Soteriology - The Doctrine of Salvation. The Meaning of Salvation

Soteriology come from two greek words soteria meaning Salvation and logos meaning word, or discourse or teaching or reasoning. Here we will deal with God’s provision of Salvation in Christ and its application in the lives of believers by the Holy Spirit.

A, The provision of Salvation.

Psa 19:1  To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the expanse proclaims His handiwork.

John Gill comments : By which we are to understand not the heavens literally taken, though these with the firmament are the handiworks of God, and do declare the glory of his perfections, especially his wisdom and power; these show that there is a God, and that he is a glorious one: but either Gospel churches, often signified by the kingdom of heaven, in the New Testament; the members of them being heaven-born souls, and the doctrines and ordinances ministered among them being from heaven; and there being a very great resemblance between them and heaven, in the company and communion enjoyed in them; and who declare the glory of the divine perfections, which is very great in the handiwork of their redemption; and who ascribe the glory of their whole salvation to God:”

The Universe

Rom 1:20  For the unseen things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being realized by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, for them to be without excuse.

For the invisible things of God. Some of His attributes, as explained afterwards.

Since the creation of the world. ‘From,’ while literally correct, may be misunderstood as referring to the means of clearly seeing.

Being perceived, etc. The mode of clearly seeing the invisible attributes of God is the perception of them through the visible things which He has made.

Even his everlasting power and divinity. The word ‘everlasting’ here is not the same as that usually rendered ‘eternal’; it belongs to both nouns. ‘Eternal, and Almighty, have always been recognized epithets of the Creator’ (Alford). Through the ‘power’ men recognize the ‘divinity,’ which here means not the personal Deity, but the sum of the divine attributes. The position Paul takes is opposed to Pantheism.

That they may be without excuse. The designed result is here set forth; ‘so that’ is not literally exact. But man’s inexcusableness, not God’s sovereignty, is under discussion.

Every man knows there is a God; that he is the Creator of all things; that He is Sovereign in His Universe, and that we are Responsible to Him.

Therefore, this knowledge leaves man without excuse, for it ought to induce him to seek God; even though it is insufficient to save him

1. The meaning of Salvation.

The Hebrew word Strongs: ישׁוּעה yeshû‛âh yesh-oo'-aw

Feminine passive participle of H3467; something saved, that is, (abstractly) deliverance; hence aid, victory, prosperity: - deliverance, health, help (-ing), salvation, save, saving (health), welfare.{ Note this is the name of our Lord and Saviour, Yeshuah, (Jesus).

Yeshua , our SAVIOUR

This word is used of the deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptians (Exo_14:13), and of deliverance generally from evil or danger. In the New Testament it is specially used with reference to the great deliverance from the guilt and the pollution of sin wrought out by Jesus Christ, “the great salvation” (Heb_2:3). Easton’s Bible Dictionary

The Greek word σωτήριον sōtērion Thayer Definition:

1) saving, bringing salvation

2) he who embodies this salvation, or through whom God is about to achieve it

3) the hope of (future) salvation

Roman 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the Good News. It is God's power which is at work for the salvation of everyone who believes--the Jew first, and then the Gentile.

Salvation σωτηρία sōtēria Thayer Definition:

1) deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation

1a) deliverance from the molestation of enemies

1b) in an ethical sense, that which concludes to the souls safety or salvation[from Judgement]

1b1) of Messianic salvation

2) salvation as the present possession of all true Christians

3) future salvation, the sum of benefits and blessings which the Christians, redeemed from all earthly ills, will enjoy after the visible return of Christ from heaven in the consummated and eternal kingdom of God.

Willmington’s definition :

Salvation means to effect successfully the full deliverance of someone from Impending danger

A sailor rescued by a Submarine.

A. Note all need a Saviour. We need to be saved from ‘the wrath to come’.

Only an accused person needs a lawyer or Advocate. We all stand condemned before the Bar of God. Romans 3:10-19

Rom 3:10  Thus it stands written, "THERE IS NOT ONE RIGHTEOUS MAN.

Rom 3:11  THERE IS NOT ONE WHO IS REALLY WISE, NOR ONE WHO IS A DILIGENT SEEKER AFTER GOD. ……………..

Rom 3:18  "THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES."

Rom 3:19  But it cannot be denied that all that the Law says is addressed to those who are living under the Law, in order that every mouth may be stopped, and that the whole world may await sentence[are guilty] from God. WNT

SAVED

Have you been Saved? You you know you have been rescued from the Guilt and power of sin and wickedness? JESUS SAVES