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Soteriology

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Soteria�logos

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History

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Arnold J. Toynbee ：��History is a vision of God's creation on the move.

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G. W. F. Hegel, Philosophy of History：��The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history

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Church History

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【John5:17】"My Father is working until now, and I am working."

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【Heb1:3】He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

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What do we believe?

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�Historical and Apostolic Faith

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【Act2:42】And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

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Apostles' Creed:�� I believe in the holy catholic church

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Nicene Creed 325AD:�� We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church

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The Spectrum of Soteriology

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Synergism�vs�Monergism�

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Synergism

Monergism�

Man alone saves himself

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Augustine of Hippo, Confessions Book 10：

“Give what You command, and command

what You will.”

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Pelagius (354–418 AD):

“No! That makes humans look helpless. We can obey if we really try.”

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Pelagianism (354–418 AD):��

☑ Denial of Original Sin

☑ Free Will

☑ Natural Grace

☑ Good example

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Pelagianism (4^th century):��Officially condemned as a heresy by the Western Church at the Council of Carthage (418 AD) and globally by the Council of Ephesus (431 AD)

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Augustinianism��

☑ Original Sin & Depravity

☑ Moral Inability

☑ Grace as Necessary Transformation

☑ bondage of will

Augustinianism:

Original Sin & Depravity

Total Depravity and Inherited Guilt.Adam’s sin affected all humanity.Human beings are born with an inherent sinful nature and inherit both the guilt and the corruption of Adam's Fall.

The human will is fundamentally broken and bound by sin, capable only of choosing according to its fallen nature.

Moral Inability

Humans are completely enslaved to sin and lack the natural ability to obey God or choose salvation on their own.

Grace as Internal and Necessary Transformation

Grace consists of: The supernatural, inward work of the Holy Spirit. Regeneration (spiritual rebirth) to actively change the human heart and will. Unmerited divine favor that infuses the soul with the desire and power to obey.

Grace is absolutely necessary for any true spiritual obedience or salvation, not merely helpful.

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Synergism

Monergism�

Pelagianism

Augustinianism

Man alone saves himself

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Semi-Pelagianism (5^th century):��

☑ Free Will

☑ Importance of human will

☑ Work with God

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Semi-Pelagianism (5^th century):��

【Rom8:29】For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Foreknew: proginosko #4267

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Semi-Pelagianism (5^th century):��

☑ Free Will

☑ Importance of human will

☑ Work with God

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Semi-Pelagianism (5^th century):��Officially condemned as a heresy by the Western Church at the Council of Orange in 529 AD.

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Synergism

Monergism�

Pelagianism

Semi- Pelagianism

Augustinianism

Man alone saves himself

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Arminianism (16^th century):

☑ Total Depravity

☑ Prevenient Grace

☑ Resistible Grace

☑ Conditional Election

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Calvinism (Reformed Soteriology)��

☑ Total Depravity

☑ Limited (Particular ) Atonement

☑ Irresistible Grace

☑ Unconditional Election

☑ Perseverance of the Saints

Total Depravity

Inherited Sin: Because of Adam's Fall, every part of human nature—mind, will, emotions, and flesh—is completely corrupted by sin.

Moral Inability: Human beings are spiritually dead and completely unable to choose God, love God, or save themselves on their own. The human will is in bondage to sin until it is freed by divine grace.

Unconditional Election

Sovereign Choice: Before the creation of the world, God chose specific individuals to be saved. This choice was based solely on His sovereign will and good pleasure.

No Foreseen Merit: This election is entirely unconditional. It is not based on any foreseen faith, good works, or choices made by the individual. God does not choose people because he sees they will choose Him; they choose Him because He chose them.

Limited Atonement (Particular Redemption)

Specific Purpose: The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross was intended to definitively save a specific group of people—the elect—rather than just making salvation a vague possibility for everyone.

Perfect Efficacy: Christ's death did not merely make salvation possible; it actually secured everything necessary for the salvation of His people, completely satisfying God's justice on their behalf.

Irresistible Grace (Efficacious Grace)

Inward Renewal: When God calls the elect to salvation, His Holy Spirit performs an inward transformation in their hearts, drawing them effectively to faith.

Overcoming Resistance: This grace does not force people against their will; instead, it renews the broken human heart, making the sinner completely willing and eager to freely repent and believe. Man cannot ultimately resist this saving work of the Spirit.

Perseverance of the Saints

Eternal Security: Those whom God has elected, redeemed, and called into fellowship cannot lose their salvation. They are kept secure by God’s power to the very end.

Continuous Faith: This does not mean believers can live however they want without consequence; rather, it means God will continuously sustain their faith, ensuring they persevere in holiness and repentance throughout their lives.

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Arminianism (16^th century):��Officially condemned as a heresy by the Synod of Dort (1618–1619)

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Semi- Pelagianism

Synergism

Monergism�

Pelagianism

Man alone saves himself

Augustinianism

Reformed Soteriology

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Provisionism (21^st century):

☑ Faith Precedes Regeneration

☑ The Sufficiency of the Gospel Call

☑ Cooperative Election

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Synergism

Monergism�

Pelagianism

Semi- Pelagianism

Arminianism

Provisionism

Augustinianism

Reformed Soteriology

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Synergism�vs�Monergism�

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【Jer31:31】"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,�【Jer31:32】not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD.�【Jer31:33】But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.�【Jer31:34】And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.“��【Jer31:35】Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar-- the LORD of hosts is his name:�【Jer31:36】"If this fixed order departs from before me, declares the LORD, then shall the offspring of Israel cease from being a nation before me forever.“�【Jer31:37】Thus says the LORD: "If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done, declares the LORD."

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FBC STATEMENT OF FAITH

CONCERNING SALVATION

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly by the unconditional, electing grace of God the Father, given to us in Jesus Christ before the beginning of time. God the Father sent His Son to suffer voluntarily and die on the cross in our place as a substitute to cover our sins. Jesus’ self-sacrifice was completely sufficient and satisfied the justice of God and appeased the divine wrath directed against humanity. On the cross, Jesus canceled the record of our debt to God, triumphed over Satan and death and secured our peace with God.

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FBC STATEMENT OF FAITH

CONCERNING SALVATION

Salvation is wholly apart from works and is received upon the sole condition of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In order to be saved the sinner must be born again, being regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God thus becoming the recipient of a new nature. The regenerated person is justified before God, adopted into the family of God, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit of God and by the Word of God and will ultimately be glorified by God.

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FBC STATEMENT OF FAITH

CONCERNING SALVATION

Salvation, which is the experience of God’s mercy by sinful human beings, is based exclusively upon faith in Christ and there is no scriptural warrant to assume that any person can experience God’s mercy in salvation outside of Christ. (John 3:16, 10:28-29; Acts 4:12, 13:39; Romans 3:20-26, 5:1-8, 8:14-16, 29-30; Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 1:4, 2:8-9; Hebrews 9:24-28; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Peter 3:18, 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 3:1-3)