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Denominational Perspectives on Salvation
Acknowledgments & Cited Sources
| Grow in Christ |
No denominational perspective selected. |
Non-biblical
Sources: |
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| Alcorn, R. (2004). Heaven. Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. |
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| Blaising, C. A., Gentry, K. L., Strimple, R. B. (1999). Three Views on the Millennium and Beyond Darrell L. Bock (Ed.). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. |
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| Plus, all of the other sources listed under each denomination. |
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General Perspectives
| Grow in Christ |
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- Generally non-charismatic
 Non-charismaticIn contrast to Charistmatic Christians (a.k.a. Pentecostals), non-charismatic Christians do not seek or practice any of the special gifts (a.k.a. charismata) of the Holy Spirit that helped the early church to form and grow. Examples of these charismata are: speaking in tongues; prophesying; and the performing of miracles and healing. Non-charismatic Christians generally agree that once prophesy (i.e. the Bible) had been perfected and completed, other, future witnesses (i.e. charismatic gifts) to the Gospel of Christ were no longer necessary.
See: 1 Corinthians 13:8-10.
- Loosely amillennialAmillennialismRevelation 20:1-10 speaks of a thousand year reign of Christ as well as a period of a thousand years where Satan is bound and prevented from being able to deceive the nations any longer. There is a variety of thought concerning the meaning and timing of both of these thousand year periods. The Amillennialist generally believes that:
• The references in Revelation 20 to “a thousand years” are figurative and merely represent periods of time.
• Since His ascension, Christ has been reigning in Heaven.
• As evidenced by the spread of the Gospel, Satan has been bound (in the sense these he is no longer able to deceive the nations).
• Many of the Old Testament promises made to “Israel” are fullfilled in Christ or in Christ’s church (i.e. the Spiritual Israel).
• The ultimate victory over death and evil has already been achieved through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. This is true even though evil is allowed to continue during the church age. Furthermore, Satan will be released for a period of time before Jesus’ second coming and apostasy will become rampant.
• At Jesus’ second coming, there will be a resurrection of the dead followed by the final judgment..
- Not CalvinisticCalvinism or Reformed TheologyJohn Calvin formalized, organized, and articulated a developing theology held by some early Protestant Reformers that emphasized the absolute sovereignty of God. This theological approach to Biblical interpretation has come to be known as “Calvinism” or “Reformed Theology.”
The tenets of Calvinism can be represented by the TULIP acrostic:
T (Total Depravity)
Due to the fall of man in the garden of Eden, all mankind has inherited Adam’s sinful nature and a totally depraved mind (one that is unable, because of its captivity to sin, to bring itself out of its sinful nature).
U (Unconditional Election)
Before the creation of the world, God chose who would receive a knowledge of Himself (and therefore eternal life) and who would receive eternal death.
L (Limited Atonement)
Christ died to atone for the sins of all whom God has chosen to save.
I (Irrestible Grace)
Those whom God, through His Holy Spirit, calls (i.e. to be saved; to serve in specific ministries; etc.) will not be able to resist the Holy Spirit’s call.
P (Persevernce of the Saints)
The work of salvation God begins in His elect will persevere until salvation is fully acheived in heaven., not fully ArminianArminianismArminianism is a view held by some Protestants. Often contrasted with Calvinism, Arminianism claims the following tenets:
Prevenient Grace, Resistible Grace, & Libertarian Free Will
Through God’s grace, never by human effort, salvation is made available to all people. Yet, each person has the ability to accept or reject the grace God provides through His Holy Spirit.
Conditional Election
Before the creation of the world, God chose those to be His whom He foreknew would accept Him.
Unlimited Atonement
While Christ died for all, only those who accept Him will receive the benefits of His atoning sacrifice.
The Possibility of Falling from Grace
Although believers can resist sin, the persistent participation in unrepentant sin might lead to a fall from grace. Early Arminianists believed that such a pattern of continued resistance would lead to a permanent inability to return to faith in Christ. John Wesley rejected this notion as do most modern Arminianists..
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Creeds, Statements of Faith, Sources of Authority, etc.
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| The Bible |
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Salvation Approaches
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- The Offer of Salvation — Hear the Gospel message.
- People are sinners, separated from God. They can only be reconciled unto God by grace — God’s generous offer of salvation through, and only through, the propitiatory sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. God’s offer is made known through the preaching and sharing of the Gospel of Christ. See: Romans 3:19-26; 10:13-17; Colossians 2:13-14; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; John 1:12; 3:14-18; 5:24-29; 14:6; Acts 4:11-12; 1 John 5:1-13; 1 Peter 2:9-10
- The Old Testament is replete with promises of and references to the coming of an anointed one of God. This Messiah (a.k.a. Christ) would be known as the “Mighty God” and “Eternal Father.” Such promises of the coming Gospel, and of God’s New Covenant with mankind, were made long before the Old Covenant was given through Moses. The first reference to Christ occurred when mankind was being banished from the Garden in Eden. Therefore, even the Old Testament saints had insights regarding the Gospel of Christ. See: Genesis 3:15; 12:3; Isaiah 6:14; 9:6-7; 53:1-12; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Daniel 9:26; Joel 2:28-32; Zechariah 2:8-10
- Upon His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus completely fulfilled the Old Covenant, which became obsolete and was no longer binding. His blood also made the New Covenant immediately effective. See: Matthew 5:17; Romans 3:19-26, 30-31; Hebrews 8:7-13
- The Acceptance of Salvation — Receive Christ.
- God’s generous offer of salvation must be personally accepted. This is done by believing in and acknowledging the Gospel message as well as accepting Christ to be whom the Gospel says He is — both Lord and Savior — through repentance, confession, and baptism. In so doing, one receives forgiveness for all sins committed, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to enable one to live effectively for Christ, and the promise of eternal life in heaven. See: Acts 2:36-41; 11:1; 17:30; Luke 13:3, 5; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Matthew 7:21-23; Romans 10:1-13; John 3:1-8; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Colossians 2:8-12
- The Impact of Salvation — Live faithfully & lovingly for Christ.
- In a manner befitting an adopted child of the Creator, and in harmony with the Holy Spirit, experience the joy that accompanies a purpose-filled life spent faithfully and lovingly serving Christ. See: Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2:8-10; 4:30-32; 1 John 3:1-2; Colossians 3:1-4, 16-17; Romans 5:20-6:6; 8:1-30, 26-27; Ephesians 4:30; Revelation 3:14-22; James 1:12; 2:14-26; Philippians 2:12-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 10:10; Galatians 5:16-26; 1 Corinthians 12:1-13:13; Ephesians 4:1-5:21; Romans 12:1-21; Matthew 22:36-40
- Under the terms of the New Covenant, righteous comes through faith in Jesus Christ rather than from following works of Law. However, having faith in Christ means acknowledging and accepting Jesus’ role as the Lord of all creation. The duty of mankind is to fear God and keep His commandments. Under the New Covenant, this means consistently acting and speaking to bring honor and praise to Jesus’ name and living in obedience to Him. While salvation cannot be earned through human merit, obedience to Christ is expected and required. See: Romans 3:19-31; 9:5; 10:8-13; Ephesians 1:18-23; Ecclesiastes 12:13; Colossians 1:15-20; 3:17; Hebrews 5:9
- The Fulfillment of Salvation — Experience eternity with God.
- With glorified bodies, experience eternity with God in a new heavens and earth. See: John 3:16; 5:25-29; Matthew 25:31-40; Revelation 21; 22:12-14; 1 Corinthians 15:35-49; Romans 2:7; 8:23
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| Notes |
Grow in Christ teaches that salvation is offered by God’s grace (His compassionate and unmerited disposition toward mankind) and is received through faith (both belief and obedient trust). While it cannot be earned by human merit, salvation does have specific requirements: belief, genuine repentance, baptism, and a willingess to publicly confess Christ and to live for Him. The demons believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. But, they do not honor Him as Lord and they certainly will not spend eternity in heaven.
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The Role of Sin (Personal Sin, Original Sin, etc.)
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The first man (Adam) and woman (Eve) were granted immortal lives in a garden paradise. They were given reign over the animals and had opportunities to literally walk and talk with God. See: Genesis 1:26-31; 2:7-9, 15-17; 3:8-13
Succumbing to the devil’s tempting, Adam & Eve disobeyed a direct commandment of God. Being just, God punished all of the guilty parties. The woman was informed that the pain of childbirth would be greatly intensified. The man would now have to work for food by the sweat of his brow. Furthermore, the garden, which provided for mankind’s immortality and a physical closeness to God’s presence, would now be off-limits. See: Genesis 3:1-24
For his part, the devil received the prophetic word that he would “bruise” the heal of a woman’s offspring; this offspring’s heal would “bruise” the serpent’s head. An inspection of numerous Old and New Testament passages reveals this offspring to be Jesus Christ, through whose sacrifice victory over evil and death has already been won. His death, burial, and resurrection has already provided sufficient atonement for all human sin, including any consequences of the original sin committed by Adam (and Eve) in the garden, so that any person can be reconciled to God. See: Genesis 3:14-15; 12:3; 1 Chronicles 17:14; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; 11:1-10; 53:1-12; Jeremiah 23:5-6; 33:14-17; Daniel 9:24-27; Micah 5:2-4; Malachi 4:5-6; Romans 16:20; Hebrews 10:11-18; Romans 3:19-26; 5:6-21; 6:23; John 3:16-18; 1 Corinthians 15:1-19 |
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The Role of Grace
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Because God is perfectly just, He must call sin sin. A completely Holy being, He cannot stand the sight of any impure action. Even those people most earnestly striving to lead God-pleasing lives fall short of God’s perfect standards for living. Therefore, all people should experience His just wrath. See: John 13:34; 1 John 3:1-10; Romans 3:19-26; 5:6-11; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9
Yet, God, in His very nature, is also love. The salvation He so freely and lovingly offers (i.e. as a gift) to sinners who will accept the propitiatory sacrifice of His own Son on their behalf reveals His grace. In other words, God’s grace offers people deliverance from the wrath they deserve due to their sinful lives.See: John 1:1-17; Romans 3:19-26; 5:12-21; 6:23; 11:1-6; Acts 11:23; 15:11; Ephesians 2:4-9; Titus 2:11; 3:4-7
Grace is also revealed in the love and Spiritual gifts He provides to edify the church so it can efficiently carry out the works that God has prepared for it to do. See: Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Corinthians 12; Romans 5:5; 12:1-8 |
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The Role of Faith
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Though offered through Jesus’ propitiatory sacrifice (a product of God’s grace), the gift of salvation is accepted through the vehicle of faith. See: Ephesians 2:8-9
Faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ. However, saving faith is not merely a mental ascent of the Gospel of Christ. Rather, it is the kind of belief that includes trust in and obedience to Christ, whom God has appointed to have authority over all that is in heaven and on earth. Those possessing saving faith are God’s workmanship. They are new creations in Christ created to do the work God has prepared for them to do. See: Hebrews 2:17; Romans 3:25; 5:1-2; 10:17; 1 John 2:2; 4:10; Luke 7:48-50; Hebrews 11; John 3:14-18; Ephesians 2:8-10; 4:1-7; Acts 2:36-41; Matthew 7:21-23; 18:28-20
Belief and obedient trust in Christ are continually-developing elements of faith. Confession and repentance are regularly-practiced by those possessing an honest faith. Baptism, which follows an initial repentance and confession, is a one-time event that cooperates with faith so that the promises offered by God’s grace may be properly accepted. See: 2 Corinthians 5:7; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; 4:4-6; Colossians 2:12; Hebrews 6:1-12; 1 John 1:8-2:6; Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21 |
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The Role of Repentance
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Genuine repentance is possessing such a degree of sorrow for sins committed that a sincere commitment is made to turn away from a self-directed or worldly-guided life in order to accept a life with Jesus Christ at the helm. See: Acts 2:36-38; 17:30-31; Luke 13:3, 5; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10; John 14:21-24
Repentance and Christian baptism (in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) go together. Repentance is making the decision to follow Christ. Baptism is taking the first step in following Jesus’ Lordship. See: Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:36-38; 3:19; 26:19-20 |
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The Role of Confession
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Those possessing genuinely repentant spirits will have a natural desire to (and they must):- confess their statuses as sinners who need the atonement of sin provided by Jesus’ propitiatory sacrifice.
- accept and proudly proclaim Jesus’ Lordship in their lives.
See: Romans 10:8-10; John 9:18-23; 12:42-43; Matthew 7:21-23; 10:32-33
Even those who have genuinely repented will falter in their commitments to live for Christ. Therefore, the confessing and repenting of sins to God, as well as to those who have been affected by the sins, is a process that will carry on throughout life. Words spoken in a public ritual or in a public or private prayer to God may mark the beginning of a confessional lifestyle. But, genuine confession is a reflection of a life that has been and continues to be transformed and of a life that is not embarrassed to share that transformation (and the Savior behind it) with others. See: Romans 10:8-10; 1 John 4:15-21; Matthew 10:32-33; 1 John 1:8-2:6; James 5:16; Matthew 18:15-17; Acts 8:22-24 |
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The Role of Baptism
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The repentant believer participates in baptism because Christ commands it and in order to receive the promises God attaches to it. It is God, not the human believer, who works in baptism to produce salvation. Belief is a continually-developing element of faith. Repentance and confession are regularly-practiced behaviors that work in cooperation with faith. Baptism is the clear and single point in time when God officially applies Jesus’ blood sacrifice and agrees to view the repentant believer as righteous (i.e. justified/forgiven) in His sight. God also seals the believer with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit until the fullness of heaven can be personally experienced. See: Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:36-41; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Titus 3:4-7; Colossians 2:9-14; Ephesians 4:4-6, 30; Acts 5:31-32; 19:1-5; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Baptism is indirectly derived from the Greek word, “βαπτισμα (baptisma),” which means dipping, immersing, or performing ablutions (i.e. ceremonial washing). Baptism by immersion beautifully pictures a believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, in that the believer dies to sin and rises from the watery grave to walk in a newness of life in Christ. Receiving salvation, being sealed with the Holy Spirit, beginning a new life as a Christian, and being added by Christ to His church are simultaneously occurring events that begin at baptism. See: Romans 6:3-7; Acts 2:38-41; Titus 3:4-7; Colossians 2:9-14; Ephesians 4:30; Acts 5:32; 19:1-5; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 |
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The Role of Living One’s Life with Jesus as Lord
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God saves people with the expectation that they will be faithful to Him so that His works may be carried out through them. The faith, repentance, and baptism that results in justification (God’s acquittal from the penalties of sin) also produces a spiritual rebirth (the beginning of a life-long journey of an active and ever-maturing faith). This ongoing process of Holiness development is called sanctification. See: Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 1:21; Romans 6; 8:28-30; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 1:8-9; Hebrews 12:10, 14; James 2:14-26- To be a Christian is to be known as a follower of Christ. See: Acts 11:19-26; Romans 12:1-2
- To be a disciple of Christ is to be His pupil. See: Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Timothy 2:15
- To be saved is to be a new creation in Christ. See: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Colossians 3:1-17
- To confess Christ is to proclaim His Lordship. See: Romans 10:9; 5:1-2; 1 Corinthians 1:9; Acts 7:59; 1 Thessalonians 5:9
Areas in a person’s life in which Christ is not granted free reign can cause strain in that person’s relationship with Christ. Those areas also limit Christ’s effectiveness in continuing His work on earth through them. See: Philippians 3:7-21; Hebrews 12:1-3; 13:20-21; 1 Peter; Galatians 5:16-26. Jesus’ messages to churches possessing varying degrees of participation in Jesus’ Lordship are found in Revelation 2:1-3:22.
Those who are resurrected with Christ through baptism are priests of God and reign with Christ both in this life and in eternity. See: Romans 6:3-11; Revelation 5:10; 20:6- In this life, the righteousness granted Christians causes them to reign over Satan, sin, and death. See: Ephesians 2:6-7; 6:10-17; Romans 5:17; Colossians 3:1-3; Revelation 20:6; 1 John 4:4; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 15:54-57; 2 Peter 2:9; Hebrews 2:14-15
- Those who reign are those who remain faithful to Christ. See: Matthew 19:27-29; Luke 22:28-30; 2 Timothy 2:11-12; Revelation 2:25-26
- Those who reign must serve. Those who are first will be last; those who are last will be first. See: Matthew 19:30
- While humans cannot work or earn their way to heaven, God will reward the efforts of those whom He has saved, especially the efforts of those who perservere under persecution or hard times. See: Hebrews 11:6; Revelation 22:12; James 1:12
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Is Salvation Permanent Once Granted?
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Christians can rest comfortably in the knowledge that their salvation is assured as long as their relationships with Christ remain properly intact. See: Colossians 2:2; Hebrews 6:11; 10:22; Romans 8:15-17; Galatians 4:6; 1 5:13; John 10:27-29; Philippians 1:6; Romans 11:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Romans 8:31-39
The application of Christ’s propitiatory sacrifice during baptism covers all sins committed. This includes the sins committed both before and after baptism. The Holy Spirit, often working through the words of Scripture, guides the lives of Christians according to the will of God. The Holy Spirit helps the weaknesses of Christians, prays on their behalf, makes Christians aware of their sins, and reminds them to live repentant, confessional lives. Furthermore, Jesus Christ, who became the propitiation for human sin, advocates with God the Father on behalf of Christians so that God will continue to view them as righteous. See: John 7:39; 14:16-17; 15:26; 16:7-8, 13-14; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6:4, 8; 8:26-27; 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Galatians 3:26-27; Titus 3:4-7; Hebrews 10:1-18; 1 John 2:1-2;
However, people can exercise their free wills to reject the Holy Spirit’s message about salvation through faith in Jesus Christ even if salvation had previously been accepted. Mere doubts or the commission of sin is not the same as a rejection of salvation. See: Mark 3:28-29; Luke 12:8-10; John 8:24, 31-32; 15:1-6; Matthew 13:40-42; Romans 11:17-22; 1 Corinthians 15:1-2; Colossians 1:22-23; Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 6:4-6 |
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