THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION (FROM THIS WE BELIEVE

BY JAMES L. SLAY, PP 35 -38)

Louis G. HulseyFebruary 16, 2011Casa Grande, Arizona

WE BELIEVE:(CHRISTOLOGY AND SOTERIOLOGY) 3. That Jesus Christ is the only begotten

Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as Intercessor.

4. That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins.

5. That justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.

WE BELIEVE6. In sanctification, subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ; through the Word, and by the Holy Ghost.

7. Holiness to be God’s standard of living for His people.

11. Divine healing is provided for all in the atonement.

I. INTRODUCTION A. The need for salvation

“If there is a universal belief in God, there is also a universal desire for man to find God and to be reconciled to Him. (p.38)

Anthropologists claim that people in all types of primitive culture desire to be reconciled to God.

Religious systems may be divided into two groups: The “autosoteric” or self-salvation group (salvation by works) and the “esoteric,” (salvation from God) (p. 38-39).

We cannot earn salvation. We must receive salvation by faith. It is a gift. This is faith in Christ, not in ourselves.

I. INTRODUCTION- ALL HAVE SINNED The Bible says all have sinned and that

natural man is alienated from God. Genesis 6:5, KJVA, “And GOD saw that the

wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

Psalms 58:3, KJVA, “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.”

Isaiah 53:6, KJVA, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

I. INTRODUCTION- ALL HAVE SINNED Jeremiah 17:9, KJVA, “The heart is

deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Romans 3:23, KJVA, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Romans 8:7, KJVA, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”

Colossians 1:21, KJVA, “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled”

I. INTRODUCTION – THE PLANB. The preparation for salvationAfter Adam sinned, God promised salvation to mankind.

Genesis 3:15, KJVA, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

II. THE PERSON OF THE SAVIOR Introduction

“The only way to know God is through His Son Jesus Christ,” (41).

1 Timothy 2:5, KJVA, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

A. Christ pre-incarnateJesus existed in eternity uncreated and co-equal with the Father before creation.

II. THE PERSON OF THE SAVIOR B. Christ incarnate or The suffering Christ 1. The deity of Christ or Christ as God a. Proofs of Christ’s divinity (1). Jesus claimed to be divine.

Finis J. Dake in Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible outlines ten claims that prove Jesus’ divinity. Jesus:

1. Claims equality with God in nature, John 5:17-18. 2. Claims equality with God in power and works, 19-

20 3. Claims equality with God in resurrection power,

21. 4. Claims equality with God in judgment, 22.

II. THE PERSON OF THE SAVIOR Jesus:

5. Claims equality with God in honor, John 5:23.

6. Claims equality with God in giving eternal life, 24-25.

7. Claims equality with God in self-existent life, 26-27.

8. Claims equality with God over death and destiny, 28-29.

9. Claims absolute justice in His own right, 30.

II. THE PERSON OF THE SAVIOR 10. Jesus claims a 4-fold witness to His

divinity, John 5:31-42. 1. John the Baptist, 32-35. 2. His own works, 36. 3. The Father, 37-38. 4. The Scriptures, 39-42 5. To this list we add the testimony

of the Holy Spirit, John 15:26, 6. The testimony of the martyrs,

and 7. The resurrection of Jesus.

II. THE PERSON OF THE SAVIOR (2) Old Testament descriptions of God are

applied to Jesus. “The term ‘Jehovah’ was held in special

reverence; it is therefore logical to believe that the new Testament writers would never have used these same names in referring to Christ had they not believed him to be divine,” 44.

“Prepare ye the way of the Lord [την οδον κυριου], make his paths straight,” Luke 3:4 is a direct quotation from Isaiah 40:3, “Prepare ye the way of the LORD [Jehovah], make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

II. THE PERSON OF THE SAVIOR (3) Jesus is called God by the New

Testament writers. John 1:1, “…and the Word was God.” Romans 9:5, LITV, “whose are the

fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to flesh, He being God over all, blessed forever. Amen.”

Titus 2:13, LITV, “looking for the blessed hope and appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”

JESUS IS JEHOVAH (3). Jesus is called “God” by the New

Testament writers. Hebrews 1:7-8 LITV

7, “And as to the angels, He said, "Who makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire;" LXX-Psa. 103:4; MT-Psa. 104:48, “but as to the Son, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom;”

II. THE PERSON OF THE SAVIOR b. Christ possessed the attributes of God. (1) Jesus was self-existent and possessed

life as well as the power to give life. John 5:21, KJVA, “For as the Father raiseth up

the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.”

John 5:26, KJVA, “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;”

John 1:4, KJVA, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

John 10:10, KJVA, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

II. THE PERSON OF THE SAVIOR (2) Jesus possessed immutability. Hebrews 13:8, KJVA, “Jesus Christ the

same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

(3) Jesus was truth. John 14:6, KJVA, “Jesus saith unto him, I

am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Revelation 3:7, KJVA, “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;”

II. THE PERSON OF THE SAVIOR(4) Jesus was love.

1 John 3:16, KJVA, “Hereby perceive we the love [αγαπη] of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

(5) Jesus possessed holiness like unto God Luke 1:35, KJVA, “And the angel answered

and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

Luke 4:34, KJVA, “Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.”

II. THE PERSON OF THE SAVIORb. Christ possessed the attributes of

God. (6) Jesus was and is omnipresent.

Matthew 28:20, KJVA, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

(7) Jesus was and is omniscient. John 16:30, KJVA, “Now are we sure that thou

knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.”

John 2:24-25, KJVA, “But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”

II. THE PERSON OF THE SAVIOR

(8) Jesus was and is omnipotent.

Matthew 28:18, KJVA “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power [εξουσια] is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

John 17:2, KJVA, “As thou hast given him power [εξουσια] over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.”

THE DEITY OF CHRIST c. His divine offices and work attest to His deity.

(1) He is the Creator. John 1:3, KJVA, “All things were made by him; and

without him was not any thing made that was made.”

“Hebrews 1:10, KJVA, “And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:”

Colossians 1:16, KJVA “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”

Revelation 4:11, KJVA, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

THE DEITY OF CHRIST(2) He is the upholder of all things.

Hebrews 1:3, KJVA, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”(3) He has the authority to forgive

sins: Mark 2:5, KJVA, “When Jesus saw their

faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.”

Luke 7:48, KJVA, “And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.”

1. THE DEITY OF CHRIST(4) He has the power to raise the

dead. John 6:39, KJVA, “And this is the

Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.”

John 11:25, KJVA, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”

1. THE DEITY OF CHRIST(5) He will judge all men. John 5:22, KJVA, “For the Father judgeth

no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:”

2 Timothy 4:1, KJVA, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;”

Acts 17:31, KJVA, “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”

2. THE HUMANITY OF CHRISTThe Great “I AM” of Exodus 3:14

who was with His disciples, is now in us.

John 14:17, KJVA, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

2. THE HUMANITY OF CHRIST  a. He had human parents. Matthew 1:18, KJVA, “Now the birth of Jesus

Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”

Matthew 12:47, KJVA, “Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.”

John 2:1, KJVA, “And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:”

Galatians 4:4, KJVA, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

2. THE HUMANITY OF CHRIST b. Jesus called Himself “man” and others called Him “man.”

John 8:40, KJVA, “But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.”

Acts 2:22, KJVA, “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:”

1 Timothy 2:5, KJVA, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

2. THE HUMANITY OF CHRIST c. Jesus possessed a body and soul which are

essential elements of humanity: Matthew 26:38, KJVA, “Then saith he unto them, My

soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.”

John 11:33, KJVA, “When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,”

Matthew 26:26. KJVA, “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.”

Hebrews 2:14, KJVA, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;”

1 John 4:2, KJVA, “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:”

2. THE HUMANITY OF CHRIST d. Jesus grew, felt, and acted as a normal

human being: Luke 2:40, KJVA, “And the child grew, and waxed strong in

spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.” 

Luke 2:46, KJVA, “And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.”

Luke 2:52, KJVA, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”

Matthew 4:2, KJVA, “And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.”

John 19:28, KJVA, “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.”

Matthew 8:24, KJVA, “And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.”

2. THE HUMANITY OF CHRIST e. Jesus actually suffered and

died: Luke 22:44, KJVA, “And being in an

agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

Luke 23:46, KJVA, “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”

III. CHRIST AS SAVIOR Jesus came to this world for the

specific purpose of dying on the cross for our sins.

Our Heavenly Father “gave Him not only as an example, but literally gave Him as a sacrifice,” (48). Jesus “gave Himself for us” (John 3:16).

Jesus came to this world to complete our atonement and reconciliation by dying on the cross.

III. CHRIST AS SAVIOR Jesus died for our sins, was raised for our justification, andascended for His glory and our

edification.Romans 4:25, KJVA “Who was

delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

Ephesians 2:6, KJVA, “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”