Salvation Metaphors

Scripture uses several rich metaphors to describe our salvation in Christ (cf. The Race Set Before Us). First, salvation involves our deliverance. We have been rescued, redeemed, and ransomed from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light (Mark 10:45; Rom. 3:24; Gal. 1:4; Col. 1:13-14).   Scripture never indicates to whom the ransom is paid. [...]

TS Eliot’s “Choruses from the Rock”

O world of spring and autumn, birth and dying
The endless cycle of idea and action,
Endless invention, endless experiment,
Brings knowledge of motion, but not of stillness;
Knowledge of speech, but not of silence;
Knowledge of words, and ignorance of the Word.
All our knowledge brings us nearer to our ignorance,
All our ignorance brings us nearer to death,
But nearness to death [...]

Already But Not Yet

Scripture often speaks of salvation in two different senses—the already and the not yet. In 1st century, Jewish eschatology focused on two different stages, the present evil age and the age to come (Ladd). The present evil age is dominated by sin and death, and yet in the age to come the Creator God would [...]

Conversion

I believe that God’s gracious work of salvation demands us to respond in faith and repentance (Matt. 3:2; Luke 15:7; John 1:12; 3:16; Acts 3:19; Rom. 3:22; 1 John 1:9). In the NT, conversion was marked by believer’s baptism and the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:38-39; 8:12-17; 10:44-48; Rom. 6:1-4; [...]

How were people saved prior to Christ’s coming?

OT believers were saved by faith in the LORD’s covenant promises, which ultimately find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:6-7; Heb. 11). In this way, the death of Christ was retroactive; it made atonement for sins done prior to the cross. Through the cross, God demonstrated His justice in passing over the sins of [...]

Salvation by grace and through the cross

I believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5). According to Scripture, salvation is God’s free gracious gift that we could never earn or merit (Rom. 6:23; 11:6). Salvation comes exclusively through faith in Jesus Christ. He is the only way to the Father (John 3:18; 14:6; Acts 4:12).
Jesus [...]

Salvation Outline

 Here’s an outline for my doctrinal statement. 

Christ’s work

Here’s some of my work for my Christian Theology class. 
I believe that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (Matt. 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 19; 1 Cor. 15:1-8). He was buried. And on the third day, He physically rose from dead (Matt. 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20-21). After his [...]

Christ as Prophet and Priest

 I believe that Jesus Christ is our High Priest (Heb. 2:17; 3:1; 4:14-25; 5:6). In His death, He made atonement for our sins (Heb. 10:1-10). In His resurrection, He stands as our intercessor, our advocate, and our mediator before God (John 14:6; Rom. 8:34; 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 John 2:1-2).
According to Scripture, Jesus Christ [...]

Chalcedonian Creed

We, then, following the holy Fathers, all with one consent, teach men to confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood;

truly God and truly man, of a reasonable [rational] soul and body;

consubstantial [co-essential] with the Father according to the Godhead, and consubstantial with [...]