Doctrine of Salvation

https://youtu.be/erojWhHxHJs

Lecture Notes:

I.              Salvation (Process and Completed Work)

II.            Salvation and Suffering

A. Bodily Redemption

B. Redemption of Soul

C. Suffering

Soteriology comes for the Greek word “soter” meaning savior or deliverer.

I.              Salvation is a (1) process and (2) completed work.

·  Romans 5:8-10 (ESV) But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood [now], much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God [future]. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

· Ephesians 1:9-14 (ESV) Making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

· 1 Corinthians 15:2 (ESV) Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received [complete], in which you stand [complete],  and by which you are being saved [process], if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

v.20-28 (NLT) But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back. After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) Then, when all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.

·  Hebrews 10:14 (ESV) But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God [now/completed], waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet [future/process]. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Compare with prophesy of Psalm 110:1 (ESV) The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”

·  Philippians 2: 12-13 (ESV) Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

II. Salvation and Suffering

A. Waiting for Our Bodily Redemption

It is important to establish that when Christ was crucified, it was for the redemption of our souls (Psalm 49:15; Heb 9:15; Gal 4:4-5; Eph 1:7). This is why people were not immediately healed, and why death and suffering occurred. Healing was not a direct product of Jesus' sacrifice. Consider that healing occurred under the old testament as well. A few examples of OT healings are as followed: 

· Abraham prayed for the healing of Abimelech's wife and maidservant so they can bear children, and they were healed (Gen 20:17-18).

· Elijah raised a child from the dead (1 Kings 17:17-24)

· Elisha raised the Shunamite's son from the dead (2 Kings 4:18-37)

· Elisha heals Naaman (a captain in the Syrian army) who had leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-14)

Romans 8:18-24 (NLT) "Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it.  But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently."

We are told plainly that we all are waiting to be released from decay, that includes illnesses, sickness, disease, genetic defects, aging and anything that eats away at bodily perfections. We are further told that although we have the Holy Spirit (and

gifts), that is just a taste to hold us until the fullness of our healing and bodily perfection comes. This will happen at glorification, when Christ returns for His Church.

B. Jesus’ atonement was for the redemption of our soul.

This new covenant holds no promises that guarantee the riches and comforts of earthly life (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:9-13). Below is the summation of the covenant according to scripture which specifically cites the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:9-13):

1.     God’s law will be placed internally in man, written in their hearts and minds.

2.     No need to reveal who God is because he will be ever known.

3.     God will be merciful to unrighteousness

4.     God will no longer remember sin

These are universal promises for all believers and the only promises sited in the covenant. God meets the believer’s needs not based earthly treasure but based his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

C. Salvation and Suffering

The Christian benefits from suffering. The accumulation of wealth makes suffering a lot more difficult since the resources to avoid any such suffering would be immediately available. Make no mistake scripture makes this plain, whether the suffering is a hardship in life or direct persecution of your faith.

·  2 Corinthians 12:1-10 Paul’s explanation about boasting in his weaknesses.

· Acts 5:41 “The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.”

· Romans 8:18 “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.”

· 1 Philippians 1:29 “For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.”

· 2 Peter 2:21 “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.”

· 2 Timothy 3:12 ” Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” The existence of hardship in a believer’s life is not always a result of lack of faith; rather, they are, as Paul explained to Timothy, a result of wanting to live a Godly life.