THEO 202 - DOCTRINE OF SALVATION

Evangelical Order of Salvation

election/predestination, gospel call, conversion, regeneration, justification, adoption, union with Christ, sanctification, perseverance, glorification

Progressive Sanctification

the Bible also talks about the process of being set apart as something we must participate in

Universal Election in Christ

- Jesus is the eternally elected person by God - The believing community witnesses to the divine election of the race and so summons the world to faith in Christ - Every individual in the human race is elected by God - Karl Barth

The Grounds of Justification

- Not on the basis of personal merit - On the basis of Christ's merit

Conversion

- The divine/human activity inn which one becomes a Christian - A conscious act in which a person turns to God in Christ through REPENTANCE and FAITH

The Results of Justification

- The forgiveness of past sins - The imputation of Christ's righteousness

What "Union With Christ" Is NOT

- a metaphysical union - a mystical union - merely a relationship between two friends or a teacher and student - a union that deepens through taking the sacraments

Characteristics of Our Union With Christ

- judicial in nature - spiritual in nature - is vital

An objective, accomplished fact (Neoorthodox)

A person is sanctified in principle at conversion rather than in fact

Through A Decisive Act Of Surrender To Christ (Keswick and victorious life advocates)

A positional sanctification at conversion, a subsequent experiential sanctification with is a post-conversion, decisive surrender to Christ as Lord which effects victory over indwelling sin and attainment of higher level of Christian living

Perseverance

Continuing in the Faith

Conversion vs Regeneration

Conversion involved a human response to God's call to salvation Regeneration is an unconscious transformation brought about by the Holy Spirit at the moment of conversion

Election

How God was working toward my salvation in the past

The Gradual Process of Becoming Holy (Reformed Evangelicals)

Justification is an instantaneous event whereas sanctification is a lifelong process of growth

Positional Sanctification

- A common designation of Christians by Paul and the book of Revelation is "saints" or "holy ones" - Believers are already inwardly "saints" since they are inwardly separated from sin and set apart for the worship and service of God - The Bible affirms positional sanctification in Christ (ex. 1 Corinthians 6:11)

Why are Some Hearers Not Saved?

- As humans, we have both an unwillingness and inability to hear the Gospel. - Intellectually - 1 Cor 2:14 "the natural man does not understand the things of God" - Volitionally - Romans 3:11 "there is no one who seeks God"

Sanctification

- Being transformed in Christ's likeness - Describes God's means of actualizing in forgiven sinners His original creative purpose - To be set apart, to be holy

Unconditional Double Election

- God not only elected on no conditions other than it is God's prerogative to do so - God elected believers to eternal life - God elected unbelievers to eternal death - Theodore Beza

Gospel Call

- God's call of salvation to the hearer - The Holy Spirit's work in which He enables our minds and hearts to be receptive to the Gospel - Even our ability to exercise our will to choose or not choose salvation was made possible through God's call to us

Unconditional Single Election

- God's election is based on no conditions other than it is God's prerogative to do so - God only elected believers to eternal life - Augustine

Conditional Single Election

- God's election is based on the condition of foreseen faith - God's elects based upon the foreseen response of the believer - James Arminius

Principles of Perseverance

1. God's initiative in perseverance 2. Taking God's warnings seriously 3. Reflecting on fallen runners 4. Running with assurance

The Phases of Glorification

1. a believer's death when the soul departs from the body and enters Jesus' presence 2. at the resurrection of the body when the soul is reunited with the body and vindicated at the judgement seat of Christ 3. the believer's entry into the new heaven and the new earth in resurrected bodies

Results of Regeneration

1. intellectually - enables the minds of sinners once blind and ignorant of spiritual truth to comprehend the things of God 2. volitionally - liberates believer's wills to affirm and pursue kingdom values 3. emotionally - initiated the reintegration of troubling emotions 4. morally - frees the believer from enslaving passions 5. relationally - establishes genuine fellowship with God

The Process of Personal Reformation (liberal theology)

A communal effort through humans striving that seeks to cultivate spiritual life through productive acts of charity and service in solidarity with others

Adoption

Accepted into God's Family, we are given of the privilege of family membership

Through Holy Spirit Baptism (Pentecostals)

At justification God imputes righteousness to believers; through a second work of grace Christians are totally immersed in the Holy Spirit, this does not totally purify from the old nature or passions but an intensified consecration to God occurs (with Holy Spirit gifts being manifest); lastly, a gradual process of making holiness a reality in daily life

Glorification

Becoming Like Jesus

Union With Christ

Christ living in me

Calvinism

Christ only died for the elect - John Calvin

Amyraldianism

Christ's death is sufficient for all, yet efficient for the elect - Moses Amyraut

Justification

Right standing before God, we are declared righteous before God

Regeneration

Spiritual birth brought forth by the Holy Spirit at conversion - a re-creation, spiritual resurrection from death to life, circumcision of the heart, washing and signifying the cleansing of former sins, new spiritual birth

Entire Sanctification Through A "Second Blessing" Experience (Wesleyans and the Holiness Tradition)

The process of sanctification begins at justification but is perfected in an instantaneous, transforming work of the Holy Spirit called the "second work of grace" or the "second blessing"

The Sacramental Process of Making Righteous (Roman Catholic theology)

Through the sacraments God infuses into the soul justifying grace remits original sin and imparts the habit of righteousness

Faith

Trusting in Jesus as we believe Him for our new life in the present and the continuation into life eternal

Repentance

Turning from where we have been in our sinful condition and actions