacrificial system of the Old Testament included the necessity of the offeror laying his

hands on the animal being offered as a sacrifice. (Lev.4: 4,15, 24, 29) This meant transmission and delegation,

and implied representation; so that it really pointed to the substitution of the sacrifice for the sacrifice.

2. Death of Christ was a work of redemption in relation to sin

Redemption means liberation because of a payment made. For our redemption the payment was the death of

Jesus Christ.

Three aspects of our redemption:

➢ Redeemed from the slavery of sin (Tit.2:14)

➢ Redeemed by the blood of Christ (1Tim.2:6; 1Pet. 1:18-19; Rev.5:9-10)

➢ Redeemed to a state of freedom to serve the Lord (1Cor.6:20; 7:22-23)

3. Death of Christ was a work of reconciliation in relation to man

Reconciliation means a change of relationship from hostility to harmony and peace between two parties.

People can be reconciled to each other (Mt.5:24); people can be reconciled to God (Rom.5:1-11' 2Cor.5:18-21;

Eph.2:14-16; Col.1:20).

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➢ Need of reconciliation- Because of sin God and man are in a relationship of hostility and

enmity.(Rom.5:9; 11:28)

➢ Means of reconciliation- Reconciliation comes about through the death of the Lord Jesus (Rom.5:10).

God made him to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. The death of

Christ completely changed man's former state of enmity into one of righteousness and complete

harmony with a righteous God.

➢ Object of reconciliation- According 2Cor.5:19, God in Christ reconciled the world to Himself. The word

of mankind is clearly the object of reconciliation. Rom.5:10 agrees by stating that we were reconciled

to God. "God is the one who is active in reconciliation (2Cor. 5:18-19), and men are said to be

reconciled (Rom. 5:10; 2Cor.5:20), they are acted upon by God. Thus believers are said to receive

reconciliation. They are recipients of a relationship of peace and harmony brought about by God.

➢ Provision and application of Reconciliation- God's provision of reconciliation is universal. Because of

the death of Christ the position of the world was changes; people are now able to be saved. But that

alone saves no one, for the ministry of reconciliation must be faithfully discharged by proclaiming the

Gospel massage. When an individual; believes, then he receives the reconciliation God provided in

Christ's death (2Cor.5:18-21). The world has been reconciled, but people need to be reconciled. The

universal reconciliation changes the position of the world from an unsalvable condition to a salvable

one. Individual reconciliation through faith actually brings that reconciliation in the individual's life and

changes the position of the individual from unsaved to saved. Then, and only then, are his sins for gives,

though they were paid for on the cross.

4. Death of Christ was an act of propitiation in relation to God

Propitiation means the turning away of wrath by an offering. In relation to salvation, propitiation mean

placating or satisfying the wrath of God by the atoning sacrifice of Christ.

➢ The need for propitiation: The wrath of God- The reality of the wrath of God raises the need for

appeasing that wrath or for propitiation. Everywhere sin constitutes the reason for God's wrath.

(Deut.6:14; Jos.23:16; Jn.3:36; Rom.1:18). To appease that wrath was not a matter or vengeance but of

justice, and it required the sacrificial gift of God's son.

➢ The provision of propitiation: The sacrifice of Christ- 1Jn.2:2 and 4:10 stress the fact that Christ himself

is the offering that turns away the wrath of God. He is not called the propitiator as if to allow for the

possibility that he might have used some other means of propitiation in outside of himself. He is the

offering.

➢ Appropriation of propitiation- By the death of Christ God is satisfied, so a sinner doesn't need to do any

thing to satisfy God. Everything has been done by God himself. The sinner can and need only receive

the gift of righteousness God offers. Receive the savior who through his death satisfied the wrath of

God.

F. Result of salvation

1. Justification (Rom.5:1)

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To justify means to declare righteous. The concept does not mean to make righteous, but to announce

righteous (2Cor.5:21). it is a courtroom concept, so that to justify is to give a verdict of righteous. It is related

to the concept of God as judge (2Tim.4:8; Act. 10:42)

➢ we are justified by faith (Rom.3:21-22; Rom.5:1)

➢ We have peace with God (Rom.5:1)

➢ No one can condemn us (Rom.8:33-34)

2. Forgiveness of sin

➢ We have forgiveness of our sins through the blood of Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:7; Act. 10:43; Col.3:13)

➢ We believers need to ask forgiveness for our sins, every time we commit (1Jn. 1:9)

3. Adoption in to His family (Eph.2:20)

➢ We are adopted as sons (Eph. 1:5; Rom.8:14-15)

➢ We are fellow heirs with Christ (Rom.8:17; Col.1:12; Eph.1:11)

4. Regeneration

➢ Regeneration, or rebirth, is the impartation of eternal life in the spiritual realm. The separation of man

from God is viewed in Scripture as “spiritual death.” It is the result of sin (Eph. 2:1).

➢ “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

➢ We are born again by the Spirit of God and by the gospel message that has been preserved in God’s

written Word (John 3:5; 1 Pet. 1:22-25).

➢ By regeneration we are born again, we receive new life, we become new creations in Christ Jesus. Old

things are passed away, all things are new (2 Cor. 5:17). We put on the new man (Col. 3:10).

➢ We can and should walk in newness of life. As sons of God we are also heirs of God (Gal. 4:7) and co-

heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17). As sons we are also subject to the Father’s chastening, which is only for

sons, the ones He loves (Heb. 12:6).

5. Eternal life

➢ blessed hope of his coming (1Thes.4:16-17)

➢ dead in Christ will be resurrected (1Thes.4:16-17)

➢ those believing in Christ will be caught up and body will be transformed (1Thes.4:16-17)

➢ eternity with him (1Thes.4:16-17)

6. Gift of Holy spirit

➢ we are sealed by the holy spirit for the day of redemption (Eph.1:13-14)

➢ We have the permanent indwelling of the holy spirit (Jn.14:16; 1Cor.3:16)

All these results or the benefits of salvation we receive the very moment we are saved or receive Jesus Christ

as our saviour

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G. Application of salvation

1. Conviction (Jn.16:8-11)

➢ It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit

➢ It is convincing or refuting an opponent so that he has the matter set before him in a clear light

whether he accepts or rejects the evidence.

➢ Spirit of God may use different method for different people (sharing of God's word, speaking to man's

conscience, spoken testimony, preached word)

➢ Person can accept or reject.

2. Grace of God (Eph.2:5,8; Tit.2:11)

➢ Meaning of the grace is "the state of kindness and favor toward someone, often with a focus on a

benefit given to the object"

➢ Grace is what God does because he is gracious

➢ Every action of God toward us involves his grace. His creation, his providence, his conviction, his

equipping of the saints, and the future he has prepared for us.

➢ Our salvation is the most visible manifestation of his grace. (Eph.2:5,8)

➢ Our salvation is not because of anything we have done. He offered his salvation to us simply as an act

of his grace.

2. Faith (Eph.2:8-9; Rom.3:22,28; Rom.4:5)

➢ Belief and trust in the message of the gospel (Rom.10:9)

➢ It is faith in the Christ that saves a believing person (Jn.3:16)

➢ Salvation cannot be achieved by work but faith (Eph.2:8-9)

3. Repentance (Act.26:20)

➢ Precise meaning of repentance in the New Testament is not just 'turning from sin'

➢ Repentance in the New Testament means to turn around

➢ changing one's mind from rejection of Christ to faith in Christ. (Act.2:38)

4. Conversion (Act.26: 18)

➢ It is the positive response towards the gospel

➢ One's turning to God based on the gospel

➢ Conversion begins with the gracious gift of new life and gives rise to a genuine faith and repentance

that continue throughout the Christian life.

➢ Biblical concept of conversion is not forced by anything external but by the conviction of the spirit of

God

➢ A person is a Christian only if God's holy spirit is dwelling in him or her (Rom.8:9)

5. New life

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➢ Through regeneration man has received a new spiritual life.

➢ He is a new creation with a new heart, a new spirit, new desires, and new joys. This new life is the life

of Christ within him. It is lived through the power of the Holy Spirit (II Cor 5:17; Gal 2:20; Gal 5:16)

Responsibility of new life:

1. Responsibility of witnessing (Mt.28:19-20; Act.1:8; Lk. 8:39)

2. Responsibility of living a new life (2Cor. 5:17; Rom.6:4)

➢ we have to consider dead to sin and alive to God (Rom.6:11)

➢ Live in the newness of life (Rom.6:4)

3. Responsibility of fruit bearing (Phil.2:12)

➢ Bearing fruit is the sign of new life in Christ (Jn.15:1-9)

➢ Bearing fruit is the sign of being his disciple (Jn.15:9)

➢ Fruit of the spirit: (Gal.5:22-23)

Conclusion

Work of salvation is accomplished by Jesus Christ; man only needs to appropriate it. Depth of God's love seen

on the cross and the greatness of the work of salvation cannot be comprehended in its completeness by any

one. Only we can appreciate it as much we understand. Paul says in Rom.13: 11 "Besides this you know the

time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first

believed". The time is nearing for the redeemed to meet the redeemer, for the final redemption, for receiving

the reward (1Cor.3:8) and all he has kept for those who love him (1Cor.2:9). Let's continue serving him in the

blessed hope of his coming.