Chapter 07 · Soteriology
Soteriology
The Doctrine of Salvation
What Is Soteriology?
Soteriology is the study of salvation. The Greek word soteria means salvation or preservation. Erickson defines salvation as "the application of the work of Christ to the lives of humans" (Erickson). If Christology is about what Christ has done, soteriology is about how that work is applied to individual sinners.
Soteriology asks: What are the means of salvation? What is the logical order of events in salvation? How is it applied? What is God's role, and what is humanity's?
Grace: Common and Special
Common Grace: "The grace of God by which he gives people innumerable blessings that are not part of salvation" (Grudem). Common grace is given to all people, believers and unbelievers alike. It includes the ability to reason, appreciate beauty, form families, maintain societies, and experience good things in life.
Special (Saving) Grace: "The grace of God that brings people to salvation" (Grudem). Only experienced by those who are saved. The grace itself is the same outpouring of God's goodness. The result is what distinguishes them.
Arminian theology adds a third category: Prevenient Grace: God's grace given to all people universally to counteract the effect of total depravity, making them capable of choosing salvation (Erickson). This is the Arminian answer to the Calvinist doctrine of Total Depravity.
Two Major Theological Traditions
Calvinism (Reformed Theology)
Named after the 16th-century French reformer John Calvin (1509–1564). Calvinism "emphasizes the sovereignty of God in all things, man's inability to do spiritual good before God, and the glory of God as the highest end of all that occurs." (Grudem). Its summary is the acronym TULIP:
T: Total Depravity: "Man's total lack of spiritual good and inability to do good before God." (Grudem). Sin has corrupted every dimension of human nature, leaving us unable to choose God on our own.
U: Unconditional Election: "An act of God before creation in which he chooses some to be saved, not on account of any foreseen merit in them, but only because of his sovereign good pleasure." (Grudem). God's choice is not based on anything He foresees in us.
L: Limited Atonement: "The Reformed view that Christ's death actually paid for the sins of those whom he knew would ultimately be saved." (Grudem). Also called particular redemption.
I: Irresistible Grace: "God effectively calls people and also gives them regeneration, both of which guarantee that we will respond in saving faith." (Grudem). Those God elects will certainly come to salvation.
P: Perseverance of the Saints: "All those who are truly 'born again' will be kept by God's power and will persevere as Christians until the end of their lives, and only those who persevere until the end have been truly 'born again.'" (Grudem). Also known as "once saved, always saved," though with the caveat that true faith will always persevere.
Arminianism
Named after Jacob Arminius, a 17th-century Dutch theologian. Arminianism "seeks to preserve the free choices of human beings and denies God's providential control over the details of all events." (Grudem).
Prevenient Grace: God's universal grace enables all people to respond to the gospel, counteracting total depravity without removing free will.
Conditional Election: God's predestination is based on His foreknowledge of who will freely choose salvation. Rejects unconditional election as fatalistic.
Unlimited Atonement: Jesus' death is sufficient for all sins and available to all, but only effective for those who believe.
Freedom: Humanity is free to accept or reject God's offer of salvation. Resists the Calvinist concept of irresistible grace.
Preservation (Conditional): Mainstream Arminianism holds that it is possible to lose one's salvation by persistently rejecting God after having been saved.
A Note on These Traditions
Most Baptist churches hold to some form of Calvinist or Arminian soteriology (or a combination). Understanding both positions helps you read the Bible and engage in thoughtful theological discussion, not to cause division, but to think carefully about God's role and humanity's role in salvation.
The Order of Salvation
Grudem's Order
Election (God's choice of people to be saved) → The Gospel Call (proclaiming the message of the gospel) → Regeneration (being born again) → Conversion (faith and repentance) → Justification (right legal standing) → Adoption (membership in God's family) → Sanctification (right conduct of life) → Perseverance (remaining a Christian) → Death (going to be with the Lord) → Glorification (receiving a resurrection body).
Erickson's Order
The Beginning of Salvation: Effectual Calling, Conversion (Repentance & Faith), Regeneration, Union with Christ, Justification, Adoption.
The Continuation of Salvation: Sanctification, The Christian Life.
The Completion of Salvation: Perseverance, Glorification.
The Gospel in Summary
God created us in His image. Sin entered the world and corrupted everything. We could not save ourselves. The Old Covenant was never sufficient as a once-and-for-all sacrifice. Jesus came to earth to become the sacrifice we needed. His atoning death makes salvation possible for all who believe in their heart and confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9–10). There is assurance of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Key Vocabulary
The study of salvation. From the Greek soteria (salvation) + logos (study). Erickson: "the application of the work of Christ to the lives of humans." (Erickson)
The act of God by which He declares a sinner righteous on the basis of Christ's righteousness, received through faith. A legal declaration, not a moral transformation (that is sanctification). Romans 5:1.
The ongoing process by which God transforms believers into Christlikeness. Unlike justification (a one-time declaration), sanctification is a lifelong journey of growth in holiness by the Spirit.
Being "born again," the act of God by which He gives new spiritual life to a person who was spiritually dead in sin. John 3:3; Titus 3:5.
The final and complete step of salvation: receiving a resurrection body like Christ's at His return. Romans 8:30. The completion of God's redemptive work in the believer.
Arminian doctrine: God's grace given universally to all people to counteract total depravity, enabling them to freely respond to the gospel. "Prevenient" means "coming before."
God's sovereign choice of people for salvation. Calvinists hold this is unconditional (not based on foreseen faith); Arminians hold it is conditional (based on God's foreknowledge of who will believe).
Acronym summarizing the five points of Calvinism: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, Perseverance of the Saints.
Key Scriptures
- Romans 3:23–26
- Romans 5:1
- Romans 8:29–30
- Romans 10:9–10
- Ephesians 2:8–9
- John 3:3–8
- Titus 3:5
- Philippians 1:6
Review Questions
- What is soteriology, and how does it relate to Christology? If Christology is what Christ did, how would you describe soteriology?
- What is the difference between common grace and special (saving) grace? What is prevenient grace, and which theological tradition emphasizes it?
- Write out TULIP and define each of the five points of Calvinism in your own words.
- How does Arminianism differ from Calvinism on each of the five points? What is the core disagreement between these two traditions?
- What is the difference between justification and sanctification? Why is it important not to confuse these two?
- What is glorification, and when does it occur? How does it relate to the other steps in the order of salvation?