SOTERIOLOGY: (THE STUDY OF SALVATION)
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF SALVATION?
The word “salvation” (soteria) is used in different ways. It can be defined as deliverance from the penalty, pollution and power of sin.
(Rom. 6:14, 23, Titus 3:4-6).
It is the deliverance of the sinful man from sin, Satan, and Hell fire to righteousness and heaven.
While most people struggle to be saved from social embarrassment, poor health, poverty or personal discouragement, the issue of their eternal well-being is neglected. The usage of the word “salvation” is applied to many things.
It is used of material and temporal deliverance from danger. For instance, it means deliverance from suffering (Mat. 8:25; 13:20, Luke.23:35; Jn. 12:27), from sickness (Mt. 9:20, Mk.5:34).
It is used of spiritual and eternal salvation granted immediately by God to those who believe in Christ (Acts2:38, 47; Rom.8:24).
It is used of the present experience of deliverance from the bondage of sin (Mat. 1:21 Rom. 5:10; 1Cor. 15:2; Heb. 1:25).
It is used of the future adversaries of believers at the Second Coming of Christ (Rom.5:9).
It is used of the deliverance of the nation Israel at the Second Advent of Christ (Rom.11:26).
It is one of the blessings of God bestowed on men/women in Christ who have personally given their life to Christ (Luke 19:10; Jn. 10:9; 1 Cor.10:33).
Those who endure till the end will be saved from their sorrows (Mk:13:13).
It is used of individual believer, through losing his reward at the judgment will be saved (1Cor. 3:15)
The concept of delivering someone from danger carried two fold implications:
That someone or something needs to be saved.
Someone is able and willing to save.
The option is for the one who needs salvation to cooperate with the rescuer for the actualization of the blessing.
II. The Source of Man’s Salvation.
Jesus Christ is the only person who is qualified to save mankind because there is no other name given among men that will save man except the name of Christ (Acts 4:12).
Now, let us look at the sources of man’s salvation.
a. Salvation Stems from God’s Grace (Titus 2:11-13; Eph. 2:8-9). When we consider salvation, we begin with a very basic truth: that a sovereign loving God, without any apparent reason, chose to show his kindness towards undeserving people by forgiving their sins.
This act of forgiveness is an expression of the grace of God.
III. Definition of Grace.
Grace simply means an unearned favour. In salvation, grace is the kindness with which God grants favour to undeserving people. Those who have sinned deserved only judgment and punishment. But God showed his love for them by sending His only Son Jesus Christ to die in their place (Jn.3:16. Rom. 5:8).
Grace does not mean that God excuses sin. God’s Word says that the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). And God cannot set aside His righteous attitude toward sin and judgment against sin. However, Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary completely satisfied the righteousness of God.
The penalty for breaking his law was thus paid. Therefore, grace does not overlook sin, rather it removes it.
In salvation God’s mercy means:
He does not give us what we deserved.
While God’s Grace means:
He gives us what we don’t deserve.
IV. Kinds of Grace.
There are two kinds of grace:
a. The Common Grace:
This is the kindness which God shows to all people. It helps to keep people from evil acts and encourages them to do what is right and orderly. It helps to save people from danger as well as helping people to live together in social harmony and provide for the well being of all. (Mat. 5: 43-48).
Note: This grace is not sufficient for man’s salvation rather it leads him to consider his need for salvation (Rom. 2:4).
b. Saving Grave:
This is one of the things that bring a person to Christ. It is attached to the Word of God on salvation, which (as the sinner hears) compels him to take action toward repentance Jn. 6:44, 2Cor. 5:14; Jn. 1:17).
V. Salvation Proceeds from the Atoning Work of Christ.
For us to fully understand the nature of salvation, we must consider the word “atonement”.
“Atonement” is a word which give the idea of enemies being brought together to make peace. In salvation, it speaks of the action by which the sinner is reconciled or brought back to God.
Another meaning of atonement is to cover or cancel, as a result of Christ’s sacrificial suffering and death. People’s sins are covered over by His blood and the penalty for their sins is cancelled.
God did not excuse or overlook our sins because of Christ death; rather Christ through his death took our place and receive full judgment and paid the penalty for our sins (Isaiah 53:3-6, Gal. 3:13).
a. Necessity of the Atonement:
i. God’s holiness cannot overlook sin (Ex. 34:6-7, Rom. 3:25-26); it must be covered.
ii. God’s law, which reflects his very nature, made it necessary for Him to require satisfaction of the sinner (Deut. 27:26).
iii. The truthfulness of God requires atonement, for God had already told Adam that he must die if he disobeyed (Gen. 2:16-17, Num. 23:19, Rom. 3:4, Ezk. 18:4, Rom. 6:25).
iv. The great cost of the sacrifice of Christ suggests that the atonement was necessary (Luke. 24:26, Heb. 2:10, 9:22-23).
b. Five Aspects of the Atonement.
i. Obedience:
Christ was willing to obey despite the fact that He is God (Phil. 2:6-8, Heb. 2:14, Jn. 1:14). While here on earth He obeyed His parents and God (Lk. 2:51, Jn. 6:38).
ii. Sacrifice:
His sacrifice covers the sins of man (Jn. 1:29; 1Jn. 1:7-9, 1Cor. 15:3, Eph. 5:2).
iii. Propitiation:
Propitiation meets the need that arose from the anger of God. To propitiate is to appease (satisfy) the righteous anger of God by the atoning sacrifice of Christ (Rom. 3:25, 1 Jn. 2:2, 4:10).
iv. Reconciliation:
The Hebrew word “Kaphar” is the same thing with the New Testament Greek word “Katallaso” which means “Reconciliation” reconciliation the need which was created by God’s separation from sinful person. Man’s relationship with God got broken due to sin (Isaiah 59:2) is a result man entered into enmity with God (Rom. 5: 10-11, James. 4:4, Col. 1:21). But Christ died to remove our sins, the cause of the hostility and separation (Rom. 5:8, 2 Cor. 5:19).
v. Redemption:
The word “redemption” in Latin is “redimere” which signifies to repurchase, to buy back. Redemption was necessary because it answers the need created by man’s bondage of sin, redemption speaks of deliverance from certain evil by the payment for a price. Christ paid the price of sin and its penalty through His atoning death on the Cross (Heb. 9:15, Gal. 3:13, Col. 1:13-14).
- Extent of the Atonement.
The value of the atonement is unlimited, but its application is limited.
The atoning death of Christ is sufficient for all, but it is efficient only for those who believe. Read the following scriptures: 1Tim. 2:4-6, 4:6, 4:10; Heb. 2:9; 1Jn. 2:2; Jn. 3:16.
- Salvation Meets Man’s Needs.
One of the basic reasons for studying about salvation is that salvation meets man’s needs.
Man’s greatest need is redemption and deliverance from sin, Satan and evil forces. Adam’s sin has been charged to all people, for he was the representative head of the human race.
(Rom. 5:12).
Through Adam we inherited a sinful nature, which is responsible for attitudes of stubbornness and rebellion towards the law of God.
In addition people are responsible for their own sinful acts.
(Gal. 5:19-21).
The effect of sin touches the personality of man, so much that the human mind, will and emotions have been affected. Sinful man cannot grasp the things of God (1Cor.2:14). The sinful man cannot easily obey God (Rom. 8:7-8) the only deliverance from this bondage to sin is God’s redeeming grace.
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