Each month, we will be highlighting a particular theological topic here at the BLB blog. This month, we are highlighting the topic of soteriology—the doctrine of salvation through Jesus Christ. The following is adapted from the Blue Letter Bible Institute’s soteriology class.
In Hebrews 13:20 it says, “Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant…” We were always in His heart. He is a shepherd. He always will be a shepherd. He is the Good Shepherd. He is the Great Shepherd of the sheep. “Sheep I have which are not of this fold, them I must also bring,” He said, in John 10:16. “I lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10:15). My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me” (John 10:27).
One of the most wonderful consequences for the heart of the Shepherd was that, like all good shepherds, He would have a flock—redeemed and bought by His own precious blood.
Well, what about for believers? Once you’ve entered this flock, are there still special consequences of this salvation? Well, you can make up a long list, can’t you? Freedom from the penalty of the law, Galatians 3:13. “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. For it is written, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree.”
He came, of course, and died to give us eternal life (John 3:14-15). “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.”
Sanctification (Hebrews 10:10) “By that will [His will to be obedient to the Father] we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” If you’ve come to know Jesus as your Savior, you are already sanctified.
We have justification, (Romans 5:9) “through His blood we are justified, by His blood.”
Deliverance, we are “loosed from our sins” (Revelation 1:5). Some translations say “washed from our sins.” It’s a Greek word louo, to loose from our sins. Like you loose a donkey or a horse that’s tied up, you just loose him and let him go.
Forgiveness, “In whom we have forgiveness of sins through His blood” (Ephesians 1:7).
Perfection, Hebrews 10:14 says very clearly, “By one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” In Christ, I am absolutely perfect. I am absolutely perfect in Christ. Good to remind yourself of that when you feel kind of stressed out and bummed out.
We have access to God. “Having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh” (Hebrews 10:19-20).
“And there’s no condemnation [praise the Lord] for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
“Who is He that is condemning?” says Romans 8:34. “It is Christ that died, yea rather that has risen again.”
Don’t these make you want to say “hallelujah” or “amen” or “praise the Lord”?!
Islington says
November 27, 2012 at 10:30 amChris,
Thanks for sharing the Word of God…When I think of the goodness of the Lord my soul cries out Halleujah!! It is a miraculous exchanged that Jesus Christ took our sins and gave us His righteousness, so that we can approach the Throne of Grace. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” 2 Cr 5:17
Islington
Eric says
November 27, 2012 at 2:08 pmThe biggest consequence of salvation is that we are dead to sin and alive to Christ. We also receive the indwelling Holy Spirit to teach us the things of God so that we can walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Without these two things (dead to sin and indwelling Holy Spirit), we would live just like unbelievers, being slaves to sin, and it would be impossible to do God’s will on earth.
Bob Demyanovich says
November 28, 2012 at 3:02 amThe bible is a book of examples.
1Cr 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
It is important to recognize the first division between God and His children. Adam and Eve, first humans there was no human fore bearer constraint to their decisions. They were truly the children of God. But biblically we are their children, contain their legacy and are the product of their choices. It was not about who they were before they chose apart from the will of God. It seems they became more aware of themselves, the individual who, with their fall. Those concerned with who, the individual self have limited percipience and are prone to arrive at faulty conclusions such as pride.
Jhn 13:14 If I then, [your] Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
Jhn 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Jhn 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
Phl 2:1-8
1Jo 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
1Jo 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
Phl 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Jhn 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
Jhn 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and [then] cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
Jhn 4:36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
Jhn 4:37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
Jhn 4:38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
Bob Demyanovich says
November 28, 2012 at 3:07 amChurches are storehouses and indeed places of worship. The comfort and support of these places, exclusiveness and too much religion however divert the testimony of Christian sects. Christians are discomforted with the inherent message of their creator. They are stalled in solace and comfort. Commonly Christians commit less than the whole effort necessary to share the gospel of salvation lest they offend. There is finality to opportunity. A quiet example and loving spirit must eventually hazard the fire to preach the treasure of God.