Shepherds College: Systematic Theology, Session 24

The Symphony of Salvation 2026-03-25 Mountain View Christian Church Lesson 1 Why the Symphony of Salvation? Salvation, saved Adopted, Heir, Inherit Deliverance Redemption Justification The “Symphony of Salvation” was chosen because the Bible, especially in Paul’s letters, uses so many different words to describe what is meant by salvation, or, what it means to be saved. Like a symphony, which finger on a piano, but it takes a symphony to bring out all the depth and nuances of the music. Or, like a diamond, it is always much more beautiful when seen in its reality than in a photograph. Regeneration Reconciliation boldface. Although there are seventeen words that describe salvation, the Bible affirms that there is only one way of salvation, Jesus Christ: “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” —John 14:6 Forgiveness “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”” —Acts 4:12 Atonement Dead to sin Converted Reckoned Righteous Honour Sanctification Victory In Christ produces a sound that cannot be played by a soloist or small ensemble, salvation is so rich a word that it takes many words to fully understand it. A song can be simply played with one The words in the blue column on the left are most of the words the Bible uses to describe salvation. Each week the word for study will be in It is the aim of this study that God will be glorified in it by expanding our understanding and appreciation of salvation. Clean Salvation and Saved in the English Standard Version (ESV) The New Testament, the ESV uses the words “salvation or saved” 131 times. The words are: sozo (save, deliver, 89x) soteria (salvation, deliverance, 43x) soterios (bringing salvation, saving 5x) diasozo (bringing safely through, 1x) thesaurizo (lay up, store up, save up 1x). In the Old Testament the ESV uses the words “salvation or saved” 330 times:0 ysa, (to help, save, to received or accept help, to be victorious, 155x) yshua, (salvation, help, acts of salvation, 75x) ysha (help, deliverance, salvation, happiness, 32x) tshua (help, salvation, deliverance, victory, 22x) mlt (to flee to safety, to save someone, to save oneself, to leave undisturbed, to rest, 14x) hyh, (to be alive, to stay alive, to live, to revive, recover, return to life, 11x) moshia (deliverer, saviour, 6x) nstl, (to pull out, to be saved, be secure, to save oneself, to tear from, remove, withdraw, Page 2 The Symphony of Salvation Salvation and Saved in the English Standard Version (Cont.) 5x) smr (to keep, watch over, guard). Joshua, “the Lord is Salvation,” and Jesus, in the New Testament, is the Greek form of that name. The main idea that comes from all these words is that salvation is deliverance from something or someone.: “All my theology is reduced to this narrow From sin: Matthew 1:21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. From enemies: Luke 1:71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; From others: Acts 2:40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” From God’s Wrath Romans 5:9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. From physical death: Hebrews 5:7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. From eternal death: James 5:20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. compass— Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.” A. Alexander, 1851 What is Salvation? Salvation involves a change in the relationship between God and a person. Salvation includes God’s adoption of believers into his family, his acceptance of them as righteous and his forgiveness of their sins. It also includes personal renewal and transformation through the work of the Holy Spirit. Salvation as a change in status before God Access to God Ro 5:1-2 See also Eph 2:13; Heb 4:16 Adoption into the family of God Jn 1:12; Ro 8:22-24; Gal 4:4-7 Forgiveness of sin Ac 5:30-31 See also Ps 32:1-2; Mt 26:28; Ac 10:43; 13:38; Eph 1:7; Col 2:13 Heavenly citizenship Php 3:2021 See also Eph 2:19; Col 3:12; Heb 12:22-24 Inheritance from God Ro 8:17 See also Col 1:12; Rev 21:7 Peace with God Eph 2:13-17 See also Isa 53:5; Jn 16:33; Ro 5:1-2; Col 3:15 Righteousness in the sight of God Ro 1:17 See also Isa 61:10; Ro 3:22; 4:3-13,25-5:1 The idea of being righteous in the sight of God lies at the heart of Paul’s doctrine of justification by faith; 1Co 1:30; 2Co 5:21; Php 3:8-9; 2Ti 4:8; Heb 11:7 Salvation as a change in a person’s nature Becoming a new creation 2Co 5:17 See also Ro 6:4; Gal 6:1415; Eph 2:15 Deliverance from God’s righteous condemnation Ro 8:1-2 See also Isa 50:8; Ro 5:15-17; 8:33-39; Col 1:22 Deliverance from the power of sin and evil Gal 1:3-4 See also Ro 6:14; 7:21-25; 8:2-4; 1Pe 2:24; Rev 1:5 Inner personal renewal 1Jn 1:7 See also Ps 51:1-2,7; Heb 1:3; 10:19-22 New birth Jn 3:3-7 See also Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:23; 1Jn 3:9 The presence of the Holy Spirit Ro 8:10-11 See also Gal 5:2-25 Martin H. Manser, Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies (London: Martin Manser, 2009).