V- The Doctrine of Salvation
1. Q. What is salvation?
ANSWER: Salvation is deliverance from the penalty, pollution, and power of sin (Rom. 6:14,23; Ti. 3:4-6) it is eternally more important than being saved from fire, deep water, illness or loneliness.
2. Q. What is sin?
ANSWER: Sin is any thought, word, or deed that either violates or falls short of complete conformity to God’s holy laws (Rom. 3:23; 1 Jn. 3:4). In short, Jesus and his apostle taught that sin is anything that doesn’t reflect selfless love for God and others.
3. Q. What has God done to provide salvation?
ANSWER: He became a member of the human race in the person of Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:1,14), lived sinlessly as our substitute to fulfill God’s righteous demands (2 Cor. 5:21), suffered and died on the cross to bear the penalty for our sins (Mt. 20:28; Rom. 4:23-25; 1 Cor. 15:3-4), and rose from the grave to break the power of death and defeat Satan (Acts 2:24; Heb. 2:14-15). In other words, he accepted full responsibility to pay the price for the consequences of our sin.
4. Q. For whom did Christ die?
ANSWER: Jesus Christ died for all, even for those who will not believe in Him (Jn3:16; 1 Tim. 2:4-6; Heb. 2:9; 2 Pet 2:1; 1 Jn. 2:2). He died for those who are disobedient by choice (Rom. 3:23; Col.1:21; Ti. 3:3), spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1,5), unable to please God (Rom. 8:8), and under His wrath and condemnation (Jn. 3:36; Rom. 1:18; 3:19). Christ died for people who have fallen short of their original purpose to know Him (Jn. 17:3), to glorify him (1 Cor. 10:31), and to enjoy Him forever (Rev. 7:15-17;21:1-4).
5. Q. Who will be saved?
ANSWER: From the divine perspective, God saves those whom He has chosen from before the foundation of the world (Acts 13:48; Rom 8:30; Eph. 1:4; 2 Th. 2:13;2 Tim. 1:9). From the human viewpoint, salvation legitimately offered to everyone and is freely given to all who believe on Jesus Christ (Mt. 11:28; Jn. 1:12; 3:15-16,36; Acts 16:31; Rom 10:9-10). All who sincerely want to be saved and who accept the invitation to believe in Christ will never be turned away (Jn. 6:37).
6. Q. How do we receive salvation?
ANSWER: By faith alone. Neither zealous commitment to good works (Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 4:1-12), nor careful observance of religious rituals (Gal. 3:1-9) play a part in obtaining salvation. Salvation is not found in our efforts for God but in trusting God’s efforts for us.
7. Q. What is the repentance called for by John the Baptism, Jesus, Paul, and Peter? (Mt. 3:1-2; 4:17; Acts 2:38; 20:21).
ANSWER: Repentance is that change of attitude about one’s self, one’s sin, and God, which involves the whole personality-mind, emotions, and will. In varying degrees, it always accompanies it and helps give evidence that genuine repentance has occurred (2 Cor. 7:9-10).
8. Q. What is saving faith?
ANSWER: It is a personal trust in God. It is believing that He, on the basis of Christ’s substitutionary death and resurrection, forgives and accepts all who trust in Jesus Christ and rely on Him alone for salvation (Rom. 3:21-26; 4:1-25; 5:1-2; Eph. 2:8-10).
9. Q. What does the Bible mean when it speaks for our justification? (Rom. 5:1-2).
ANSWER: The Greek word Paul used is a legal term meaning “to be declared righteous.” It depicts the action of God as Judge. When we believe on Jesus, He declares us righteous (Rom. 3:24-26), free from condemnation (Acts 13:38-39; Rom. 4:8; 8:1), and restored to His favor (Rom. 5:9-11).
10. Q. What is redemption?
ANSWER: Redemption is our salvation viewed from the perspective of the price Jesus paid to rescue us. He redeemed us from the law (Rom. 7:6) and from its penalty (Gal. 3:13), from our bondage to sin (Rom. 6:6, 11, 18, 22; Ti. 2:14), and from the domain of Satan (Col. 1:13-14). He did so through His death on the cross, the act by which He met the demands of God’s holy nature (Mt. 20:28; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:18-19).
ANSWER: Salvation is deliverance from the penalty, pollution, and power of sin (Rom. 6:14,23; Ti. 3:4-6) it is eternally more important than being saved from fire, deep water, illness or loneliness.
2. Q. What is sin?
ANSWER: Sin is any thought, word, or deed that either violates or falls short of complete conformity to God’s holy laws (Rom. 3:23; 1 Jn. 3:4). In short, Jesus and his apostle taught that sin is anything that doesn’t reflect selfless love for God and others.
3. Q. What has God done to provide salvation?
ANSWER: He became a member of the human race in the person of Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:1,14), lived sinlessly as our substitute to fulfill God’s righteous demands (2 Cor. 5:21), suffered and died on the cross to bear the penalty for our sins (Mt. 20:28; Rom. 4:23-25; 1 Cor. 15:3-4), and rose from the grave to break the power of death and defeat Satan (Acts 2:24; Heb. 2:14-15). In other words, he accepted full responsibility to pay the price for the consequences of our sin.
4. Q. For whom did Christ die?
ANSWER: Jesus Christ died for all, even for those who will not believe in Him (Jn3:16; 1 Tim. 2:4-6; Heb. 2:9; 2 Pet 2:1; 1 Jn. 2:2). He died for those who are disobedient by choice (Rom. 3:23; Col.1:21; Ti. 3:3), spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1,5), unable to please God (Rom. 8:8), and under His wrath and condemnation (Jn. 3:36; Rom. 1:18; 3:19). Christ died for people who have fallen short of their original purpose to know Him (Jn. 17:3), to glorify him (1 Cor. 10:31), and to enjoy Him forever (Rev. 7:15-17;21:1-4).
5. Q. Who will be saved?
ANSWER: From the divine perspective, God saves those whom He has chosen from before the foundation of the world (Acts 13:48; Rom 8:30; Eph. 1:4; 2 Th. 2:13;2 Tim. 1:9). From the human viewpoint, salvation legitimately offered to everyone and is freely given to all who believe on Jesus Christ (Mt. 11:28; Jn. 1:12; 3:15-16,36; Acts 16:31; Rom 10:9-10). All who sincerely want to be saved and who accept the invitation to believe in Christ will never be turned away (Jn. 6:37).
6. Q. How do we receive salvation?
ANSWER: By faith alone. Neither zealous commitment to good works (Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 4:1-12), nor careful observance of religious rituals (Gal. 3:1-9) play a part in obtaining salvation. Salvation is not found in our efforts for God but in trusting God’s efforts for us.
7. Q. What is the repentance called for by John the Baptism, Jesus, Paul, and Peter? (Mt. 3:1-2; 4:17; Acts 2:38; 20:21).
ANSWER: Repentance is that change of attitude about one’s self, one’s sin, and God, which involves the whole personality-mind, emotions, and will. In varying degrees, it always accompanies it and helps give evidence that genuine repentance has occurred (2 Cor. 7:9-10).
8. Q. What is saving faith?
ANSWER: It is a personal trust in God. It is believing that He, on the basis of Christ’s substitutionary death and resurrection, forgives and accepts all who trust in Jesus Christ and rely on Him alone for salvation (Rom. 3:21-26; 4:1-25; 5:1-2; Eph. 2:8-10).
9. Q. What does the Bible mean when it speaks for our justification? (Rom. 5:1-2).
ANSWER: The Greek word Paul used is a legal term meaning “to be declared righteous.” It depicts the action of God as Judge. When we believe on Jesus, He declares us righteous (Rom. 3:24-26), free from condemnation (Acts 13:38-39; Rom. 4:8; 8:1), and restored to His favor (Rom. 5:9-11).
10. Q. What is redemption?
ANSWER: Redemption is our salvation viewed from the perspective of the price Jesus paid to rescue us. He redeemed us from the law (Rom. 7:6) and from its penalty (Gal. 3:13), from our bondage to sin (Rom. 6:6, 11, 18, 22; Ti. 2:14), and from the domain of Satan (Col. 1:13-14). He did so through His death on the cross, the act by which He met the demands of God’s holy nature (Mt. 20:28; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:18-19).