Date

5-23-2025

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Bible Exposition (PhD)

Chair

Todd Buck

Keywords

Soteriology, Salvation, elements of salvation, sequence of salvation, process of salvation

Disciplines

Philosophy

Abstract

Soteriology is the study and development of God’s plan to bring mankind back in right standing with Him. Soteriology presents God as the One who delivers humanity from the power of sin through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ, who became the ultimate sacrifice for sin. Human sin is what brought about a need for salvation. Salvation can be seen as a process that involves specific elements. The gospel message reveals how the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ leads to salvation. The New Testament presents faith, repentance, water baptism and reception of the Holy Spirit as a sequence of events, all of which are connected to salvation. Paul clearly explains salvation as a sequence of steps. He connects these steps to Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection:

We were therefore buried with Him through baptism, into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him…In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:4-12 NIV).

The New Testament consistently links faith, repentance, water baptism, and the gift of the Holy Spirit to salvation. Peter provides a perfect example of this: Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:36-39 NIV).

After hearing Peter proclaim the gospel message, the crowd’s response to Peter and the other apostles implies that they believed his words. “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37 NIV). Peter then answered their question, giving clear and precise instructions. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38 NIV). Those who heard the gospel message, believed in Christ, repented of their sins, and were willingly baptized, were promised the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement. The term “Protestant” can be defined as followers of the Western Christian churches, separate from Roman Catholic churches. The Protestant Christian movement consists of those who live in accordance with principles of the Reformation. Pen

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