07: Doctrine - Salvation

Our Need for Salvation

Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

And you were dead

Trespasses

in the trespasses

and sins

Sins

in which you once walked

in which you once walked,

following the course of this world,

following the prince of the power of the air,

the spirit that is now at work

in the sons of disobedience—

among whom we all once lived

in the passions of our flesh,

carrying out the desires of the body and the mind,

and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. ()

In this passage we see three spiritual enemies of mankind:

The World

Satan

The “Flesh” (our sinful desires)

Further Reading: , especially 1:28-32 and 3:9-20, 23; and

But God!

Ephesians 2:4–5 ESV

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Who initiates salvation? Why does he do it?

Notice that God initiates salvation, even when we are dead in our trespasses.

How is our salvation described?

It is described as making us alive! It is by grace.

Ephesians 2:6–9 ESV

and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Eph 2.6

How is our salvation described?

It is described as making us alive! It is by grace. We are seated in a place of honor in Christ. Through it God shows us immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us.

What is our role in salvation?

Faith, but even that is not our own doing, but is a gift of God. Salvation is not a result of works. It is a gift. We have no reason to boast.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

What is the role of works in salvation?

Our good works are a result of salvation, not a cause of it. We don’t become a Christian by our good works. We are not saved because we “are a pretty good person.” We are saved because Jesus was the perfect sacrifice.

Further Reading: ; ; ; ; ; Titus 3:4-7

The Vocabulary of Salvation

Justification

The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible, Volume 3, H–L Justification

In Christian theology, justification is that act of God by which the sinner, who is responsible for his guilt and is under condemnation but believes in Christ, is pronounced just and righteous, or acquitted, by God the JUDGE (Rom. 3:28; 4:25; 5:16, 18; 8:28–34). According to the Scriptures, God justifies by GRACE, for Christ’s sake, through FAITH.

Redemption

The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible, Volume 5, Q–Z Regeneration

The biblical doctrine of the new birth.

See: ;

Adoption

The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible, Volume 1, A–C Adoption

The act of adoption is the conclusion of any action by which individuals are brought into a new family relationship where they now have new privileges and responsibilities, and at the same time lose all previous rights and are divested of all the previous duties of their former family relationship.

The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible, Volume 5, Q–Z F. Adoption

The reality of spiritual adoption may be outlined as follows: (1) Fallen sinners are strangers to the family of God; as enemies of God their father is the devil (Jn. 8:44). (2) Yet despite this fact they are invited to enter God’s family; to take his name upon them; to share in his fatherly care and discipline. (3) Such as accept this invitation are received into his family and protection. From this point they are called the children of God and are privileged to address him as Father. God as the heavenly Father of believers provides care (Lk. 11:11–13), sustenance (Ps. 23:1), protection (Ps. 114:1–2), instruction (through his word and by his providence), correction (Heb. 12:7; cf. 5–11), and an inheritance (Rom. 8:17).

See: ; ; ;

Christian (; ;