Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Soteriology Doctrinal Statement



God exists in Holy Trinity as Father, Son—the Lord Jesus Christ—and Holy Spirit, co-equal, co-eternal. One God, three persons, as Missio Dei. God created man as Imago Dei. Upon belief in Jesus Christ, man is indwelled by Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.


Original sin, beginning with the Fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, is imputed to all mankind. God responded to Adam and Eve with the first animal sacrifice to cover the effects of sin, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. Sin results in man's total depravity, affecting the heart and mind while resulting in spiritual, physical, and eternal death, along with spiritual warfare with Satan.


Man's salvation depends upon Christ's substitutionary, sacrificial death for man; providing redemption, reconciliation, propitiation, and justification by grace with belief in, through and by Jesus Christ at the Cross. Justification results in our sanctification.


The gospel of salvation is the message of God's grace. Grace comes through the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins for those who believe and accept this message for eternal life with God. The relationship with Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit results in our producing spiritual fruit, including works pleasing to God. Forgiveness of sins comes only through faith in Christ's death and resurrection, and his substitutionary atonement.


I believe God chooses and leads people of all ages and mental capacities to respond to Him. Man is saved from eternal damnation, the consequence of sin, immediately upon the aforementioned belief in Christ (z). The believer develops maturity while walking in the Spirit.


Believers receive the promised Holy Spirit sent by Christ from the Father and forgiveness of sins from our belief in Christ as Lord who died for our sins. This provides us with spiritual regeneration, resulting in impartation
of eternal life along with the sealing, Baptism, anointing, indwelling and filling of the Spirit.


Conversely, scripture clearly states that unbelievers, those rejecting belief in Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior, will not be saved.


See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!


Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
Health
www.rickEmeyer.com



[1] Mt 1:18-23; 3:16-17; 4:1-4; 10:20-22; 12:15-18, 28, 31-32; 22:41-45; 28:18-20; Mk 1:8-12; 12:35-37; Lk 1:30-35; 1:41-45; 1:67-69; 2:25-30; 3:21-22; 4:1-14, 16-19; 10:21-22; 11:13; 12:8-12; Jn 1:32-34


[1] Acts 20:28; Rom 9:5; Phil 2:5-8; Col 1:15-18; 2:9; Heb 1:2-6; Ti1:3-4; 2:13; 2 Pt 1:1; Jn 1:1-3; 1:18; 8:58; 10:30; 20:28; Mt 28:19

[1] Jn 14:26; Rom 8:26; opera ad extra trinitatis indivisa sunt – ‘the external works of the Trinity are undivided.’ (Ferguson, Sinclair B., The Holy Spirit: Contours of Christian Theology, 43)

[1] Mt 28:19; Acts 5:3-4, 9; 2 Cor 3:17-18

[1] Jn 14:6-11, 26; 15:26; Rom 8:27; 1 Cor 2:10-13; 12:11

[1]Missio Dei, the Latin phrase literally denotes the ‘mission of God.’ This signifies “God’s own sending; and God sending us.” (Horrell, J. Scott; The Trinity and Mission: The Starting Point of Soteriology, DTS Missions Conference; Class Notes, DTS Spring 2013, 1-8)

[1] Image of God: Gn 1:26, 5:1, 9:6; 1 Co 11:7; Ro 8:29; Jas 3:9; Eph 4:24; Col 3:10. “Likeness to God. Man is unique among the creatures in that he is like God and therefore able to have communion and fellowship with God” (Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 1017). This likeness includes spiritual attributes of God, while avoiding becoming a god in any context, means or imagination.

[1] Acts 3:14-19; “Spirit of Christ”, Jn 13-16 “Jesus’ farewell discourse”, “For Jesus” the Spirit is a Spirit of sonship and assurance” c.f. Rom 8:15-16 (Ferguson, Sinclair B., The Holy Spirit: Contours of Christian Theology,35-56)

[1] (Horrell, J. Scott; The Trinity and Mission: The Starting Point of Soteriology, DTS Missions Conference; Class Notes, DTS Spring 2013, 5-6)

[1] Rom 3:23; This sin is unavoidable to every human, because of Adam and Eve’s Fall in the Garden of Eden. However, this sin is also forgiven with belief in Christ as discussed later in this statement.

[1] Resulting from disobedience or unfaithfulness, followed by pride and ambition, “The defection was infidelitas, a lack of trust in God and His Word” turning man inward to self and away from God. (J. Lanier Burns, ST103 Angelogy, Anthropology, and Hamartiology class notes, DTS Fall 2012)

[1] Gn 3:1-14

[1] Gn 3:21

[1] Our thoughts, words and actions contrasting God’s holy—perfect—character.

[1] “The image of God in mankind has been defaced but not erased (annihilation of man)” The will of the Creator enables the retention of dignity in humanity. (J. Lanier Burns, ST103 Angelogy, Anthropology, and Hamartiology class notes, DTS Fall 2012)

[1] Eph 2:3, 4:18-19; Ti 3:3; Jn 8:34

[1] Eph 4:17-18; 1 Cor 2:14; Rom 8:7; Col 1:21

[1] Eph 2:1-5; Col 2:13; Jn 3:36; 1 Jn 5:11-12

[1] Gn 3:19; Heb 2:14-15

[1] Rv 20:14-15; 2 Thes 1:8-9

[1] 2 Cor 4:3-4; Heb 2:14-15; Eph 2:1-2, 6:10-17; 1 Jn 3:7-10; Jn 8:44; (Horrell, J. Scott; ST104A Class Notes, DTS Spring 2013, “Sin, Fall and Its Effects”, 11-12)

[1] Rom 3:23; “Salvation” appears 111t in 108 verses in the OT (Logos Bible Software 5, NASB95 Bible)

“The OT deals with salvation in a promissory and provisional way.” (The Cross and Salvation; Demarest, Bruce; “Introduction to The Doctrine of Salvation,” P. 25-31)

[1] Gn 22:1-9; Ex 12:12-13, 21-23; Jn 1:29; 1 Cor 5:7; Leviticus 1:2-5; 3:2, 16:1-34; Is 53:3-10; The Greek preposition ““Anti” means “in place of” (Lk 11:11), “instead of” Mt 20:28; Mk 10:45” (Horrell, J. Scott; ST104A Class Notes, DTS Spring 2013, “What Christ Did on the Cross”, 8)

[1] Redemption’s definition, “The act of paying the ransom / price to purchase something.” “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law; he himself paid the price to free sinners from the power, consequences, and condemnation of sin.” (Horrell, J. Scott; ST104A Class Notes, DTS Spring 2013, “What Christ Did on the Cross”, 9); Redemption (Eph. 4:1) “Sin paid for”, (Toussaint, Stanley D.; BE106 Acts and the Epistles, Class Notes, Fall 2012)

[1] Rom 5:10; Mt 5:24; Definition-“To reconcile,” “to make peace; trade enmity with friendship” Eph 1:10; 2:16; Col 1:20-22 (Horrell, J. Scott; ST104A Class Notes, DTS Spring 2013, “What Christ Did on the Cross”, 11)

[1] 1 Jn 4:10; Rom 3:25; Heb 2:17; Lev 17:11; “Divine Wrath”; Propitiation—God is Satisfied (1 Jn. 2:2)—God can now turn toward man. Man must now turn to God—Reconciliation—Redemption (Eph. 4:1 “Sin paid for”), (Toussaint, Stanley D.; BE106 Acts and the Epistles, Class Notes, Fall 2012)

[1] “To justify; vindicate; treat as just/righteous,” “righteous, just, upright” Lk 18:9-14; Acts 13:38-39; Ro 1:17; 3:19-26, 28; 4:1-5; 5:1,9; 8:29-30; 2 Co 5:21 Gal 2:16 Eph 1:4; Ti 3:4-7 (Horrell, J. Scott; ST104A Class Notes, DTS Spring 2013, “What Christ Did on the Cross”, 12)

[1] Rom 5:1-8:39; Jn 3:14-21; Acts 16:30-31; Mk 16:16; Eph 2:4; 2 Thes 2:16; Rv 1:5

[1] “make holy, set apart for as sacred to God” (Horrell, J. Scott; ST104A Class Notes, DTS Spring 2013, “What Christ Did on the Cross”, 22); “The method of justification determines the method of sanctification,” Dr. Stanley D. Toussaint.

[1] (The Cross and Salvation; Demarest, Bruce; “Christ Died for Sins Once for All (1 Pt 3:18), The Doctrine of Atonement,” P. 147-199)

[1] Rom. 4:1-17; 11:6; Gal. 3:8-9; Eph. 2:8-9; Grace includes forgiveness, salvation, regeneration, repentance and the love of God: In the OT hesed which often meant “steadfast love” and occasionally “loyalty”, “an attitude of faithfulness”; also ḥēn meaning “favor” specifically undeserved favor—action—from a greater (often divine) authority to a lesser authority (D. R. W. Wood and I. Howard Marshall, New Bible Dictionary, 3rd ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 433). God’s Riches at Christ Expense: Man possesses, nor may he/she acquire, any merit for salvation away from Christ on the Cross as discussed in this statement and the referenced scripture.

[1] Hos 13:4-14

[1] Acts 1:9

[1] “Sin is any disposition or act contrary to God.” (J. Scott Horrell, Dallas Theological Seminary, ST104A Soteriology, Class Notes, Class definition of sin)

[1] “eternal” root:αιων appears 194t in 162 verses in the NT; “Salvation” appears 111t in 108 verses in the OT (Logos Bible Software 5, NASB95 Bible)

[1] Jn 1:17, 3:36, 6:40, 11:25; Rom 5, 6:23; Is 43:11; Mt 25:46;

[1] Gal 5:22-26

[1] Jas 2:14-26; Heb 11:6

[1] Eph 2:8-9; Acts 15:1-12, 16:29-31; Man fails to earn any salvation through his efforts, spiritual fruit, works, sacraments or circumcision; rather “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…”

[1] Jn 13:18, 15:16, 19

[1] Lk 1:41; Ps 22:9-10, 71:5, 139:16; Is 49:1; Jer 1:5,

[Z] The Bible lacks any reference to the inability to believe based on age or health. Belief occurs spiritually, as opposed to intellectually. Ro 8:26-27 says the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when our own cerebral capacities prove inadequate. Paul, writing by the power of the Holy Spirit, says “we,” thus including himself as a called apostle by the will of God (Ro 1:1); Paul avoids a conditional statement, including the consideration of age or IQ (intelligent quotient). Ro 8:31-39 states nothing separates us from the love of God, surely this includes knowing / believing in Him. “Nothing” must omit the limitations of age and mental health. If not, what other limitations might one include to undermine the meaning of “nothing”? Therefore, God through the interceding of the Holy Spirit provides each person the ability to believe according to God’s will. Additionally, Dallas Theological Seminary Professor Dr. Lanier Burns states that sin makes people crazy. This verifies the lack of cerebral adequacy of all humans, due to original sin.

[1] Rom 6:23

[1] Acts 16:30-31

[1] Jn 3:16-20

[1] 1 Cor 2:6; Eph 4:13; Heb 5:14, 6:1; The Natural Person (2 Cor 2:14, rejects “the things of the Spirit of God”), The Spiritual Man (1 Cor 2) represents the ideal Christian, The Infant Christian (1 Cor 3) Immature Christian—“fleshen, implying weakness”, The Carnal Christian (1 Cor 3:3-4)—poor testimony, willfully denies spiritual growth (Toussaint, Stanley D., TAI Series (Think About It): People Come in Four Sizes)

[1] Is 42:5; Rom 8:4; Gal 5:16, 25;

[1] John 14:26, 20:22; Acts 2:38; ‘spirit’ Heb. rauch; Gk. pneuma – “the expulsion of wind or breath, the idea of air in motion. ‘Spirit’ expresses, ‘the breath of life’, power, energy and life.” ‘Divine Spirit’  -- “the energy of life in God”; filled with the Spirit Jn 2:19-22 (Ferguson, Sinclair B., The Holy Spirit: Contours of Christian Theology, 16-17, 22) Synonyms used: Comforter, Counselor, Helper.

[1] Jn 14:26;

[1] Jn 3:3-7; Ti 3:5-7; 1 Pt 1:3, 23; 1Jn 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4,18

[1] Jn 3:15-16, 36; Eternal, eternity, or permanent appears 94t in the Bible (NASB95) (Logos Bible Software 5, April 2013)

[1] Eph 1:13-14; 4:30 2 Co 1:22 “down payment”; The sealing and confirmation of loving trust between the Father and the Incarnate Son. (Ferguson, Sinclair B., The Holy Spirit: Contours of Christian Theology,49);Seal or Sealing appears 32t in the NT (NASB95) (Logos Bible Software 5, April 2013)

[1] 1Co 12:13; Acts 1:5,8; 11:15-17; Baptize or one of its derivatives appears 71t in the NT (NASB95) (Logos Bible Software 5, April 2013)

[1] 2 Cor 1:21-22; 1 Jn2:20, 27

[1] Jn 14:16-17; Ro 8:9-11, 16; 1Co 6:19; “another Counselor”; We receive the Holy Spirit once.

[1] Lk 1:5; Eph 5:18; Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31; 5:3; 6:3,5,8; 9:17; Rom 15:13; A Christian often has many “filling of the Spirit” (Horrell, J. Scott; ST104A Class Notes, DTS Spring 2013, “What Christ Did on the Cross”, 19-22) and (Toussaint, Stanley D.; BE106 Acts and the Epistles, Class Notes, Fall 2012) (Logos Bible Software 5, April 2013, NASB95)

[1] 1 Ti 5:8; Heb 3:12

[1] Rev 21:8; Jn 3:16-21, 14:6; Acts 16:30-31; Rom 1:18-20; Paul, in Acts, specifically states that belief in Jesus is required for salvation. While the Bible speaks of predestination (Rom 8:29-30; 1 Cor 2:7; Eph 1:5-12), Christians should continually evangelize—spread the good news of Jesus Christ—as instructed in the Great Commission (Mt 28:16-20). Paul provides an excellent example of evangelizing to everyone despite the personal consequences (c.f. Missionary Journeys in Acts)

  

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