The Masters Academy International

Soteriology The Doctrine of Salvation

“The scriptural doctrine of God and the scriptural doctrine of salvation

are inseparable and interdependent.”

R.B. KUIPER

“Except the names given to God and our Savior, there is no sweeter word than salvation.”

WILLIAM S. PLUMER

“It is God alone who saves, and that in every element of the saving process.”

BENJAMIN B. WARFIELD

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SESSION 1

A. INTRODUCTION TO SOTERIOLOGY

1. What is soteriology?

• Defined: Soteriology is the study of the doctrine of

salvation. To state it another way: Soteriology is the study

of how God saves each individual whom He has chosen. It

includes God’s purpose and plan in relation to the

salvation of men; the person and work of the Redeemer;

and the application of that work by the Holy Spirit to the

actual salvation of the people of God from beginning to

end (Phil.1:6).

2. What does soteriology include?

• Ordo Salutis (The Order of Salvation)—Election (eternal

decree, predestination, foreknowledge), effectual calling,

regeneration/new birth, faith and repentance (conversion),

justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance, and

glorification (Rom.8:29-30 includes several, but not all, of

these)

3. Why study soteriology?

a. To understand the triune God’s plan of salvation

(1 Pet.1:1-2)

b. To understand the purpose of Christ’s work on our behalf

(1 Pet.1:20-21)

c. To understand how Christ’s work changes us (Phil.2:13)

d. To increase our assurance of our past, present, and future

salvation (Rom.8:31ff show that assurance flows from

soteriology)

4. Key assumptions

a. Human sin and our need for salvation (Is.64:6; Rom.3:9-20)

b. Human depravity and inability to save ourselves (Eph.2:1-3;

John 8:34-36)

c. The sovereignty of God in salvation from beginning to end

(1 Cor.1:30-31; Rom.11:36; Phil.1:6)

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B. ELECTION/PREDESTINATION

1. What is election?

• Defined: God has been pleased to choose certain men

and women out of mankind, whom by His counsel secret

to us, He has decreed to save by Jesus Christ. Those men

and women whom God has been pleased to choose from

all eternity, He calls in time, by His Spirit working in due

season. He convinces them of sin. He leads them to Christ.

He works in them repentance and faith. He converts,

renews, and sanctifies them. He keeps them by His grace

from falling away entirely and finally brings them safe to

glory.1

a. Delineated: Where is it found in the Scripture?

• Jesus speaks of it. (Matt.24:22; Mark 13:22; Luke 18:7;

John 15:16; Matt.22:14)

• Paul speaks of it. (Rom.8:29-30, 33; Eph.1:4-5, 11;

2 Tim.1:9; 2:10; 2 Thess.2:13; Tit.1:1)

• Peter speaks of it. (1 Pet.1:2; 2:9; 2 Pet.1:10)

b. Dangers: What perversions of election need to be

rejected?

• Election destroys man’s responsibility. (Ezek.18:31; John

3:19; 5:40)

• Election prevents the full, free offer of salvation to

every sinner. (2 Cor.5:18-20)

• Election can only be known by special assurance.

(1 Thess.1:3-4; Heb.12:14)

• Election prevents men from making diligent use of the

means of grace. (1 Pet.2:2; 4:7; Eph.6:18; 1 Cor.15:10;

1 Cor.11:23ff)

c. Described: What are the principal points of the election?

• Election is an act of God’s eternal will and sovereign

pleasure. (Eph.1:11)

• Election is an unchangeable act. (Rom.8:30; 11:29;

Jer.31:3)

• Election is in relation to Christ. (Eph.1:4)

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2. Why is understanding election important?

a. Election helps us to measure whether a person is biblically

correct on other doctrines such as the nature and extent

of sin, the bondage of the will, the full grace of God in

salvation, and even the presentation of the Gospel.2

b. Election humbles us. (Eph.2:8-9)

c. Election encourages our love for God. (2 Cor.5:14)

d. Election enriches our worship. (Rom.11:33-36; Eph.1:11-12)

e. Election encourages us in our evangelism. (Acts 13:48)

C. EFFECTUAL CALLING

1. What is the calling of God?

• Defined: It is the gracious work of the Spirit, whereby,

convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our

minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills,

He persuades and enable us to embrace Christ freely, as

He is offered to us in the Gospel.3

The effectual calling of God is “the first resurrection” or the

first event or experience of salvation in the individual.4 This

call is two-fold:

a. General/external call—the universal proclamation and

invitation of the Gospel to all people (Mark 1:14-15;

Matt. 22:14). Many hear and reject this call (Acts 7:57-

58; 17:32).

b. Effectual/inward call—God’s sovereign summons to

His elect through the Gospel to repent and believe in

Jesus (Acts 13:48; Rom. 1:6-7, 8:30; 1 Cor. 1:2, 9; 2 Thess.

2:14)

2. How does God inwardly call?

a. God calls through the preaching of the Gospel.

(Rom.10:17; 1 Cor.15:1-2; 1 Pet.1:23) b. God opens our hearts to believe by the power of the Holy

Spirit. (Acts 16:14)

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3. What does God call us from and to?

a. From the darkness of sin (ignorance/unbelief) to the light

of truth (Col.1:13)

b. From separation from God to fellowship/union with Christ

(1 Cor.1:9; Eph.2:11-16)

c. From the world to His kingdom (John 15:18-19; 17:14-16;

2 Thess.2:12)

d. From selfishness to holiness (1 Pet.1:14; 1 Thess.4:7; 2

Tim.1:9)

e. From bondage to freedom (Gal.5:13)

f. From hopelessness to the hope of eternal life (1 Tim. 6:12)

4. Why is understanding God’s calling important?

a. It is a heavenly calling (Heb.3:1). It shows that God takes

the initiative in our salvation, not us. Like election, it

humbles us.

b. It is a high calling (Phil.3:14). It drives us to prayer as we

preach and evangelize—for God must work inwardly in

sinners.

c. It is a holy calling (2 Tim.1:9). It should move us toward

greater holiness—for this is what He has called us to

(Eph.4:1).

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SESSION 2

D. REGENERATION

1. What is the new birth or regeneration?

• Defined: Regeneration is monergistic; that is, entirely the

work of God the Holy Spirit. It raises the elect among the

spiritually dead to new life in Christ (Eph.2:1-10).

Regeneration is a transition from spiritual death to spiritual

life, and conscious, intentional, active faith in Christ is its

immediate fruit, not its immediate cause. Regeneration is

the work of what Augustine called “prevenient” grace, the

grace that precedes our outgoings of heart toward God.

(John 3:3-8; Tit.3:5)5

2. Why do we need to be “born again”?

a. Because we are all born dead in sin. (Eph.2:1-3; Ps.51:5)

b. Because we are blinded from the truth. (2 Cor.4:4)

c. Because our sinful hearts, by nature, oppose God.

(Rom.8:7-8)

d. Because we cannot, in our sinful nature, understand

spiritual things. (1 Cor.2:14; John 3:3)

3. What does God do in the new birth?

“Regeneration renews the whole man. God does not merely

speak to us or offer terms of life through the preaching of the

Gospel. God really and effectually renews the mind to

understand the Gospel, renews the heart to believe it, and

renews the will to desire and respond to God. This work of

God is not manipulation but regeneration. As a result of

regeneration, the person can finally believe.”6

• Regeneration is more than reformation.

• Regeneration is more than moral persuasion.

• Regeneration is irresistible. (Rom.9:19; Acts 7:51)

• Regeneration cannot be undone.

• Regeneration is only for the elect.

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a. Makes us alive in Christ (raises us up with Him)

(Eph.2:4-5, 10)

b. Makes us new creatures in Christ (2 Cor.5:17)

c. Opens our blind eyes to see the truth of the Gospel

(2 Cor.4:6)

d. Gives us a new heart by the Spirit to live for Him

(Ezek.36:26-27; Jer.31:33; Rom.8:9-10)

e. Gives us His Spirit to understand spiritual things

(1 Cor.2:12-13)

4. How is one born again?

a. Through the Gospel/Word of God (1 Pet.1:23; James 1:18)

b. By the Spirit of God (John 3:3, 5; 6:63)

5. What are the signs or marks of regeneration?

• Love for and obedience to Christ (John 8:42; 14:15)

• Desire for one’s life to be examined (John 3:19-21)

• Genuine love for the saints (1 John 3:14; 4:7)

• Opposition to sin (1 John 2:29; 3:9)

• Walking in a new and holy life (1 John 2:3-6)

E. FAITH, REPENTANCE, or CONVERSION

1. What is faith?

• Defined: Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby

we receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation, as He is

offered to us in the Gospel. (John 1:12; 6:40; Phil.3:9;

Gal.2:16; Heb.10:39)7

Saving faith is the first act of regeneration. There are

various kinds of faith described in Scripture.

• There is a historical, dogmatic faith. (Jude 3)

• There is a false, temporary, superficial faith. (Matt.13:1-

9, 18-23; John 8:30-47)

• James speaks of a dead faith and a demonic faith.

(James 2:14-19)

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True, saving, justifying faith consists of three ingredients: self-

renunciation (Phil.3:9), reliance (Gal.2:20), and appropriation

(John 1:12).

a. Faith is a gift. (Eph.2:8-9; Phil.1:29)

b. Faith is a grace. (Hab.2:4; Rom.1:17)

c. Faith is a guarantee. (Heb.11:1-2; 2 Pet.1:3-5)

Saving faith is turning to Christ as Savior and Lord in trust and

dependence.

2. What does faith involve?

a. Knowledge of God through Christ (Matt.11:27; John 17:3)

b. Belief/assent of what God has revealed (John 3:16; Acts

16:31; Heb.11:6)

c. Trust in Christ (described as “rest”—Matt.11:28-29;

“abiding”—John 15:1-11; “love”—John 21:15-17)

3. The evidence of faith

a. A preeminent and precious view of Christ (1 Pet.2:6-7)

b. Desire for the Word of God (1 Pet.2:1-3)

c. Lifestyle of cheerful obedience (Heb.11:8; 1 John 2:3-6; 5:3;

John 4:15)

d. Love for the brethren (1 John 3:14ff; 4:20-21; John 13:34-35)

e. Faithful works (Eph.2:10; James 2:14ff)

4. What is repentance?

• Defined: Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a

sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of

the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief and hatred of

his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and

endeavor after, new obedience.8

True repentance is a grace of God’s Spirit whereby a sinner is

inwardly humbled and visibly reformed. Repent (Gk.metanoeo)

means to think again. It speaks of knowing something after the

fact, and it signifies a change of mind accompanied by a true

change of heart toward God and behavior. Remorse (Gk.

metamelloamai), on the other hand, means to regret with little

or nothing more than a selfish dread of the consequences of

what one has done, but with no deep heart change.

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a. Repentance is a command of the Gospel. (Mark 1:15;

Acts 17:30-31)

b. Repentance is a necessity for salvation. (Luke 13:3)

c. Repentance is a gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 5:31)

d. Repentance is a changing of the mind about sin and

turning away from it and toward Christ.

5. What does true repentance involve?

a. Sight of sin (John 16:8)

b. Sorrow for sin (2 Cor.7:9-10)

c. Confession of sin—we must speak of our sins the same

way that God does. (1 John 1:9)

d. Shame for sin—our sins have put Christ to shame.

(Rom.6:21)

e. Hatred for sin—you must hate it enough to forsake it.

(Ps.51:3-5)

f. Turning from sin unto faith in Christ (1 Thess.1:9-10)9

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F. JUSTIFICATION

1. What is justification?

• Defined: Justification is an act of God’s free grace,

whereby He pardons all our sins, and accepts us as

righteous in His sight, only because of the righteousness

of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone10

(Rom.3:24-25; 4:4-5, 25; 5:1; Gal.2:16).

Justification is a one-time legal declaration, wherein the sinner

is declared, not made, righteous. Justification is the gracious

free act of God, imputing the righteousness of Christ to a

believing sinner…pronouncing him to be just and accepted

before Him.11

2. Why do we need to be justified?

a. Because the guilty cannot stand before a holy God.

(Ps.5:4-6; Hab.1:13)

b. Because we cannot justify ourselves by works. (Rom.4)

3. How can God be just and justify sinners?

a. Substitution—Christ’s life (Is.53; 1 Pet.2:24; 3:18)

b. Imputation—Christ’s righteousness (2 Cor.5:21)

4. What are the results of justification?

a. Peace with God through Christ (Rom.5:1; 8:1)

b. Access to God (Rom.5:2)

c. Hope in God (Rom.5:3-5)

d. Love of God (Rom.5:5)

5. Question/Discussion

• Read James 2:14-26. Do James and Paul disagree on

justification?

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11

SESSION 3

G. SANCTIFICATION and PERSEVERANCE

1. What is sanctification?

• Defined: Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace,

whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the

image of God and are enabled more and more to die unto

sin and live unto righteousness.12

The word “sanctification” signifies to consecrate and set apart

to a holy use. Sanctification is God’s work to separate us from

the world and set believers apart for God’s service. It is a work

of grace, sovereignly and savingly wrought in the heart,

whereby we become more like Christ.

2. Kinds of sanctification

a. Positional sanctification (1 Cor.6:11; Heb.10:10)

We have been sanctified—set apart as holy (saints).

b. Progressive sanctification (1 Cor.1:18; Rom.6:19-22)

We are being sanctified—progressively made more holy

throughout our lives.

c. Practical sanctification (2 Cor.7:1)

A.W. Pink—“Scriptural sanctification is…1) a moral quality in

the regenerate—the same in its nature as that which belongs

to the Divine character—which produces harmony with God’s

will and causes its possessor to aim at His glory in all things. 2)

It is the moral image of God—lost by the first Adam and

restored by the Last Adam—stamped upon the heart. 3) It is

the opposite of sin. 4) it is an integral and essential part of

salvation, being a [progressive] deliverance from power and

pollution of sin, causing its possessor to love what he once

hated, and to now hate what he formerly loved.”13

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3. How does sanctification happen?

a. God works in us through the Spirit. (1 Thess.5:23;

Heb.13:20-21; 2 Thess.2:13; 1 Pet.1:2; Phil.2:12-13)

b. We work out our salvation. (Phil.2:12-13; Col.3:12-17;

2 Pet.1:5-11)

4. What does sanctification involve?

a. Fighting sin (Rom.6:12-14)

b. Killing sin (Rom.8:13)

c. Making no provision for sin/the flesh (Rom.13:14)

d. Arming yourself (Eph.6:11ff)

e. Joyful obedience to Christ (John 14:15)

f. Pursuit of Christ (Phil.3:7ff)

5. How do we pursue sanctification?

a. Be conversant with the Word of God. (John 17:17)

b. Grow in faith. (Acts 15:9; 2 Thess.2:13)

c. Fellowship with sanctified, growing believers. (2 Tim.2:20-

22)

d. Pray daily. (Job 14:4; Ps.51:10)

6. What is perseverance?

• Defined: Perseverance is the fruit of sanctification (1

Pet.1:4-5). Perseverance of the saints is God’s work to

preserve the Christian’s salvation to eternity. The doctrine

of perseverance asserts that true, genuine, real Christians

shall persevere in faith to the end of their lives. They shall

never perish. They shall never be lost. They shall never be

cast away. Once they are in Christ, they shall always be in

Christ. Once forgiven, they shall never be deprived of their

pardon. Once joined to Christ, they shall never be broken

off.14 (2 Tim.1:12)

Perseverance does not mean that believers do not fail or faint,

in degree or duties. For the true believer, faith may grow weak,

but not extinguished or abolished. (Phil.1:6; Heb.12:2a)

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7. Assurances of perseverance

a. The pledge of God the Father (2 Cor.1:21-22; Phil.1:6;

1 Pet.1:5)

b. The promise and confirmation of God the Son (1 Cor.1:8;

John 6:39-40; 10:27-29; 17:15, 24; 1 Thess.5:23-24; 5:9;

2 Thess.3:3; Jude 1, 24; 2 Tim.4:18)

c. The sealing of the Holy Spirit (Eph.1:13; 4:30)

d. The testimony of Scripture (Rom.8:35-39; 2 Thess.2:13;

1 John 2:19)

8. Questions/Discussion

a. Does the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints allow

us to indulge in a sinful life?

b. Should we examine ourselves? Why or why not?

H. GLORIFICATION

1. What is glorification?

• Defined: Glorification is the completion of our

redemption—when Christ returns and transforms our

mortal physical bodies into eternal physical bodies fit for

the new heaven and new earth. “Glorification is the final

phase in the application of redemption. It is that which

brings to a completion the process which begins in the

effectual calling. Indeed, it is the completion of the whole

process of redemption. For glorification means the

attainment of the goal to which the elect of God were

predestinated in the eternal purpose of the Father, and it

involves the consummation of the redemption secured

and procured by the vicarious work of Christ.”15

2. What does glorification involve?

a. Christ’s return/appearing (Col.3:4)

b. Physical resurrection (1 Cor.15)

c. Transformation to be like Christ (1 John 3:1-2; 1 Cor.15:52)—

Predestined for this purpose (Rom.8:29)

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3. How should glorification affect us now?

a. Purifies us (1 John 3:3)

b. Strengthens us (1 Cor.15:58)

c. Gives us comfort and hope in trials (Rom.8:18ff; 2 Cor.4:16-

18)

I. SUMMARY/CONCLUSION of SOTERIOLOGY

1. How should a better understanding of the doctrine of

salvation affect how you live?

2. How should a better understanding of soteriology affect how

you preach, evangelize, and disciple?

1 J.C. Ryle, Old Paths (Edinburgh, UK: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1999), 461. 2 James Montgomery Boice, The Doctrines of Grace: Rediscovering the Evangelical Gospel

(Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2002), 91. 3 Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q.31 4 Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity (Edinburgh, UK: The Banner of Truth Trust: 1958),

220. 5 J.I. Packer Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Belief (Carol Stream, IL:

Tyndale House Publishers, 2001), 158. 6 Joel Beeke and Mark Jones, A Puritan Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation

Heritage Books: 2012), 474. 7 Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q.86 8 Ibid., Q.87 9 Thomas Watson, The Doctrine of Repentance (Edinburgh, UK: The Banner of Truth Trust:

1987), 18. 10 Westminster Catechism Q.33 11 John Owen, quoted in A Puritan Theology, 492. 12 Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q.35 13 A.W. Pink, Studies in the Scriptures, September 1935, Vol. XIV 14 J.C. Ryle, Old Paths, 479. 15 John Murray, Redemption: Accomplished and Applied (Grand Rapids, MI: Eardmans,

2015), 174.

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