LWCA -- NEW BELIEVERS COURSE
Week #2 – SOTERIOLOGY - DOCTRINE OF SALVATION

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This topic deals with God’s predetermined plan of salvation by grace through Faith in Jesus Christ and how faith in Christ comes about by divine conversion. The study of the doctrine of Salvation is called Soteriology. Salvation involves deliverance from the bondage of sin (Rom. 8: 16, 17), and from self (Lk. 9: 23). Salvation is preservation in the sense the saved are kept by God (Jn. 3: 16). Safety is an element, if you will, of salvation in that God assists those who are endeavoring to do his will (I Cor. 10: 13). Salvation is about reconciliation, the saved are sons and daughters, God is their Father (2 Cor. 6: 17, 18). It is obvious salvation is a state of preservation, deliverance, and relationship (Eph. 2: 1, 4, 5, 6, Jn. 10: 27-29, Jude 24). Through salvation man is reconciled (made a friend with God (2 Cor. 5), justified (Rom. 5), redeemed (I Pet. 1: 18, 19), and cleansed (Acts 22: 16).

SALVATION – The plan of Salvation was designed by God before the creation and is revealed in Scripture, first through the OT prophets and second through the NT scriptures.

Revelation 13:8 Ephesians 3:6,11

What is God’s Purpose and Motivation behind His Plan of Salvation?

To reveal His Glory, His Power, His Justice, His Love, His Mercy, and His absolute Sovereignty in all things. In fact, Jesus went to the cross to glorify the father, to please God the father.

Old Testament: The Plan of Salvation is First Foreshadowed in the Old Testament
Romans 2; Romans 3:19-20; Romans 5:13-20; Romans 7:7; Galatians 3:24; 1 Timothy 1:8; Romans 4:15; Hebrews 2:1-3; Ephesians 5:6; Col 3:6; 1 Thess 2:16; 1 John 3:4; 2Thess 1:8-10; 2Peter 2:9; Hebrews; Romans 8:3; Rom 10:4; 1 Cor 5:7

The Plan of Salvation is also revealed by the OT prophets through Messianic Prophecies (aprox 425).

Isaiah 9:6-7 [6] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 700 B.C.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 700 B.C.

1 Peter 1:10-11 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

The promised Messiah: The Jews could receive salvation through faith in the promise of the Messiah, yet to come, while we can receive salvation by grace through faith in the Messiah who has already come. (Acts 2, 8, 10, 16, 18)

New Testament: The GOSPELS record the narrative of the incarnation of Jesus Christ… “
The EPISTLES articulate and explain the mystery of the gospel and the means by which salvation came through Christ to the Jews and the Gentiles as revealed to the apostles, primarily the apostle Paul.

REDEMPTION – This term has to do with the purchase, or buying back of a slave or captive… in this case that purchase was Christ offering Himself up in exchange for the souls of men. (Atonement, reconciliation) Revelation 5:9; 1 Corinthians 6:20; Galatians 3:13

THERE WAS ONLY ONE MEANS BY WHICH OUR REDEMPTION COULD BE PURCHASED… The Blood of Jesus. Hebrews 9:22; Ephesians 1:7

OUR REDEMPTION IS ETERNAL Hebrews 9:11-13 Colossians 1:13-14 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Through this Redemptive Plan a New Covenant has been established that allows for gentiles to be made heirs with Christ and receive the inheritance of eternal life as his chosen sons and daughters…

Hebrews 12:24; Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

JUSTIFICATION – To cause to be in the right or just, to declare righteous to vindicate, to be found not guilty – When e justifies, God looks upon Christ’s righteousness, not on us as though we are righteous. This is called imputed righteousness as opposed to infused righteousness. Romans 3:23-28 Romans 5:16

BY GRACE – Salvation hangs entirely on the merit of Jesus Christ. Grace is the act of God’s favor or mercy, which is undeserved merit (forgiveness). Ephesians 2:8; Romans 4: 16;

Galatians 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

THROUGH FAITH – God’s Plan of Salvation was always granted by faith…

Romans 1:17 therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Romans 3: 20-22 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:

Romans 3:27-28 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

Galatians 2:16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified
Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

SALVATION BY DIVINE CONVERSION
Conversion from the Greek translation means 2 things… 1)a revolutionary reversion, a diametric change or transformation. 2) a physical or spiritual act of turning around (much like repentance).

Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

REPENTANCE

Repentance plays a very important role in the process of Salvation and conversion..

Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mark 1:4 John… preach[ed] the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

Repentance is an act of faith that appropriates salvation. It is not a work that earns salvation but a natural response to God as a result of faith. Faith comes by hearing the word of God preached. In fact, Repentance itself is a gift given to us by God.. All faith comes from God. The Holy Spirit plays a role in convicting the world of sin.

2 Timothy 2:25 “…God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth…”

Romans 2:4 tells us that “the goodness of God leads us to repentance”

The process is a series of events as follows… Repentance comes as a result of godly sorrow produced by conviction and results in conversion. 2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation

Acts 3:19 (1)Repent ye therefore, and (2)be converted, that your (3)sins may be blotted out, when the (4)times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

WE NOW LIVE IN HIS GRACE BY FAITH IN OBEDIENCE TO HIS WILL
1 John 3:9; 1 John 5:4; 1 John 5:18

NEXT WEEK: Sanctification & The Role of The Holy Spirit - Fruit that proves Conversion.