No 33

(Soteriology)

The purpose of the brief studies we do in doctrine is to simply familiarize ourselves with the terms that are used in Christian theological studies and are in no way exhaustive studies; in fact, many volumes of books have been written on each subject. So far, we have seen – Hamartiology (Doctrine of sin, study # 205); Christology (Doctrine of Christ, study # 214). We now come to the doctrine of Salvation – Soteriology.

The word is derived from the Greek sôtêrion salvation (from soter, savior, preserver) + English – logy. This word stands for the doctrine of salvation effected by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.

The basic tenets of Christian soteriology may be summarized as follows: man is deserving of damnation by God for sin which he inherits by descent from Adam and for his own actual sin. Furthermore, sin puts man in the power of the devil. Therefore, Christ's work of salvation has a twofold purpose: 1) His crucifixion is a vicarious sacrifice offered to God as propitiation or atonement for our sin. 2) It is the price paid to redeem man from the devil.

The concept of the salvation of God is just as prevalent in the Old Testament (115 times) as in the New Testament (43 times) and it has always been by grace through faith:

Ø “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,” Romans 4:16

Ø “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Ephesians 2:8

Ø “ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” Titus 2:11

Therefore, heaven is available to all simply by accepting the grace gift of God – not by things that we do or by our own merit. We have no redeeming qualities whatsoever; I have stopped asking myself : why me, Lord? All I say now is thank you.