2012-3-13 06:52
CHAPTER IX
SOTERIOLOGY
I. THE NEED FOR SALVATION
All human are sinner (Rom. 3:23; 1:18-32). They are sinful (Gen 8:21;1Kings 8:46; EccI. 7:20; Is. 53:6; Gal. 3:22; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 3:9-23;Eph 2:3) and corrupted (Rom. 1:21; 2 Cor. 3:14-15; Gal. 5:24; 2 Tim.2:25-26; 3:2-4). The penalty of sin is death, the separation from God(Rom. 6:23). Sin aliens man from God, and puts man into sinfulnessand helpless. Man is totally depraved (John 6:44) and so man cannotdo anything to gain favor with God, and even fails to obey the law(Rom. 3:19-20, 23). Therefore, man needs the salvation of God to besaved by God, and there is no other way.
II. THE BASIS FOR SALVATION
Salvation is provided by love of God (John 3:16). It is the grace and gift ofGod rather than any good work of man (Eph. 2:10; Rom. 3:24-26). It ismade by the atoning death of sinless Jesus to pay for the sin penalty of man and set man from sin. It is completed by professing the savingfaith in the work of Jesus.
III. THENATURE OF SALVATION
Reconciliation
Reconciliationis a restoration of a peaceful relationship of God to man. God viewssinners with hostility, and sinners are the objects of his wrath(Rom. 5:9-10). The death of Jesus removed God's wrath, and replacepeace between God and man (Rom. 5:10; 2 Cor. 5:14-21; Eph. 2:11-22;Col. 1:20-22). However, it applies to believers alone (Rom. 5:1, 10).
Justification
Justificationis a legal and forensic declaration. It is made by God to declarerighteous a believer in Jesus who is righteous but dies for sin ofman (Rom. 8:33-34). Righteousness of Jesus is imputed to everybeliever (Rom. 5:18-19). A person appropriates justification throughfaith only (Rom. 3:24, 27).
Justificationnullifies the sin guilt of a believer, and removes the sin penalty ofthe person. ft claims a result of personal conversion to Christ: abeliever has a new status in Christ that the one is righteous inChrist. It does not claim that the deeds of a believer in the past orfuture are righteous though the one may live a holy life most of timesince conversion.
Permanenceof Salvation
Permanenceof salvation is eternal security of a believer. He who is once savedis always
savedand never loses his salvation. Those chosen by God shall never perish(John 5:24;
10:27-30).Salvation is the work of God by his grace (Eph. 1:4-5; 2:8-9; 4:30
hil. l:6; cf. Rom.
8:30-39).Believers have the seal of the Holy Spirit until the future time ofredemption (Eph.
1:13-14).Eternal life is a present possession (1 John 5:13).
Thebeliever of incorrect lifestyle may be disciplined (1 Cor. 5:5;11:30; Heb. 12), but never causes God unfaithful (2 Tim. 2:11-13).The term eternal in eternal life which the believers have (John 5:24;1 John 5:13) would not stand for eternal itself if a believer couldlose his salvation, this is, lose eternal life even though he didlive a so-called eternal life before.
IV. THEAPPLICATION OF SALVATION
Thereare two aspects of salvation: subjective and objective. Thesubjective is a change within the person (such as grace, calling,conversion and regeneration), and the objective is a change of therelationship the person to God (such as union with Christ,justification, imputation and adoption).
Grace
Graceof God depicts that God provides to sinners the salvation which theydoes not deserve (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:4-7). Man needs agood relationship to God, but they cannot make it. God likes to savesinners because he wants to save and he loves man (John 3:16). Graceis the beginning of the salvation of an individual (cf. Gen. 6:8-9).
Thereare tow views of grace: common grace and prevenient grace. Commongrace is the universal call or invitation to all men of all times tobe saved (Rom. 1:5). Prevenient grace is the effectual call to makemen to respond with free will to the gospel. when they confront it.
The General Call of God
Thegeneral or universal call of God is that God takes the initiative toinvite all people to salvation (1s. 45:22; Matt 11:28; Luke 14:16-24;John 7:37; 12:32 Tit. 2:11). Man is sinful and spiritually dead, andno one is able to seek God. Hence, God takes the initiative to callman to him. However, this invitation is not the selection of peopleto be saved (Matt. 22:14; Acts 17:30).
The Effectual Call of God
Theeffectual or special call of God is the effective call that Godenables a chosen person to respond his calling (Matt. 22:14; Acts16:14; Rom. 8:30; Eph. 1:4-6; 4:1-6; cf. Rom. 9:19-24). Because ofsinful condition, man is unable to respond to the general call ofGod. God should cause the change in the heart of the person throughthe Holy Spirit so that the one may be willing to accept theinvitation (Luke 14:23; Rom. 8:30; 1 Cor. 1:9; 21:6-16; Rom. 10:17).
Thereis no biblical proof of the order among decrees of creation, theFall, election and salvation. Election, foreknowledge andpredestination of God are aspects of the same thing (1 Pet.
1:2;Eph. 1:4-5). This call does not force a person against his will, oris rejected, but it will direct a person to repent and believe.
Conversion
Conversionof a believer is a human volitional response to God's call. Sinceknowing personal sins and hopeless condition, the person decides toturns back to God by saving faith of Jesus and live a new life (Acts16:31, 20:21; John 3:14-18). It is the beginning of salvation. Itinvolves two personal actions: repentance and faith (Matt. 3:2; Acts17:30). It causes at the same time as justification, regeneration,adoption, union with Christ and other Christians, and all of parts ofsalvation plan.
Repentance
Repentanceof a believer is the action of decision to turn away from sin andobey God's word (Acts 20:12; 2 Cor. 7:9-10). The converted person isthe one who knows and confesses personal sin, and decides to abandonSm.
Faith
Faithof a believer is the action of believing the truth of God'ssalvation. The person of faith will turn to God to seek and trust hissalvation. It includes intellectual assent and personal trust(commitment) (John 1:12). After convinced of personal sin and knowingthe truth of salvation (John 16:8, 13), a believer both agrees and isdevoted to it. It is based on evidence and reason (John 20:25-29). Byfaith a believer is justified (Rom. 3:28; 5:1) and adopted (Gal.2:14-16; John 1:12) by God. Faith is not a work to earn thesalvation, but a way to receive the gift of salvation.
Regeneration and the New Birth
Regenerationof a believer is God's action of giving a new spiritual life to abeliever (John 1:12; Tit. 3:5). It is a new birth for a new believer,and it starts a process of spiritual growth. Because total depravityof human nature causes spiritual death, it is necessary for abeliever to have a new birth for spiritual transformation.
TheBaptism of the Holy Spirit
Every believer is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Jesus Christwhen he is converted (1 Cor. 12:13).
Adoption
Abeliever is adopted into the family of God (John 1:12; Rom. 8:14-16;Eph. 1:5; 2:3). The adoption restores a position of favor with God(Gal. 4:4-5, 28), and has full privileges of a son (Rom. 8:16-17).The one of sonship has the testimony and guidance of the Holy Spirit,and is liberated from the bondage of sin.
V. SANCTIFICATION
The Relationship of Justification and Sanctification
Sanctificationis a continuing process toward moral holiness in work of God (Phil.2:13). Justification of a believer is a legal righteousness status ofa person before God on basis of work of Jesus. Logicallyjustification precedes sanctification
Positional Sanctification
Positionalsatisfaction of a believer is the justification done in the past.Upon conversion the believer has been separated by God from sin toGod himself as his possession upon conversion (1 Pet. 2:9; Rom. 6:6).God removes the guilt of a believer and declares him or herrighteous.
Progressive Sanctification and Personal Separation
Progressivesanctification is the incorporation of righteousness. This process ofdeliverance from the power of sin is experienced by a believer in thepresent state. R is a separation process of transformation fromworldly immorality to personal purity and holiness. It is the work ofGod (Eph. 5:26; Phil. 1:6; Tit 2:14; Heb. 13:20-21), but the believeris participating actively (Rom. 1.2:1-2; Phil. 2:12-13). The believerwill be more Christ-like and closer to God, but he never becomessinless.
Ultimate Sanctification
Ultimatesanctification of a believer is his future glorification. Godpromises to make all believers free from any effect of sin andwithout blemish (Eph. 5:26-27). He will deliver believers from thepresence of sin, and make them righteous.
VI. ASSURANCE OF SALVATION
Assurance of salvation is the knowledge that a believer has eternal lifepermanently (John
5:24;10:28; 1 John 5:13). It is God's promise that a person will be savedthrough what he has
done(1 John 5:1, 10-13), and the Holy Spirit testifies to the heart of abeliever (Rom. 8:16; 1
John3:24). Secondarily, God puts a believer in progressive sanctification(1 John 2:5; 2 Cor.
13:5).
SOTERIOLOGY
I. THE NEED FOR SALVATION
All human are sinner (Rom. 3:23; 1:18-32). They are sinful (Gen 8:21;1Kings 8:46; EccI. 7:20; Is. 53:6; Gal. 3:22; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 3:9-23;Eph 2:3) and corrupted (Rom. 1:21; 2 Cor. 3:14-15; Gal. 5:24; 2 Tim.2:25-26; 3:2-4). The penalty of sin is death, the separation from God(Rom. 6:23). Sin aliens man from God, and puts man into sinfulnessand helpless. Man is totally depraved (John 6:44) and so man cannotdo anything to gain favor with God, and even fails to obey the law(Rom. 3:19-20, 23). Therefore, man needs the salvation of God to besaved by God, and there is no other way.
II. THE BASIS FOR SALVATION
Salvation is provided by love of God (John 3:16). It is the grace and gift ofGod rather than any good work of man (Eph. 2:10; Rom. 3:24-26). It ismade by the atoning death of sinless Jesus to pay for the sin penalty of man and set man from sin. It is completed by professing the savingfaith in the work of Jesus.
III. THENATURE OF SALVATION
Reconciliation
Reconciliationis a restoration of a peaceful relationship of God to man. God viewssinners with hostility, and sinners are the objects of his wrath(Rom. 5:9-10). The death of Jesus removed God's wrath, and replacepeace between God and man (Rom. 5:10; 2 Cor. 5:14-21; Eph. 2:11-22;Col. 1:20-22). However, it applies to believers alone (Rom. 5:1, 10).
Justification
Justificationis a legal and forensic declaration. It is made by God to declarerighteous a believer in Jesus who is righteous but dies for sin ofman (Rom. 8:33-34). Righteousness of Jesus is imputed to everybeliever (Rom. 5:18-19). A person appropriates justification throughfaith only (Rom. 3:24, 27).
Justificationnullifies the sin guilt of a believer, and removes the sin penalty ofthe person. ft claims a result of personal conversion to Christ: abeliever has a new status in Christ that the one is righteous inChrist. It does not claim that the deeds of a believer in the past orfuture are righteous though the one may live a holy life most of timesince conversion.
Permanenceof Salvation
Permanenceof salvation is eternal security of a believer. He who is once savedis always
savedand never loses his salvation. Those chosen by God shall never perish(John 5:24;
10:27-30).Salvation is the work of God by his grace (Eph. 1:4-5; 2:8-9; 4:30
hil. l:6; cf. Rom.8:30-39).Believers have the seal of the Holy Spirit until the future time ofredemption (Eph.
1:13-14).Eternal life is a present possession (1 John 5:13).
Thebeliever of incorrect lifestyle may be disciplined (1 Cor. 5:5;11:30; Heb. 12), but never causes God unfaithful (2 Tim. 2:11-13).The term eternal in eternal life which the believers have (John 5:24;1 John 5:13) would not stand for eternal itself if a believer couldlose his salvation, this is, lose eternal life even though he didlive a so-called eternal life before.
IV. THEAPPLICATION OF SALVATION
Thereare two aspects of salvation: subjective and objective. Thesubjective is a change within the person (such as grace, calling,conversion and regeneration), and the objective is a change of therelationship the person to God (such as union with Christ,justification, imputation and adoption).
Grace
Graceof God depicts that God provides to sinners the salvation which theydoes not deserve (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:4-7). Man needs agood relationship to God, but they cannot make it. God likes to savesinners because he wants to save and he loves man (John 3:16). Graceis the beginning of the salvation of an individual (cf. Gen. 6:8-9).
Thereare tow views of grace: common grace and prevenient grace. Commongrace is the universal call or invitation to all men of all times tobe saved (Rom. 1:5). Prevenient grace is the effectual call to makemen to respond with free will to the gospel. when they confront it.
The General Call of God
Thegeneral or universal call of God is that God takes the initiative toinvite all people to salvation (1s. 45:22; Matt 11:28; Luke 14:16-24;John 7:37; 12:32 Tit. 2:11). Man is sinful and spiritually dead, andno one is able to seek God. Hence, God takes the initiative to callman to him. However, this invitation is not the selection of peopleto be saved (Matt. 22:14; Acts 17:30).
The Effectual Call of God
Theeffectual or special call of God is the effective call that Godenables a chosen person to respond his calling (Matt. 22:14; Acts16:14; Rom. 8:30; Eph. 1:4-6; 4:1-6; cf. Rom. 9:19-24). Because ofsinful condition, man is unable to respond to the general call ofGod. God should cause the change in the heart of the person throughthe Holy Spirit so that the one may be willing to accept theinvitation (Luke 14:23; Rom. 8:30; 1 Cor. 1:9; 21:6-16; Rom. 10:17).
Thereis no biblical proof of the order among decrees of creation, theFall, election and salvation. Election, foreknowledge andpredestination of God are aspects of the same thing (1 Pet.
1:2;Eph. 1:4-5). This call does not force a person against his will, oris rejected, but it will direct a person to repent and believe.
Conversion
Conversionof a believer is a human volitional response to God's call. Sinceknowing personal sins and hopeless condition, the person decides toturns back to God by saving faith of Jesus and live a new life (Acts16:31, 20:21; John 3:14-18). It is the beginning of salvation. Itinvolves two personal actions: repentance and faith (Matt. 3:2; Acts17:30). It causes at the same time as justification, regeneration,adoption, union with Christ and other Christians, and all of parts ofsalvation plan.
Repentance
Repentanceof a believer is the action of decision to turn away from sin andobey God's word (Acts 20:12; 2 Cor. 7:9-10). The converted person isthe one who knows and confesses personal sin, and decides to abandonSm.
Faith
Faithof a believer is the action of believing the truth of God'ssalvation. The person of faith will turn to God to seek and trust hissalvation. It includes intellectual assent and personal trust(commitment) (John 1:12). After convinced of personal sin and knowingthe truth of salvation (John 16:8, 13), a believer both agrees and isdevoted to it. It is based on evidence and reason (John 20:25-29). Byfaith a believer is justified (Rom. 3:28; 5:1) and adopted (Gal.2:14-16; John 1:12) by God. Faith is not a work to earn thesalvation, but a way to receive the gift of salvation.
Regeneration and the New Birth
Regenerationof a believer is God's action of giving a new spiritual life to abeliever (John 1:12; Tit. 3:5). It is a new birth for a new believer,and it starts a process of spiritual growth. Because total depravityof human nature causes spiritual death, it is necessary for abeliever to have a new birth for spiritual transformation.
TheBaptism of the Holy Spirit
Every believer is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Jesus Christwhen he is converted (1 Cor. 12:13).
Adoption
Abeliever is adopted into the family of God (John 1:12; Rom. 8:14-16;Eph. 1:5; 2:3). The adoption restores a position of favor with God(Gal. 4:4-5, 28), and has full privileges of a son (Rom. 8:16-17).The one of sonship has the testimony and guidance of the Holy Spirit,and is liberated from the bondage of sin.
V. SANCTIFICATION
The Relationship of Justification and Sanctification
Sanctificationis a continuing process toward moral holiness in work of God (Phil.2:13). Justification of a believer is a legal righteousness status ofa person before God on basis of work of Jesus. Logicallyjustification precedes sanctification
Positional Sanctification
Positionalsatisfaction of a believer is the justification done in the past.Upon conversion the believer has been separated by God from sin toGod himself as his possession upon conversion (1 Pet. 2:9; Rom. 6:6).God removes the guilt of a believer and declares him or herrighteous.
Progressive Sanctification and Personal Separation
Progressivesanctification is the incorporation of righteousness. This process ofdeliverance from the power of sin is experienced by a believer in thepresent state. R is a separation process of transformation fromworldly immorality to personal purity and holiness. It is the work ofGod (Eph. 5:26; Phil. 1:6; Tit 2:14; Heb. 13:20-21), but the believeris participating actively (Rom. 1.2:1-2; Phil. 2:12-13). The believerwill be more Christ-like and closer to God, but he never becomessinless.
Ultimate Sanctification
Ultimatesanctification of a believer is his future glorification. Godpromises to make all believers free from any effect of sin andwithout blemish (Eph. 5:26-27). He will deliver believers from thepresence of sin, and make them righteous.
VI. ASSURANCE OF SALVATION
Assurance of salvation is the knowledge that a believer has eternal lifepermanently (John
5:24;10:28; 1 John 5:13). It is God's promise that a person will be savedthrough what he has
done(1 John 5:1, 10-13), and the Holy Spirit testifies to the heart of abeliever (Rom. 8:16; 1
John3:24). Secondarily, God puts a believer in progressive sanctification(1 John 2:5; 2 Cor.
13:5).
No comments:
Post a Comment