Questions tagged [soteriology]
the study of the mechanisms by which an individual is saved
430
questions
8
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4answers
199 views
Is it possible to reconcile Owen's trilemma with salvation by faith?
John Owen's "trilemma" argument is often used as a defense for Limited Atonement, but it appears to have an underlying difficulty:
To which I may add this dilemma to our universalists: God imposed ...
-1
votes
0answers
95 views
Do the Vatican II Council Teachings & Doctrines affirm that all of mankind is saved by the Wisdom of God? [duplicate]
Thus were the paths of those on earth made straight, and learned what pleases you, and were saved by Wisdom."(Wisdom 9:18)
Pope Francis now famous words echoes the Wisdom of God saying,
the ...
2
votes
3answers
114 views
Replacement of sins with good
In my studies of Islamic Theology I have come across a doctrine of the replacement of sins for good deeds.
Quran, Al-Furqân
“Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For ...
1
vote
0answers
23 views
How do eternal security believers explain these 2 scenarios? [duplicate]
I'm an eternal security believer but I'm struggling with how I should reconcile this with these two scenarios:
Lucifer falling from Heaven, losing his standing before God and becoming the Adversary ...
6
votes
2answers
146 views
What is the dominant theory of atonement in Catholic theology?
Having a little trouble phrasing the question due to my own ignorance.
I grew up celebrating Christmas and Hanukah as basically family gift giving events, as many others do, and I'm trying in ...
2
votes
1answer
160 views
Is Pope Francis holding and professing different views from the traditional Catholic church in the doctrine of salvation & teachings about marriage? [closed]
Is Pope Francis holding and professing different views from the traditional Catholic church in the doctrine of salvation & teachings about marriage?
Does Pope Francis believe & profess that ...
0
votes
4answers
226 views
Do Catholics believe that everyone should convert to Christianity for their own salvation?
From my understanding it is the Catholic view that all people should be baptized and converted to the Christian faith for their own salvation.
So, for me it follows logically, that Christians ...
-2
votes
1answer
56 views
Biblical justification of the salvation theory of Christ's death presented by Paul
What are the origins / biblical references to justify the doctrine that Christ's death on the cross saved us from our sins?
From my understanding the majority of biblical passages referring to ...
-1
votes
2answers
85 views
What effects do Christ's passion and resurrection have on us right now?
According to Christianity Christ "died on the cross to save us from our sins". I would like to get a better understanding of the origins and mechanics of this doctrine.
Christ died for our sins, as ...
2
votes
0answers
64 views
Do Catholics believe that people can be saved without hearing the name of Christ? [duplicate]
Do Catholics believe that people can be saved without hearing the name of Christ?
I came across this while listening to John MacArthur on Catholicism, and Billy Graham
What do Catholics believe is ...
6
votes
4answers
305 views
What are the predominant Christian views on whether Jesus had to specifically die by crucifixion? Could he have chosen another kind of death?
As I understand it, Jesus was sentenced to die "under Pontius Pilate" and was crucified as punishment. It seems to me that Jesus had no choice but to be crucified. After all, if a criminal is ...
1
vote
1answer
92 views
Do Baptists believe someone with multiple personalities has multiple souls?
Do Baptists believe someone with multiple personalities has multiple souls? What if someone has two personalities, like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissociative_identity_disorder and one has ...
0
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0answers
47 views
How do you, Lutherans, understand the question of soteriology: atonement
English is not my native language, sorry for any typing errors
I'm studying soteriology and wanted to understand how you Lutherans understand the question of soteriology? Justification and atonement: ...
2
votes
3answers
137 views
According to Calvinists, how do Job's works correspond to his salvation?
Job 31:1–4 (DRB) I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.1 2 For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high? 3 ...
1
vote
1answer
429 views
According to Pentecostalism, was the Pope biblically justified in saying that an unbelieving man is in heaven?
Pope Francis consoles a boy who asked if his non-believing father is in Heaven (YouTube)
Here we have a son asking the Pope whether his father would be granted admission in the Kingdom of God. His ...
3
votes
4answers
383 views
Meaning of Acts 10:34-35 according to Protestantism
Acts 10:34-35 (DRB) And Peter opening his mouth, said: In very deed I perceive, that God is not a respecter of persons. But in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh justice, is acceptable to ...
2
votes
1answer
86 views
Do Southern Baptist traditionalists agree with the Arminian view of prevenient grace?
Part of the "Arminian" position (as I understand it) is essentially as follows:
Fallen people are of such a morally corrupted nature that, when hearing the gospel of how they can and must be saved by ...
0
votes
2answers
212 views
On what basis do Protestants extend the New Covenant to include gentiles?
Given "sola scriptura" and the explicit assertions in scripture regarding the participants in the covenant ("the houses of Israel and Judah") how do Protestants justify teaching it to be for gentile ...
1
vote
0answers
55 views
Atonement in Eastern Orthodoxy
The mainline protestant idea of Atonement is, as Luther himself put it, this:
Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, died for our sins and was raised again
for our justification (Romans 3:24–25). He ...
4
votes
1answer
181 views
Do Jehovah's Witnesses have one Saviour or Two?
Jehovah's witnesses firmly believe that Jehovah and Jesus are separate beings and that Jesus is NOT God because Jesus is an angel. What do JW's say about their Saviour? Specifically,
Isa 43:3, 11, ...
3
votes
3answers
164 views
If Jesus's death was not eternal, then how can it be substitutionary for the eternal deaths of humans?
Sinful humans are judged and sentenced to eternal death. But did Jesus experience eternal death? If so, how? If not, how then can it be considered substitutionary for our deaths?
How do those who ...
3
votes
5answers
268 views
What are the various beliefs about the fate of honest atheists?
Some atheists (or any explicit denier of Christian truth) claim that their disbelief in Christianity is an honest one, viz. if they had put their faith in Christ they would be lying to themselves and ...
6
votes
1answer
231 views
Anglican Absolution
In Anglicanism, both justification by faith alone (article 11 of the 39) and priestly absolution (found within the order of the visitation of the sick in the BCP ) are doctrinal stances in the book ...
1
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0answers
111 views
Which church fathers taught involuntary universal salvation?
Which early church fathers (including those now considered heretics like Origen) pre 1054 taught that "all will be saved", including all of the dead without "hearing and believing"? In other words, ...
7
votes
2answers
266 views
Salvation Possible After Death
Which early church fathers (pre 500) taught it was possible for a person after their death to hear and receive salvation in Christ Jesus?
We know some groups teach the necessity of water baptism to ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
Was universalism the majority belief of the early church?
I recently came upon an article that made this statement:
According to historical records, Universal Reconciliation was the majority belief of the church during the first five centuries of the ...
5
votes
1answer
266 views
In Reformed theology, what exactly does the doctrine of “limited atonement” actually assert?
I have found it quite confusing to try and understand what traditional Reformed circles mean precisely in their doctrine of "limited/definite atonement"/"particular redemption", especially as not all ...
5
votes
1answer
283 views
What does “the Lord opened her heart” (Acts 16:14) mean, according to Calvinists?
Acts 16:13 (NIV)
On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.
I ...
5
votes
6answers
817 views
Immaculate Conception: Why was it necessary for our Salvation?
According to many Catholic apologists, like Dr. Robert Sungenis,1 the dogma of the immaculate conception of Mary is not simply binding because it is a divinely revealed dogma, but according to them it ...
6
votes
1answer
288 views
Who are the “extreme Anabaptists” who believed that regeneration makes people incapable of sin?
While reading Louis Berkhof's Systematic Theology, I noticed an interesting tidbit about the beliefs of "extreme Anabaptists" on regeneration. He argues:
[Regeneration is not] a complete or ...
7
votes
3answers
771 views
Calvinism: Does God force people to be saved?
Calvinists often object to the criticism that their doctrine teaches that God forces men to be saved against their will. From what I've read, Calvinism teaches that God changes a man's nature and ...
4
votes
1answer
297 views
Where did Augustine say “It is certain that few are saved”?
I've noticed on several sites Augustine is quoted as having said "It is certain that few are saved." Does anybody know the source? I find the quote curious because he ascribes certainty to his ...
1
vote
3answers
174 views
Is belief in the suspension or replacement of any of the previous covenants necessary for salvation today?
Is belief in the suspension or replacement of any of the previous covenants necessary for salvation today?
To those who wants a longer wording: Is belief in the suspension or replacement of any of ...
4
votes
1answer
530 views
Calvinism: Dealing with paradoxes
In a video entitled "John MacArthur: Calvinism vs. Arminianism", Todd Friel of Wretched gives a short introduction before showing a clip of John MacArthur at some event several years ago, allegedly ...
1
vote
1answer
164 views
What is the biblical basis for Christians quitting their jobs?
Recently upon travelling from university I came across a fairly new Christian sect called Jesus Christians.
They were handing out DVD's which had a QR code linking to a Youtube channel called A Voice ...
2
votes
3answers
243 views
How do Calvinists argue that limited atonement is just and merciful?
Why is it just or merciful that God predetermines who is to be saved and who is to be damned, before they are even born? Does that not mean a murderer may be saved and a charity worker damned?
0
votes
1answer
172 views
How is the atonement sufficient for salvation according to Calvinists?
Because there is not a single verse in the Bible that explicitly states that Christ laid down his life only for believers (the elect), Calvinists typically defend their doctrine of limited atonement ...
3
votes
2answers
143 views
What is the Protestant interpretation of Philippians 3:12?
Protestantism generally teaches that salvation is by faith alone, through grace.
Paul seem to make a case for this in Philippians 3:9:
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own ...
3
votes
2answers
317 views
According to Calvinism, if Catholicism might lead to salvation, why to remain a Calvinist? (Henry IV story)
In his 1786 book, "The History of Heresies and Their Refutation", (saint) Alphonsus Liguiri wrote:
I think the danger of eternal perdition, by dying separated from the Church, should be a ...
2
votes
2answers
210 views
Looking for an apologetic to the “Cosmic Child Abuse” objection
Recently during a discussion I got smacked with the "Cosmic Child Abuse" argument. I had heard of it before, but never really had to wrestle with it in real life. I discovered that I don't actually ...
2
votes
2answers
202 views
(LDS view) Do animals have a possibility to eternal life and is this dependent on Jesus atonoment applied to them?
This is my other question that was inspired by what a quotation in this other question says about pre-existence prior to conception.
The highest rated answer quotes from The Encyclopedia of Mormonism,...
0
votes
1answer
108 views
From a Dogmatic Catholic perspective, what is the eternal destination of an unbaptized embryo?
This dogmatic statement from the Council of Trent makes it Crystal Clear that we inherit sin from Adam.
If any one asserts, that the prevarication of Adam injured himself alone, and not his ...
2
votes
2answers
157 views
Did Abraham have faith in the future coming of Christ?
R.C. Sproul's book on Romans, Chapter 10, page 106.
"When Paul speaks of Abraham's justification as being by faith, that is shorthand for saying that Abraham was justified by the righteousness of ...
4
votes
3answers
257 views
What are Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs on how those who died before Jesus, or before JWs existed, will gain salvation?
Christian denominations have different beliefs about how those who died before Jesus existed, or before their denomination existed, can gain salvation.
For example, some denominations believe that ...
2
votes
1answer
183 views
According to Catholicism, if someone receives last rites, is everything forgiven?
So you've killed dozens of people, cheated on wife, destroyed families blah blah. Then before dying the priest administers you the last rites. Is everything forgiven? Will you go to heaven because you ...
-1
votes
1answer
205 views
Who does John 6:40 refer to according to Reformed theology? [closed]
For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
—John 6:40 NIV (emphasis mine)
Does the bold ...
8
votes
4answers
571 views
Is the choice, or decision, to accept Salvation through Jesus Christ a Work?
While reviewing the superb answers to this question about free will, I was inspired to leave a comment for Ian that I realized ought to be its own question.
As I understand (and possibly ...
1
vote
1answer
381 views
Understanding Zechariah's prophecy in Luke 1 as a Protestant, Evangelical Dispensationalist believer
In Luke 1:68–69, Zechariah says under the influence of the Holy Spirit:
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
and has raised up a horn of salvation ...
3
votes
1answer
202 views
How do Calvinists understand “anyone” in 2 Peter 3:9?
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand
slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to
perish, but everyone to come to repentance
From a ...
2
votes
2answers
133 views
Refute perceived differences in the Gospel between Peter and Paul from Sola Scriptura perspective [closed]
What is the biblical evidence in keeping with the Protestant, Sola Scriptura perspective, for refuting a claim that Paul's gospel differed from Peter's gospel?
I see in Scripture:
2 Peter 1:1-2
...
