© F.O’Donoghue 2007
The word ’salvation’ in Greek is soteria, derived from the word soter meaning savior. The study of the doctrine of salvation is known as soteriology.
In theology, the word “salvation” denotes the work of God on behalf of men, and is the main doctrine of the Bible.
A complex study of salvation includes the doctrines of sovereign grace, faith, redemption, reconciliation, conviction, propitiation, repentance, expiation, forgiveness, substitution, regeneration, justification, sanctification, preservation, and glorification, but we will study each of these doctrines independently.
When we look at man’s depravity and rebellion, when we see how destructive and wilfull man is, it is easy to ask why God should desire to save sinners. Why would God offer up His beloved Son to face the agony of God’s holy judgment in bearing our sin on the cross?
Well, for one thing, we were chosen before the foundation of the world, and secondly, salvation brings glory to God and manifestly reveals the nature and character of His person through grace;
Eph 1:4-6 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Phil 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Further reasons for salvation;
The doctrine of salvation reveals God’s love; that God would reach down to fallen, sinful man by sending His only begotten Son is the greatest expression of love in the universe.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1 John 4:7-10 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
The doctrine of salvation also reveals God’s sovereign grace (non-meritorious favor). Only Christ offers free salvation based on sovereign grace rather than works. Every other religion in the world has man working to acquire salvation.
Eph. 2:7-9 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The doctrine of salvation also reveals the holiness of God. Because of His infinate love for us, God desires that we would fellowship with Him, but man’s rebellion and sin creates a barrier between himself and God which prevents fellowship due to God’s absolute holiness. God cannot look upon sin. It is only through the redemptive work of God’s Son; Jesus, that man can be reconciled to God.
The term salvation in scripture, encompasses various aspects of the total work of God by which He desires to rescue man from the ruination and power of sin, bestowing upon him the wealth of His grace. This includes sonship, eternal life, and full provision for abundant life both now, and in ultimate glory;
Eph. 1:3-8 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 2:4-10 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
1 Pet 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:36 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Past, present and Future Salvation
It is important to understand salvation in it’s relation to these three tenses. It is from that premise, that we can understand more of the nature of salvation in regard to our eternal security, as well as our ongoing sanctification.
The ‘past tense’ of salvation in scripture deals with sin’s penalty. Salvation in regard to the Adamic sin in Eden is already accomplished for the one who has believed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. This aspect views the believer as delivered once and for all from the penalty of sin, which is spiritual death (also known as the second death). In this way, we see scripture referring to the believer as saved in the past tense (already saved);
1 Cor 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
2 Cor 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
(See also Titus 3:5; Hebrews 7:25 & 2 Timothy 1:9)
The work of God in Christ is so complete, that the believer is declared permanently saved and safe forever;
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 10:28, 29 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:37-39 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Pet 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
The ‘present tense’ of salvation in scripture has to do with the on-going deliverance over the remaining power of sin within the carnal nature of a believer (the 6th chapter of Romans deals entirely with this, and should be read to gain understanding of the concept). The Biblical ‘present tense’ of salvation in Christ is accomplished through the ministry of the indwelling Spirit, but it is based on the work of Christ on the cross, and the believer’s submission to that work;
Rom 8:1,2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
(See also Gal 2:19-20; 5:1-26; Phil. 1:19; 2:12-13; 2 Thess. 2:13)
The ‘future tense’ of salvation in scripture refers to the future deliverance of all believers in Christ, through a glorified resurrected body. We are saved from the penalty of sin (past tense), and we are being delivered from the power of sin in our flesh, we have yet to be saved into the full conformity of Jesus Christ. The Christian never becomes perfect in this life, but the fact that some aspects of salvation for the the believer are yet to be accomplished, does not diminish the promise as to the outcome of eternal salvation, because evey phase of salvation is entirely dependent upon the merit and the work of God through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ;
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
1 Pet 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Phil 3:12-14 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
The final words of the Savior just before He died on the cross were, “It is finished.” He was declaring He had finished the special work of salvation which the Father had given Him to accomplish. Christians refer to ’the finished work of Christ’ because there is nothing left to be done to provide man’s salvation. God has done it all in the person and work of His Son whom He raised from the dead as proof of that very fact. The work of God in Christ is a once-and-for-all work, fully accomplished by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. This substitutionary work was accomplished for the entire world (John 3:16; Heb. 2:9) and, provisionally speaking, it provides
a.) Redemption; 1 Tim. 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
b.) Reconciliation; 2 Cor. 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
c.) Propitiation; (the appeasement/satisfaction of God’s holiness) 1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Salvation is a completed proposition, and man’s responsibility is to accept this by faith, which can be in Christ alone regarding both deliverance from the penalty of sin, and from the power of sin.
Christ’s work is finished, and this means that salvation is not a work of man for God. When a person comes to Christ, he acknowledges that he cannot save himself but now recognizes and accepts the work of salvation which God has wrought for him in Christ. It is a gift, and it is free. It originates in God’s purposes rather than man’s, therefore any legalistic approach that elevates human works as a ground for salvation is gross error.
