Thinking on Scripture

There are a number of biblical passages that emphasize negative human volition as the reason people reject Jesus. Concerning unbelieving Israel, Jesus said, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling” (Matt 23:37). The Bible teaches that God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4), and that “the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men” (Tit 2:11), and the Lord is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9). If someone perishes eternally, it is because they failed to respond to God and His drawing them to Himself. Jesus said that one is judged eternally, “because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18b). And when speaking to unbelievers, Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life” (John 5:39-40). Stephen, when about to be stoned to death, said to his attackers, “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did” (Acts 7:51). All who end up in the lake of fire are there by personal choice and not because God failed to love them or make provision for their eternal salvation.

In this series of lectures, Dr. Steven R. Cook explains the doctrine of Soteriology, which is the study of salvation. The word soteriology is derived from the Greek words soter, which means savior, and logos, which means a word about, or the study of something. The word salvation is used throughout the Bible of physical deliverance as well as spiritual deliverance. Click here for PDF copy of my study notes: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Divine-Election.pdf Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/

All babies and little children go to heaven if they die before reaching the age of accountability. That heaven welcomes little children is stated in Jesus’s Words, when He told His disciples, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14; cf., Matt 18:3). #heaven #death #grace

One can see God’s sovereignty and human volition working simultaneously at the crucifixion of Jesus. In the sovereignty and wisdom of God, without overruling human volition, the Lord accomplished His will by means of the wills of wicked men who sought to oppose Him. Luke tells us, “this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death” (Acts 2:23). Here, wicked men did their worst against God and His Messiah, and yet, what was done to the Messiah, was done “by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God.” Luke states something similar when he recorded Peter’s prayer to God, saying, “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur” (Acts 4:27-28). These wicked men “were gathered together against” Jesus, to oppose and crucify Him. Yet Peter says to God they did “whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.” These wicked men—whose pride and power were threatened by Jesus—sought to destroy Him by means of false witnesses and illegal trials, and to put Him to death in the most horrible way possible; crucifixion. But God is sovereign, and by means of His invisible hand, used the very actions of those who opposed Him to accomplish the thing He desired; the death of Messiah for everyone. Here is a mystery that brings awe and bewilderment, as the wills of wicked men became the vehicle of divine destiny to produce exactly what God intended. God was in no way the author of their sin. Those who crucified Messiah acted freely. Yet their free actions were the modus operandi to accomplish His will, and so Messiah was crucified and bore the sins of those who placed Him on the cross.

In this series of lectures, Dr. Steven R. Cook explains the doctrine of Soteriology, which is the study of salvation. The word soteriology is derived from the Greek words soter, which means savior, and logos, which means a word about, or the study of something. The word salvation is used throughout the Bible of physical deliverance as well as spiritual deliverance. Click here for PDF copy of my study notes: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Divine-Election.pdf https://thinkingonscripture.com/2024/06/14/why-volition-matters-belief-in-jesus-and-eternal-life/ Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/

In this series of lectures, Dr. Steven R. Cook explains the doctrine of Soteriology, which is the study of salvation. The word soteriology is derived from the Greek words soter, which means savior, and logos, which means a word about, or the study of something. The word salvation is used throughout the Bible of physical deliverance as well as spiritual deliverance. Click here for PDF copy of my study notes: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Divine-Election.pdf Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/

In this series of lectures, Dr. Steven R. Cook explains the doctrine of Soteriology, which is the study of salvation. The word soteriology is derived from the Greek words soter, which means savior, and logos, which means a word about, or the study of something. The word salvation is used throughout the Bible of physical deliverance as well as spiritual deliverance. Click here for PDF copy of my study notes: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Divine-Election.pdf Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/

In this series of lectures, Dr. Steven R. Cook explains the doctrine of Soteriology, which is the study of salvation. The word soteriology is derived from the Greek words soter, which means savior, and logos, which means a word about, or the study of something. The word salvation is used throughout the Bible of physical deliverance as well as spiritual deliverance. Click here for PDF copy of my study notes: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/What-Must-I-Believe-to-Be-Saved.pdf Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/

In this series of lectures, Dr. Steven R. Cook explains the doctrine of Soteriology, which is the study of salvation. The word soteriology is derived from the Greek words soter, which means savior, and logos, which means a word about, or the study of something. The word salvation is used throughout the Bible of physical deliverance as well as spiritual deliverance. Click here for PDF copy of my study notes: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/What-Must-I-Believe-to-Be-Saved.pdf Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/

In this series of lectures, Dr. Steven R. Cook explains the doctrine of Soteriology, which is the study of salvation. The word soteriology is derived from the Greek words soter, which means savior, and logos, which means a word about, or the study of something. The word salvation is used throughout the Bible of physical deliverance as well as spiritual deliverance. Click here for PDF copy of my study notes: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/What-Must-I-Believe-to-Be-Saved.pdf Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/

In this series of lectures, Dr. Steven R. Cook explains the doctrine of Soteriology, which is the study of salvation. The word soteriology is derived from the Greek words soter, which means savior, and logos, which means a word about, or the study of something. The word salvation is used throughout the Bible of physical deliverance as well as spiritual deliverance. Click here for PDF copy of my study notes: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/What-Must-I-Believe-to-Be-Saved.pdf Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/

Free grace salvation means we are saved solely by God’s grace and not by any human effort or merit. All humanity is inherently sinful and unable to earn entrance into heaven. Good works do not save. They never have and never will. Salvation is entirely a work of God. He offers it to sinful humanity as a gift, given freely and unconditionally to all who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior, believing He died for our sins, was buried, and raised again on the third day (1 Cor 15:3-4). Faith in Christ is the only condition for salvation. Faith does not save. Christ saves. Faith is merely the instrument by which we receive the free gift. And we are saved by grace, which means we don’t deserve it. Scripture reveals, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9). Some think their obedience to the Law saves them; however, “if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly” (Gal 2:21). Jesus paid our sin debt in full, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet 3:18a). There’s nothing for us to add to Jesus’ work on the cross. The sole condition of salvation is to believe in Christ as our Savior. The good news is that Jesus died for us, was buried, and rose again on the third day (1 Cor 15:3-4). Salvation is not Jesus plus anything we do. It’s Jesus alone. He saves. Our contribution to the cross was sin and death, as Jesus took our sin upon Himself and died in our place (Mark 10:45; Rom 5:8; 1 Pet 3:18). Salvation is never what we do for God; rather, it’s what He’s done for us through the cross of Christ. That’s all. It’s a gift that is received by faith alone in Christ alone. The Bible reveals we are “justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:24). Paul is emphatic that we are justified by faith and not by works, saying, “to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness” (Rom 4:5). Justification is a single act that occurs at the moment we trust in Christ as Savior. It’s a one-and-done event. At that moment, we are declared just in God’s sight, not because of any righteousness of our own, but because of “the gift of righteousness” (Rom 5:17) that God gives to us at the moment of salvation. This is God’s righteousness, and is gifted to us “apart from works” (Rom 4:6). It is “the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith” (Phil 3:9). It is this free gift of God’s righteousness that makes us acceptable in His sight.

In this series of lectures, Dr. Steven R. Cook explains the doctrine of Soteriology, which is the study of salvation. The word soteriology is derived from the Greek words soter, which means savior, and logos, which means a word about, or the study of something. The word salvation is used throughout the Bible of physical deliverance as well as spiritual deliverance. Click here for PDF copy of my study notes: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Biblical-Terminology-Related-to-Soteriology-3.pdf Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/

As a Christian, it is possible to have correct thinking (orthodoxy) and not live by it. James wrote, “To one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin” (Jam 4:17). There are times when believers know God’s Word, but because of negative volition, do not apply it. See complete study notes here: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/When-a-Christian-Turns-to-a-Sinful-Lifestyle.pdf

In this series of lectures, Dr. Steven R. Cook explains the doctrine of Soteriology, which is the study of salvation. The word soteriology is derived from the Greek words soter, which means savior, and logos, which means a word about, or the study of something. The word salvation is used throughout the Bible of physical deliverance as well as spiritual deliverance. Click here for PDF copy of my study notes: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Biblical-Terminology-Related-to-Soteriology-3.pdf Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/

In this series of lectures, Dr. Steven R. Cook explains the doctrine of Soteriology, which is the study of salvation. The word soteriology is derived from the Greek words soter, which means savior, and logos, which means a word about, or the study of something. The word salvation is used throughout the Bible of physical deliverance as well as spiritual deliverance. Click here for PDF copy of my study notes: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Biblical-Terminology-Related-to-Soteriology-2.pdf Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/

In this series of lectures, Dr. Steven R. Cook explains the doctrine of Soteriology, which is the study of salvation. The word soteriology is derived from the Greek words soter, which means savior, and logos, which means a word about, or the study of something. The word salvation is used throughout the Bible of physical deliverance as well as spiritual deliverance. Click here for PDF copy of my study notes: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Biblical-Terminology-Related-to-Soteriology-2.pdf Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/

In this series of lectures, Dr. Steven R. Cook explains the doctrine of Soteriology, which is the study of salvation. The word soteriology is derived from the Greek words soter, which means savior, and logos, which means a word about, or the study of something. The word salvation is used throughout the Bible of physical deliverance as well as spiritual deliverance. Click here for PDF copy of my study notes: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Biblical-Terminology-Related-to-Soteriology-2.pdf Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/

In this series of lectures, Dr. Steven R. Cook explains the doctrine of Soteriology, which is the study of salvation. The word soteriology is derived from the Greek words soter, which means savior, and logos, which means a word about, or the study of something. The word salvation is used throughout the Bible of physical deliverance as well as spiritual deliverance. Click here for PDF copy of my study notes: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Biblical-Terminology-Related-to-Soteriology-1.pdf Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/

In this series of lectures, Dr. Steven R. Cook explains the doctrine of Soteriology, which is the study of salvation. The word soteriology is derived from the Greek words soter, which means savior, and logos, which means a word about, or the study of something. The word salvation is used throughout the Bible of physical deliverance as well as spiritual deliverance. Click here for PDF copy of my study notes: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Biblical-Terminology-Related-to-Soteriology-1.pdf Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/

In this series of lectures, Dr. Steven R. Cook explains the doctrine of Soteriology, which is the study of salvation. The word soteriology is derived from the Greek words soter, which means savior, and logos, which means a word about, or the study of something. The word salvation is used throughout the Bible of physical deliverance as well as spiritual deliverance. Click here for PDF copy of my study notes: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Biblical-Terminology-Related-to-Soteriology.pdf Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/

In this series of lectures, Dr. Steven R. Cook explains the doctrine of Soteriology, which is the study of salvation. The word soteriology is derived from the Greek words soter, which means savior, and logos, which means a word about, or the study of something. The word salvation is used throughout the Bible of physical deliverance as well as spiritual deliverance. Click here for PDF copy of my study notes: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Biblical-Terminology-Related-to-Soteriology.pdf Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/

For the unsaved who are destined for the lake of fire, repentance is necessary concerning salvation if one understands it to mean having a change of mind that salvation is obtained solely in Christ. Unbelievers cannot stop sinning, which means they cannot save themselves, and their good works have no saving merit (Isa 64:6; Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:5). The lost need to understand that salvation is 100% in Christ alone. Peter said, “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). And when the Philippian Jailer asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30), the simple reply was given, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). The gospel is simple. It means believing in the One who died for our sins, was buried, and raised again on the third day, as Scripture teaches (1 Cor 15:3-4). And salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (John 3:16), and not by any human effort (Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:5), for “the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness” (Rom 4:5). For Christians, turning from a life of sin and producing good works should follow salvation (Eph 2:10; Gal 6:10), but they are never a condition of it.

The cross of Christ is where we meet God for salvation.

In this series of lectures, Dr. Steven R. Cook explains the doctrine of Soteriology, which is the study of salvation. The word soteriology is derived from the Greek words soter, which means savior, and logos, which means a word about, or the study of something. The word salvation is used throughout the Bible of physical deliverance as well as spiritual deliverance. Click here for PDF copy of my study notes: https://thinkingonscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Biblical-Terminology-Related-to-Soteriology.pdf Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/