Soteriology - the Doctrine of Atonement - Article Example

Soteriology: the Doctrine of Salvation Through ages, the world often considered it a fabled myth that just belief suffices one to bargain forgiveness of one's sins. According to almost every religion in the world, forgiveness would heavily depend on the respective words and deeds of each individual, as bound and decided by its scriptures. Only one religion in such times, Christianity, stands ashore with the doctrine of salvation through faith in Christ. This doctrine, over time, has developed into a science, which categorically deals with three spheres - Christ, atonement and salvation. The roots of the word Soteriology lie in two Greek words: 'Soteria' which means Salvation and 'logos' meaning word, matter or thing. (Herrick 2005, screen 1) It is a study by theologians world over on why and how belief in Christ the Son, is the only way to the Father God and thereby, eternal life. So the word Soteriology has come to be associated with deliverance from all sins and afflictions. (Richardson undated, screen 1)And the rest of the paper reflects on how true Soteriology itself can defend its claims of atonement through faith in Christ. Though the word Soteriology does not exist in the scriptures, ("What is" 2006, screen 1) the whole New Testament can be itself called an express expansion of the term. And what better light than to examine the atonement through faith in Christ than the very Scriptures. In Psalms 49:6-9, the Lord God says They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption. The Lord God foretells of the coming of Son who will never see corruption but remain as true and pure. Though He could have chosen any and all, He chose to show us His wonder and glory not in His power or might, but in His meekness, and mercy. It is only through Christ Jesus that man is atoned for their sins. He further confirms this as He says in Matthew 18:11, For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. Mankind had fallen. It was only through His arm (With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him) (Psalm 89:21) and Isaiah 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. Our reward is found through obedience to Lord Jesus. He is the way to salvation there is no other. Christ spoke to us and told us that He is the way. No one save whom He chooses to reveal to the Father will know Him. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. (Matt. 11:27). There is one path to salvation and that path was marked by the passing of Him. He showed us how, why, and what. How we must live or lives. What we must do to receive the gift of eternal and why He chose to die the death He did - not for his own glory but for the salvation of mankind. For, it was through His blood that atonement was paid for our sins. Christ further told us that He and the Father are one. As the Lord stated in Issaih as previously stated He referred to Christ as His arm. He came to reach out the arm of the Lord first to atone for our sins. He came from the Father and died on the cross that we all may live. He rose from the dead and ascended to return to the Father, but His work was not finished. He is here amongst us and knocks - how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:37) Who is there to answer his knock God does not measure time as man measures time. He was, is and will be beyond time. "Election and foreknowledge are essentially the same." (Thiessen 2003, p. 107) In 2 Timothy He tells us Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (2Tim.2:10) Before time He knew just as He knows now the hearts of men. It is not through our own power, will or determination that we find Him, but through His grace and mercy. He knows, as I explained before, the hearts of men. He knows whom He has called and He knows who has and will answer. Too often man in his own arrogance thinks he has power over what will and will not be. Man has no power to decide to whom the call is given. Christ had foreknowledge. He created each and every one of us. How then can we possibly think He did not, does not know whom His chosen are. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1 Peter 1:2) Through Peter's mouth He spoke here of His foreknowledge. Through the blood of Christ and his victory over the evil one His elect will have life everlasting. Not through the acts of man, but through the blood of Christ Jesus who died that we may receive that sanctification. Bless His holy name forever. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) Again, He speaks of those who are called to His purpose which is His elect. He continues is Romans 8:29, For whom he did foreknow, he also did redestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Not only did He know who His elected would be and are but He tells us that we must walk as He taught us to walk, as He showed us to walk. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:30) He preconceived his elect. Taught us what we must do. It is not man that calls out and demands His presence, but as found in rooms it is him who He calls that is justified and glorified. As He stated in 2 Timothy He endures all things for the elect. He endured our disobedience, our lies, our turning our backs from His truth. Yet, He did not forsake nor leave us, ever for a moment. Rather He sent Christ Jesus to atone for our sins. He endured. He suffered being beaten, being spat on, being mocked, being hated and He did it all with his obedience. Not for His own glory. He is a reckoned as a king. He could have chosen any lot for Himself in life, but He chose to come as a humble son of a carpenter. He chose to bear the burden of death and sin without a word to those accusing, but for each one who believed in Him then and ever after. He chose, as His Father willed, to be nailed on the cross and offer his blood as an everlasting testament of His love, and none of it was to bring honor to Himself, but to the Father. That does not mean He wants any to perish. In John 3:16 He tells us, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. His wish is that we all might be saved, but that requires belief and not belief as man chooses to know belief, but as He intends us to believe in Him. This is not through our own thoughts or ideas, rather belief that does not question or pause - a belief that only comes through His gift. He continues in John 3:17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He sent the Son not to seal the hold the death had over us, but though the testament of His blood we might all come to Him. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18) Not any more need to be said than this that if one is to doubt the purpose the Christ, then all hope lost to atone for our sins. He shows us of the Oneness of the Father and Son in John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. While He was still walking the earth in His humanly body, He tells us that He can do nothing without the Father. He does only what the Father does - nothing more, nothing less. They are one, inseparable. For the Father loveth the Son and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these that ye may marvel. (John 5:20) Again the unity, the oneness. They are one and the same. Further Christ is telling us that His power is not His own, but comes from the Father. He wants no, nor desires any glory for Himself. He continues in John 5:21. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. As the Father saves, so does the Son, whom He will. Again, not buy our choice, but by His. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. As He is telling us in John 5:22, judgement He has given to the Son. It is Christ who will judge the world through the blood of shed will come our judgement. Finally in John5:23 - 24 He says, He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. How do we honor the Son It is not done by our own thoughts and deeds. We honor Him by doing His will and believing in whom He sent - Christ Jesus. In order to believe in Him we must believe why He came, why He suffered and died and then believe that He rose from the dead. For without belief in the resurrection there is no salvation. Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead 13But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. (1Cor. 12 -18) To honor Him is to believe Him. If we can not or will not believe that He died as an atonement for our sin, indeed we have already perished. Here hinges the belief in Christ His death and resurrection, without those there is nothing. 1 Cor. Continues: 19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. 21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (19-22) Hope is for those who are unsure. Assurance is for the true believer. He has shown us His power not for His own glory but for the Father's. There is no need to guess or wonder. He is true. He is the living God. And as He says at His coming they that are His, through His election not mans. Works Cited Herrick, Gregory. (2005). Soteriology: Salvation. Bible.Org Website. Retrieved February 6, 2006, from . King Jams Version Holy Bible, Nashville, TN: World Publishing, 2004. Richardson, Samuel. (Undated). Justification by Christ Alone. 5 Solas.Org Website. Retrieved February 6, 2006, from . Thiessen, Henry C. Lectures in Systematic Theology. Revision by Vernon D. Doerkson. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2003. What is Soteriology (2006). Got Questions Org Website. Retrieved February 6, 2006, from . Read More