SO GREAT A SALVATION

SO GREAT A SALVATION

Chapter 48

SOME INTRODUCTORY CONSIDERATIONS

I. THE SCOPE OF THE SUBJECT

Soteriology, the doctrine of salvation, is one of the grandest themes in the Scriptures. It embraces all of time as well as eternity past and future. It relates in one way or another to all of mankind, without exception. It even has ramifications in the sphere of the angels. It is the theme of both the Old and New Testaments. It is personal, national, and cosmic. And it centers on the greatest Person, our Lord Jesus Christ.

From God’s perspective, salvation includes the total work of God in bringing people from condemnation to justification, from death to eternal life, from alienation to filiation. From the human perspective, it incorporates all of the blessings that being in Christ brings both in this life and the life to come.

The inclusive sweep of salvation is underscored by observing the three tenses of salvation.

(1) The moment one believed he was saved from the condemnation of sin

Ephesians 2:8 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

;

Titus 3:5 ESV

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

(2) That believer is also being saved from the dominion of sin and is being sanctified and preserved ().

(2) That believer is also being saved from the dominion of sin and is being sanctified and preserved

(2) That believer is also being saved from the dominion of sin and is being sanctified and preserved ().

).

Hebrews 7:25 ESV

25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

(3) And he will be saved from the very presence of sin in heaven forever ().

(3) And he will be saved from the very presence of sin in heaven forever

Romans 5:9–10 ESV

9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

).

II. THE MOTIVES FOR SALVATION

Why should God want to save sinners?

Why should He bear the pain of giving His only begotten Son to die for people who had rebelled against His goodness?

What could it possibly mean to God to have a family of human beings?

The Bible indicates at least three reasons that God wanted to save sinners.

(1) This was the greatest and most concrete demonstration of the love of God. His good gifts in nature and through His providential care (great as they are) do not hold a candle to the gift of His Son to be our Savior. reminds us that His love was shown in His gift, and says that God proved conclusively that He loved us by the death of Christ.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

(2) Salvation also gives God a display of His grace throughout all eternity.

Ephesians 2:7 ESV

7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

). Each saved person will be a special trophy of God’s grace forever. Only redeemed human beings can provide this display.

Each saved person will be a special trophy of God’s grace forever. Only redeemed human beings can provide this display.

(3) God also wanted a people who would do good works in this life and thus give the world a glimpse, albeit imperfect, of God who is good (v. 10).

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

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

Eph

Without the salvation Christ provided, these things would not be possible.

Without the salvation Christ provided, these things would not be possible.

III. THE IMPORTANCE OF SALVATION

In only two instances does the New Testament pronounce a curse on Christians for failure to do something.

One is not loving the Lord

1 Corinthians 16:22 ESV

22 If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!

), and the other is preaching a gospel other than the Gospel of grace of God (). Not comprehending clearly the doctrine of salvation can lead to proclaiming a false or perverted Gospel, and many statements of the Gospel one hears today may well come under this curse. Yet the grace of God overpowers our unclear presentations, and people are saved in spite of, though not as a result of, an unclear or misstated Gospel.

and the other is preaching a gospel other than the Gospel of grace of God.

Galatians 1:6–9 ESV

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

). Not comprehending clearly the doctrine of salvation can lead to proclaiming a false or perverted Gospel, and many statements of the Gospel one hears today may well come under this curse. Yet the grace of God overpowers our unclear presentations, and people are saved in spite of, though not as a result of, an unclear or misstated Gospel.

Not comprehending clearly the doctrine of salvation can lead to proclaiming a false or perverted Gospel, and many statements of the Gospel one hears today may well come under this curse. Yet the grace of God overpowers our unclear presentations, and people are saved in spite of, though not as a result of, an unclear or misstated Gospel.

Positively, this doctrine is crucial simply because a Gospel witness is the responsibility of all believers. For the preacher it is even more important, for he is the link between God and the unregenerated person, and his message must be clear

Romans 10:14–15 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

). Chafer, whose ministry began in evangelism, still thought near the end of his life that “in a well-balanced ministry, Gospel preaching should account for no less than 75 percent of the pulpit testimony. The remainder may be for the edification of those who are saved.”1 This certainly underscores the importance of studying and understanding this great theme of soteriology.

Chafer, whose ministry began in evangelism, still thought near the end of his life that “in a well-balanced ministry, Gospel preaching should account for no less than 75 % of the pulpit testimony. The remainder may be for the edification of those who are saved.”1 This certainly underscores the importance of studying and understanding this great theme of soteriology.

Ryrie, C. C. (1999). Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (pp. 317–320). Chicago, IL: Moody Press.