What questions about salvation does soteriology address?

what does the bible say?

Soteriology examines how Scripture presents salvation: planned by God before creation, accomplished in history, and fulfilled in the age to come. Scripture shows God choosing a people in love (Ephesians 1:4–5), sending the Son at the right time (Galatians 4:4–5), and bringing the redeemed into glory (Romans 8:30; Revelation 21:3–4). It also considers how an individual is saved through new birth and faith in Jesus (John 3:3–8; Acts 16:31), is set apart to live a transformed life (Romans 6:4; Galatians 5:16–25), and will be raised and glorified (Romans 8:23; Philippians 3:20–21). Key questions include what salvation is and why it is needed (Romans 3:23–26), how people were saved before Jesus’s incarnation (Genesis 15:6; Hebrews 11:13–16), and whether salvation can be lost (John 10:28–29; Romans 8:35–39; Hebrews 6:4–6). Additional questions address the role of faith, grace, and works (Ephesians 2:8–10; James 2:18–26), whether baptism is necessary (Matthew 28:19; Luke 23:42–43), and the fate of those who haven’t heard about Jesus (Romans 1:18–23; Acts 17:30–31; Romans 10:14–17).

from the old testament

• From the earliest pages, salvation is described as God’s rescue of helpless people. He delivered Israel from bondage, revealing Himself as the only Savior who acts with power and mercy. Isaiah recorded God’s declaration, “I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior” (Isaiah 43:11). That statement defined every later act of deliverance, whether from enemies, sin, or death. The Exodus and the songs that followed taught that salvation belongs to the Lord alone (Exodus 14:13–14; 15:2).
• To draw near to this holy God, Israel needed more than just rescue from enemies—they also needed cleansing from sin. The sacrificial system demonstrated how sinners could approach Him through substitution and atonement, especially on the Day of Atonement when the priest made purification for the people (Leviticus 16:15–17). However, sacrifices alone were not sufficient. God desired a repentant heart, as David demonstrated when he begged for mercy and renewal (Psalm 51:1–10).
• Alongside sacrifice and repentance, the Old Testament highlighted faith as the way to receive God’s salvation. Abraham “believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6), and Habakkuk later declared that the righteous live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4). People before Christ were saved by trusting God’s promises as they had been revealed during their time.
• God’s gracious choice also anchored salvation. He chose Israel, not because of their size or strength, but because of His covenant faithfulness (Deuteronomy 7:7–8). Even when the nation turned to idolatry, God kept a remnant for Himself (1 Kings 19:18; Isaiah 10:20–22). Although judgment showed the seriousness of apostasy, His preservation of His people demonstrated the security of His steadfast love (Psalm 37:28).
• Finally, the prophets looked forward to a deeper renewal that went beyond outward rescue or ritual. God promised to write His law on the hearts of His people and remember their sins no more (Jeremiah 31:31–34). He pledged to give a new heart and Spirit so that His people would walk in His ways (Ezekiel 36:26–27). This hope extended beyond Israel alone, for the blessing promised to Abraham was meant to reach all nations (Genesis 12:3; Isaiah 49:6).

from the new testament

• God’s saving work begins with His eternal purpose. Before the foundation of the world, the Father chose a people for Himself, the Son accomplished redemption through His death and resurrection, and the Spirit applies that salvation to those who believe (Ephesians 1:3–14). Salvation is never accidental or left to chance—it flows from God’s plan, carried out by His power, accomplishing His goal of presenting a people holy and blameless before Him (Ephesians 1:4).
• This means salvation is entirely God’s work, not earned by human effort. Paul wrote, “he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy” (Titus 3:5). Grace, not merit, explains why anyone is saved, so the central question of soteriology—who is saved—is answered in terms of God’s mercy freely given (Romans 9:15–16).
• At the personal level, Jesus taught the need for a new birth (John 3:3–8). Paul said we are saved by grace through faith, “and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Salvation comes only through Christ, for there is no other name by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). These truths explain what it means to be born again and how someone enters into a relationship with God.
• Soteriology also traces the results of salvation. Those who are justified by faith have peace with God (Romans 5:1), are adopted as sons and daughters (Galatians 4:4–7), and begin a life of sanctification by the Spirit (Romans 6:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:3). Growth in holiness is real, though imperfect in this life, and depends on the Spirit’s indwelling and the believer’s new identity in Christ (Galatians 5:16–25).
• Another question concerns security. Jesus said of His sheep, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28). That is, He said that no one would lose salvation because He is the one keeping them saved. Paul traced God’s saving purpose from predestination to glorification to demonstrate this certainty (Romans 8:30). Yet the church is warned to persevere in faith (Hebrews 3:14), which means that ongoing trust and repentance characterize those who are truly Christ’s (1 John 2:19).
• The purpose of baptism is likewise clarified. Baptism publicly demonstrates believers’ connection to Jesus’s death and resurrection (Romans 6:3–4), but it does not earn God’s favor. Paul said, “Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 1:17), showing that salvation depends on the message of Christ crucified. The thief who trusted Jesus was assured of paradise without baptism, highlighting salvation by faith alone (Luke 23:42–43).
• Questions about people’s salvation before Jesus are answered by pointing to the same grace. Hebrews celebrates saints who trusted God’s promises from afar (Hebrews 11), while Paul explains that God overlooked former sins until Christ’s atoning work (Romans 3:25–26).
• A related question concerns people alive today who have not heard of Jesus. Scripture affirms both God’s justice and the need to share the gospel. Paul said that people cannot believe unless they hear, and they cannot hear unless someone preaches (Romans 10:14–17). God “commands all people everywhere to repent” because He has appointed a day of judgment through the risen Christ (Acts 17:30–31). This urgency highlights the church’s mission: to bring the good news to every nation so that all may hear and believe.

implications for today

Being saved means turning away from sin and trusting Jesus Christ as Lord. You receive His gift of forgiveness and new life through faith. This requires stopping reliance on your own efforts to be right with God and instead trusting fully in what Christ accomplished through His death and resurrection. Anyone who believes in Him is forgiven, reconciled, and assured of eternal life. Once you are saved, the Christian life involves walking with God, empowered by the Spirit. You are called to grow in holiness. That means repentance becomes a daily habit, with obedience flowing from gratitude. For new believers, baptism is a joyful declaration that your old life is gone, and your new life with Christ has begun. Persevering in salvation isn’t about living perfectly but continuing in faith, repeatedly turning to the Savior who holds you secure. Those who are saved should also focus outward. Because people are saved through hearing the gospel, believers pray for others, share Christ whenever they can, and support spreading His Word to all nations. Finally, because God is just, you can rest assured that God will judge everyone fairly. Therefore, trust in God’s justice and mercy, holding fast to Christ as the only way to be saved. This is the hope that sustains you now and carries you into eternity.

Recap

understand

• Soteriology studies salvation’s full story—planned by God, achieved by Christ, and applied by the Spirit.
• Soteriology examines how faith, grace, repentance, and transformation define salvation.
• Soteriology addresses key questions about security, baptism, and the fate of those who have not heard of Jesus.

reflect

• How do you explain salvation, and how does your understanding shape your relationship with God?
• When have you struggled to trust that your salvation is secure in Christ?
• How are you growing in gratitude for the grace that saved you?

engage

• How does understanding salvation as God’s plan from eternity deepen our faith?
• What tensions arise when discussing faith, works, and grace together?
• How should the reality that some have not heard of Jesus motivate the church’s mission?