Christianity: The Concept of Salvation

Question 1

What is salvation?

Answer 1

Restoring the relationship between God and mankind

Question 2

What is atonement?

Answer 2

God in Christ reconciles the world to himself

Question 3

What is law?

Answer 3

Commandments laid down to identify sin

Question 4

What is sin?

Answer 4

• Failing God
• Romans 3:23:
  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

Question 5

What is grace?

Answer 5

• God’s redemptive love to save sinners
• Ephesians 2:8
  “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God”

Question 6

What is the role of Christ in salvation?

Answer 6

He sacrifices himself for the sins of the world, paying the ransom to God.

Question 7

Outline different Christian views on salvation.

Answer 7

• All Christians: If we repent, we can receive forgiveness from God, which allows us to be saved.
• Roman Catholics: Jesus died for our sins - we are saved by being baptised because we become one with Christ.
• Evangelical Christians: Our faith in Jesus allows us to be saved.
• Some Christians: Doing good deeds allows us to be saved.

Question 8

What are the issues related to salvation?

Answer 8

• Augustine (mainly followed by Catholics) thinks not everyone gets to God. If you don’t recognise God, you can’t get to God. If you never sin and seek repentance, you can’t get to God (this introduces the Catholic idea of unbaptised babies going to Limbo - if you never sin you cannot turn to God. However, this idea has recently been abolished by the Catholic Church).
• Irenaeus of Lyon (followed by Catholics, Orthodox and some Protestants) believed God would not cut anyone off from their journey to God. He saw this as proof there must be an afterlife.
• However, the value of these ideas is questionable. Even Thomas Aquinas stopped writing and said “All that I have written seems like straw”.