Thinking on Scripture

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

As Christians, we possess God’s righteousness as a gift (Rom 5:17; 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9), and we continue to possess a sinful nature and commit personal acts of sin (Eccl 7:20; 1 John 1:8, 10). Martin Luther understood this duality and coined the Latin phrase “simul iustus et peccator,” which translates as, “simultaneously righteous and a sinner.” Though Christians are declared righteous in God’s sight, sin will constantly be present (Eccl 7:20; 1 John 1:8, 10), to varying degrees, depending on the status of the believer’s spiritual walk with the Lord. “The believer is not only both righteous and sinful at the same time but is also always or completely both righteous and sinful at the same time. What does this mean? With respect to our fallen human condition, we are, and always will be in this life, sinners. However, for believers, life in this world is no longer a period of doubtful candidacy for God’s acceptance. In a sense we have already been before God’s judgment seat and have been acquitted on account of Christ. Hence we are also always righteous.” (Timothy George, Theology of the Reformers, 72) I agree with the phrase “simul iustus et peccator,” that a Christian is “simultaneously righteous and a sinner.” I think a better phrase is “semper iustus et peccator,” that we are “always righteous and a sinner.” Both are true. Always. As a Christian, I am righteous because I have received God’s “gift of righteousness” (Rom 5:17). This is “the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith” in Christ (Phil 3:9). God gave me His righteousness at the moment I trusted Christ as my Savior, and like all of God’s gifts, it can’t be given back, “for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Rom 11:29). As one who possesses God’s righteousness, I am forever justified in His sight. The matter is settled in heaven. God has made it so. After being saved, the issue for every Christian is to advance to spiritual maturity (Heb 6:1), which glorifies God and edifies others.

At the moment of faith in Christ, God’s righteousness is gifted to the believer (Rom 5:17; cf. 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9), and he is at once made right with God and declared just in His sight. Divine justification is not by human works at all, “for there is none righteous, not even one” (Rom 3:10), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). Rather, Paul reveals we are “justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:24). Like our spiritual birth, justification is a one-and-done event, perfect in itself, not to be confused with our experiential sanctification, which occurs over time. Being justified in God’s sight is by faith alone and not by any human works, for “by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight” (Rom 3:20a). Rather, “to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness” (Rom 4:5), for “a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified” (Gal 2:16).

In Matthew 5:19, Jesus describes two kinds of believers. The first is a bad believer who lives disobediently to God's Word and teaches others to be disobedient as well. Jesus said the bad believer will suffer the consequence of being identified as "least" in the kingdom of heaven. In addition, the bad believer will suffer discipline in time (Heb 12:1-11), and forfeit rewards in eternity (1 Cor 3:10-15; 2 John 1:8). But then Jesus describes the ideal believer who walks in obedience to God's Word and teaches others to live in obedience as well. This believer will be rewarded and described as "great" in the kingdom of heaven. We should all be like the good believer, as this person reaches spiritual maturity, glorifies God, edifies others, and maximizes his/her rewards in eternity. #God #christianity #sin #heaven

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/

Judicial forgiveness is the forgiveness we receive from God when we stand before Him as the Judge of all humanity. This is a one-and-done event that is never repeated, as we are “forgiven us all our transgressions” (Col 2:13). Judicial forgiveness of sins is available to all, but each person must exercise their own volition and turn to Christ, and Christ alone, for salvation. The record of Scripture is that “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 “everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins” (Acts 10:43).

In our relationship with God, there are two kinds of forgiveness. One is judicial and the other is parental. Judicial forgiveness is the forgiveness we receive from God when we stand before Him as the Judge of all humanity. This forgiveness occurs at the moment of faith in Christ, where “everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins” (Acts 10:43; cf. Eph 1:7; Col 1:14). This is a one-and-done event that is never repeated, as we are “forgiven us all our transgressions” (Col 2:13). Parental forgiveness is the ongoing forgiveness we receive from God as our Father and is repeated many times throughout a believer’s life. Judicial forgiveness brings us into a right relationship with Him at the moment of faith in Christ. Parental forgiveness restores our fellowship with Him.

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/2024/02/Biblical-Terminology-Related-to-Soteriology-2.pdf Two Kinds of Forgiveness with God: https://thinkingonscripture.com/2024/01/30/two-kinds-of-forgiveness-with-god/ Two Kinds of Forgiveness with People: https://thinkingonscripture.com/2024/02/05/two-kinds-of-forgiveness-with-people/ Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/

The Bible reveals God is holy. God declares of Himself, “I am holy” (Lev 11:44), and the psalmist says, “holy is the LORD our God” (Psa 99:9), and the Seraphim declare, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts” (Isa 6:3). In these verses, the word “holy” translates the Hebrew word qadōsh (קָדוֹשׁ), which means “to be holy, [or] separated.” James Swanson says it refers “to being unique and pure in the sense of superior moral qualities and possessing certain essential divine qualities in contrast with what is human.” God’s holiness is closely linked with His righteousness, justice, and perfection. Holiness denotes moral purity.

The apostle Paul referred to the Bible as “the holy Scriptures” (Rom 1:2), and “the sacred writings” (2 Tim 3:15). The terms “holy” and “sacred” mean the Bible is a special book in that it conveys divine revelation from God to mankind (2 Tim 3:16-17). Though written by human authors under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit (2 Pet 1:20-21), the end product is “the word of God, which performs its work in you who believe” (1 Th 2:13).

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/2024/02/Biblical-Terminology-Related-to-Soteriology-2.pdf Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/

Faith as an adjective (pistos πιστός), which describes someone “being worthy of belief or trust, trustworthy, faithful, dependable, inspiring trust/faith.” (BDAG, 820). The word is used of God (1 Cor 1:9; 10:13; 2 Tim 2:13; Heb 10:23; Rev 1:5), and of people (Matt 25:23; 1 Cor 4:17; Col 1:7; 1 Tim 1:12; 2 Tim 2:2; Heb 3:5).

Faith as a verb (pisteuō πιστεύω), which means “to consider something to be true and therefore worthy of one’s trust, believe…to entrust oneself to an entity in complete confidence, believe (in), trust.” (BDAG, 817). The word is used of trust in God (Gen 15:6; Heb 11:6; cf. Rom 4:3), trust in Jesus (Acts 16:31; 1 Pet 1:8), and trust in Scripture (John 2:22).

Faith as a noun (pistis πίστις), often refers to “that which evokes trust and faith. (BDAG, 818). The word is used with reference to God who is trustworthy (Rom 3:3; 4:19-21), and of people who possess faith (Matt 9:2, 22; 21:21), which can be great (Matt 15:28; cf. Acts 6:5; 11:23-24), small (Matt 17:19-20), or absent (Mark 4:39-40; cf. Luke 8:25). It is also used of Scripture itself as a body of reliable teaching (i.e. Acts 14:22; 16:5; Rom 14:22; Gal 1:23; 2 Tim 4:7). Paul was said to preach “the faith which he once tried to destroy” (Gal 1:23).

In Romans, Paul discusses the concept of believers being “dead to sin” (Rom 6:11) in the context of our spiritual union with Christ. The main idea of Roman 6:1-14 is that through faith in Jesus Christ, we are spiritually united with Him in His death and resurrection and separated from the power of sin. For Christians, there is a double identification with Christ in His death and resurrection. First, “we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death” (Rom 6:5), as “our old self was crucified with Him” (Rom 6:6), and “we have died with Christ” (Rom 6:8). Second, Paul says we have been raised with Christ “so we might walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:4), having been “freed from sin” (Rom 6:7). The culmination of these truths leads to Paul’s exhortation, “Even so, consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom 6:11). When Paul speaks of being “dead to sin,” he means that believers, through our union with Christ, have been freed from the power and dominion of sin in our lives. Paul emphasizes that the old self, characterized by slavery to sin, has been crucified with Christ. As a result, believers are no longer under the dominion of sin but are now alive to God in Christ. Being “dead to sin” doesn’t mean believers are without a sinful nature. On the contrary, we continue to possess a sin nature (Rom 13:14; Gal 5:17, 19; Eph 4:22; Col 3:9; 1 John 1:8), and commit acts of personal sin throughout our lives (Eccl 7:20; Rom 7:14-25; 1 John 1:10), “For we all stumble in many ways” (Jam 3:2). Instead, being “dead to sin” signifies a change in our relationship to the sin nature and it’s power over us. This is why Paul states, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness” (Rom 6:12-13a). The sin nature continues to reside in our bodies after our salvation in Christ, and it is possible for us to yield to its influence and to let it reign over us. Sadly, it is possible for Christians to commit any sin unbelievers commit (i.e., lying, murder, gossip, adultery, idolatry, etc.), and to fall into a pattern of sin that can destroy their lives (i.e., alcoholism, drugs, etc.) This is not what God wants for us. He wants us to live righteous and holy lives based on the truth of His Word (2 Tim 3:16-17; 1 Pet 1:15-16), lives that glorify Him and edify others, manifesting humility, love, selflessness, and sacrifice. God calls us to live new lives, empowered by the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18), for if we “walk by the Spirit” we “will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Gal 5:16). God’s directive is “to present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Rom 6:13b). That’s how we should walk. In summary, being “dead to sin” in the context of the New Testament, especially in Paul’s writings, refers to the idea that through faith in Christ, believers have undergone a spiritual transformation. We are no longer enslaved by the power of sin, having been united with Christ in His death and resurrection, and are now called to live in righteousness and obedience to God.

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/2024/02/Biblical-Terminology-Related-to-Soteriology-2.pdf Thinking on Scripture Blog: https://thinkingonscripture.com/ Thinking on Scripture Podcast: https://windowwalker.podbean.com/

Humanism rejects God and His revelation and places mankind at the center of morality and meaning. Francis Schaeffer explains humanism as “Man beginning from himself, with no knowledge except what he himself can discover and no standards outside of himself. In this view Man is the measure of all things, as the Enlightenment expressed it.” (Francis A. Schaeffer, A Christian Manifesto, 24) But atheism creates a problem concerning moral absolutes, for if there is no God, then there is no moral absolute Law-giver; and if there is no moral absolute Law-giver, then there are no moral absolutes, and we are left to conclude that what is, is right, and any further discussion about right and wrong becomes nothing more than opinion. Francis Schaeffer is correct when he states, “If there is no absolute moral standard, then one cannot say in a final sense that anything is right or wrong. By absolute we mean that which always applies, that which provides a final or ultimate standard. There must be an absolute if there are to be morals, and there must be an absolute if there are to be real values. If there is no absolute beyond man’s ideas, then there is no final appeal to judge between individuals and groups whose moral judgments conflict. We are merely left with conflicting opinions.” (Francis A. Schaeffer, How Should We Then Live?: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture, 145) Those who reject God are left to create and impose arbitrary values on others, and the tyrants of the world are glad to bully and control others by means of strong arm tactics, whether social intimidation, economic coercion, or brute physical force. The only objective standard for measuring righteousness or guilt is set forth in God’s Word which defines reality. The Bible reveals God is “the Judge of all the earth” (Gen 18:25), and He “is a righteous judge” (Psa 7:11), and He “judges righteously” (Jer 11:20), and “will by no means leave the guilty unpunished” (Ex 34:7). Yet, the Bible also reveals God is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth” (Psa 86:15), and One “Who pardons all your iniquities” (Psa 103:3), when we come to Him in honesty and humility. And for those who come to Him in humility, who are like the tax collector, who “was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’” (Luke 18:13), will find Him to be merciful. For those of us who trust in Christ as Savior, we are blessed with “forgiveness of sins” (Eph 1:7; cf., Acts 10:43), the “gift of righteousness” (Rom 5:17; cf., 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9), “eternal life” (John 10:28), and become “children of God” (John 1:12), with a promise that we will spend eternity in heaven with Him (John 14:1-3). J. Dwight Pentecost notes, “If you should be without Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you stand guilty before God because you are still in Adam’s race. Even though Christ bore that sin, it means nothing to you until you are related to Him by faith. The righteousness of Christ cannot be imputed to you unless you personally receive Jesus Christ as your Savior.” (J. Dwight Pentecost, Things Which Become Sound Doctrine, 48). If you have not yet trusted in Christ as your Savior, then I “beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:20).