SOTERIOLOGY May Be Defined As: THE SALVATION DOCTRINES OF OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH.
In the Greek, soterion – salvation; French; soter – savior, preserver as in Jesus Christ. Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition 2003.
By way of introduction: The following Categorical Study Series on “Soteriology” has, as one of it’s goals, to be an example of teaching by Topics or Categories — the Meat of God’s Word.
The MEAT of God’s Word is imperative for the transformation of human viewpoint to Divine Viewpoint … “maturity in Christ” (1 Peter 2: 1-5, 9, 10. See also Hebrews 6:1).
If America is to become great again, the Churches in America must not only evangelize the unbeliever, but educate believers in the Truths (principles and categories) of God’s Word, “rightly dividing the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12).
Preaching the Word is for evangelism and exhortation. Preaching impassions!
Teaching is for edification (education), transformation and conformity. Teaching Matures the believer!
Together, preaching and teaching form the imperatives to maturity in Christ (Titus 3:5).
In Hebrews 6:1 we are instructed to “leave the elementary teaching about the Christ (the gospel), let us press on to maturity” (the meat of the Word — the mind of Christ). If believers are going to imitate Christ, doesn’t it make sense that we must know how Christ thinks? We must learn and understand Soteriology. We must be taught the truths of God’s Word IN DEPTH.
“The household of God (the local church body) is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15. See also Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 2:19).
The pulpit must teach Truth(s) so the body of Christ can bring God’s Truth to the community and the world both in action and reaction. We believer’s must be illuminated by the Light of Scripture so the world of unbelievers will want what we have in Christ (Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:4).
Believer’s need Biblical Education from the pulpit — “feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17). The word feed in this verse means to nourish, therefore Pastors are called to shepherd and teach the Word — nourish the flock (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).
SOTERIOLOGY
SOTERIOLOGY is defined as: The category of Bible teaching which encompasses our Great Salvation. These truths of our great salvation will be presented initially in five major parts: Redemption, Reconciliation, Justification, Imputation and Regeneration.
REDEMPTION BY DEFINITION: Redemption is the work of Christ on the Cross directed toward sin; the saving work of Christ by which He purchased the freedom of the human race … the human race is born spiritually dead and in the slave market of sin. Christ sets all free who will believe in Christ (Acts 16:31).
ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD REDEMPTION from various Greek forms – cognate words:
1). Agorazo: in the original Greek as used in the first century meant “making a purchase in the marketplace.” Romans 6:16, 17, reminds the believer that “you were slaves of sin,” a reference to their former condition as unbelievers. A slave was owned by his master in a very real sense of the word and had no legal rights. All men need to be purchased from the slave owner which is sin. In the Jewish culture of the first century, a slave’s bondage meant strict obedience and service to his/her master with no legal rights.
2).Antilutron: “the substitution of money for a slave or a prisoner, hence, payment for the freedom of a slave or prisoner,” translated “ransom.”
3). Exagorazo: the prefix (ex-) which means removed, released, or set free. Notice it is the same word as agorazo in point one, above.
4). Lutrotes: redeemer, deliverer).
THE BLOOD OF CHRIST WAS THE RANSOM MONEY OR PURCHASE PRICE OF MAN’S REDEMPTION (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14).
The believer has been purchased out of the slave market of sin AND SET FREE FROM SIN’S BONDAGE by Christ’s sacrifice. Christ was an innocent lamb sacrificed for you and me “… a lamb unblemished and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19). The purchase price for the believer’s freedom (is) the substitutionary death of Christ (Christ died in our place). See also these verses: (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23; Revelations 5:9; 14:3, 4).
All who trust in Christ are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ on the Cross (Romans 3:25; 5:9; Ephesians 1:27). Christ’s Blood is a visual, and a vivid reminder of the price of Redemption: The Apostle Peter exclaimed: “that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver and gold … but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19).
“WHAT CAN WASH AWAY MY SIN? NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS.”
Our English word “buy” perhaps best describes the action necessary to “purchase” our REDEMPTION. In New Testament times, slaves were considered real property and thus were bought and sold for a price. Principle of Doctrine: God does not ordain slavery, it was the culture of the time. The Holy Spirit therefore used, as a teaching metaphor, the culture of the Jews, (a slave and a slave owner), to express redemption.
Galatians 3:13 tells us that “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law …” The Law places man under its wrath because it requires perfect obedience. Perfect obedience cannot be obtained by imperfect man! The Law brings a curse — the curse of death as a penalty. So, the believer is released (a free man/woman). The believer (only) is now free to serve as ‘slaves’ to Christ with volitional responsibility to freely follow (Galatians 4:5). We are delivered from the power of sin (habitual). The power of our sin nature (flesh) has been neutralized (Romans 2:29; Philippians 3:3; Colossians 2:11).
“Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.”
In I Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul reminds the Corinthian believers that they are not their own, for they are bought with a price … “Or do you not know that you are not your own? For you have been bought (redeemed) with a price.”
Redemption sets the believer free.
In Galatians 3:13, “redeemed” literally has the preposition out of attached to it, emphasizing total and permanent freedom. Redemption includes the removal of CONDEMNATION — John 3:18; 5:24; Romans 8:1. Instead of judgment, God is totally satisfied with the death of His Son in your place and mine. This is the doctrine of propitiation (Romans 3:24-26; 1 John 2:2).
All sin was judged on the Cross (Romans 4:25; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 2:4). The believer is now Declared Righteous (Justified) because of Christ (Romans 3:24; 5:1, 9; 8:30; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:7). Being justified we are also made righteous (acceptable) to God (Ephesians 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5); made righteous is the Doctrine of “imputation” (Romans 3:22; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9).
Next, we need to understand that redemption involves God’s guarantee. Ephesians 1:13-14 reads “after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation – having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession.” We are God’s own possession by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which is our guarantee that God’s pre-designed plan of salvation will be completed in us, once and for all.
Ultimate Sanctification refers to our “completion.” The believer’s completion in Romans 8:23 is the great fulfillment all believers wait for with earnest expectation … “waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.” Our completeness includes our physical bodies and our soul and spirit. Our body, soul and spirit were affected by the “sin-fall,” and the total solution is God’s Eternal Plan of Redemption through Jesus Christ on Calvary and the indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit.
The word translated pledge (Ephesians 1:13-14) expresses an initial payment obligating the purchaser (Christ) to complete the purchase in full … it was used as a legal term or guarantee, and it also referred to a ring of engagement. Isn’t this fantastic? At the Rapture, believers will become the Bride of Christ, (and no, we will not ‘marry’ God). Oh, what a tremendous plan of redemption God has designed for all those who trust His Son, Jesus Christ.
God is Real! Christ is Real! The Cross is real! Won’t you believe? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).
CHRIST OUR KINSMAN REDEEMER
The redeemer had to be willing to die in our place and the redeemer had to be a kinsman. In John 10:18 Jesus said: “I lay it down (His Life) on my own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.” Jesus is our “Kinsman Redeemer” and He fulfilled this Old Testament custom of Leviticus 25:25, when He became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14).
In addition, we know Christ as our qualified Savior:
A). Christ met all the prophetical requirements throughout all the Old Testament.
B). Christ is qualified by lineage (genealogy).
C). Christ was equal with God and equal with man.
D). Christ kept every commandment of the Law.
E). Christ paid the price for our redemption on the Cross, and God was Propitiated (satisfied).
F). Christ is qualified by resurrection, ascension and session at the right hand of the Father.
G). The Virgin birth (no human father) (Matthew 1:23; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrew 1:3).
H). By the impeccability of His humanity (Isaiah 53:9; John 8:46; 19:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrew 4:15; 7:26-28).
Resurrection is taken from a Greek word which means to “stand up.” Christ rose again … today Christ is seated.
Our great salvation includes time and eternity … a perfect plan from perfect God.
“On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; And I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain. So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross … And exchange it some day for a crown.”
THAT OLD RUGGED CROSS HAS A WONDERFUL ATTRACTION FOR ME, BECAUSE CHRIST DIED FOR ME THERE AND ONE DAY CHRIST WILL CALL ME TO MY HOME FAR AWAY: “COME HITHER, MY SON, COME HOME.”
SUMMARY
The redemptive work of Christ on the Cross was an act of His own free will (Luke 22:24).
Christ was obedient to the Father’s Plan (Romans 5:19; Philippians 2:8).
The blood of Christ was the ransom paid for redemption (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:18-19).
‘The blood of Christ’ depicts the saving work of Christ by spiritual and physical death, in which He was judged in our place for our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24).
RESULTS OF REDEMPTION:
Forgiveness of sins (Isaiah 44:22; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Hebrew 9:15).
Basis for the believer’s justification (Romans 3:24).
Basis for the believer’s sanctification (Ephesians 5:25-27).
Basis for the eternal inheritance of the believer (Hebrew 9:15).
Basis for the strategic victory of Christ in the Angelic Conflict (Colossians 2:14-15; Hebrew 2:14-15).
Redemption of the soul in salvation leads to redemption of the body in resurrection (Ephesians 1:14).
Redemption of the body is the ultimate status of the Royal Family of God (Church Age believers — us), forever (Romans 8:23; Ephesians 4:30).
Redemption by Christ is the basis for Christ’s qualification to be the believer’s mediator before the Father (1 Timothy 1:5-6; Hebrew 9:14-14)
As our Savior, Jesus Christ reconciles man and propitiates God the Father (He satisfies the Father’s Justice by His death for us). Therefore, the blood of Christ equals redemption plus reconciliation plus propitiation.
Next up is Part Two, The Doctrine of Reconciliation.