Questions tagged [soteriology]
The study of the mechanisms by which an individual is saved.
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How do Christians who believe that salvation can be lost interpret John 6:37-44 and John 10:11-30?
John 6:37-44 (ESV)
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who ...
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How do those who believe that salvation cannot be lost interpret Revelation 3:14-22?
Revelation 3:14-22 (ESV):
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
15 “‘I know your works: you are ...
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How do proponents of Perseverance of the Saints have confidence in their salvation?
I was listening to a debate between Trent Horn and James White on the doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints. In it, Trent Horn presented an argument to demonstrate that those who hold to the ...
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How can God be loving and just whilest creating people for His wrath? I cannot wrap my head around Calvinism!
I just recently left a church that I attended for nearly a decade that is rooted in Calvinist beliefs. I am really struggling with their conception of the Lord and their understanding of the scripture....
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What was the Early Church's (ante-Nicene period) view of the interplay between free will (or lack thereof) and salvation?
Did the Early Church (ante-Nicene period) believe in libertarian free will?
Did the Early Church (ante-Nicene period) believe in determinism?
Did the Early Church (ante-Nicene period) believe that ...
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An Original Source Containing the Sermon of St. Leonard of Port Maurice: The Little Number of Those Who are Saved
This rather famous homily of the eighteenth century Franciscan is rather easy to come by on the internet; for example, see
https://www.saintsbooks.net/books/St.%20Leonard%20of%20Port%20Maurice%20-%...
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How do believers in eternal conscious separation/torment reconcile their belief with Jesus' words at Matthew 10:39?
Matthew 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
Jesus has just warned His disciples of the hardships they will face if they choose to follow ...
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Could Jesus have refused to go to the cross?
Jesus prays to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, distressing over the impending cup of wrath to come. The weight of bearing the sins of people and alienation from the Father put him such ...
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How does St Peter's view on salvation reconcile with that of Jesus?
We read in Mt 21:31 :
Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of ...
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Soteriology: How does God save free moral agents?
Gen. 3:1-7 shows that sin was a choice. How does the freedom of choice intersect with saving faith and the work of the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin? This question is for all who believe the Bible ...
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Does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints postulate a multi-verse?
Latter Day Saints will, on the one hand, assent to a multiplicity of Gods with humans being capable of being exalted to the same level of God as God the Father in the Bible. God the Father may have ...
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Why might have God confined his atonement to only the Israelites?
I am trying to avoid getting struck down as opinion based by asking for POTENTIAL answers here. If you think my question can be rephrased in a non-opinion based way, feel free to edit.
In the Old ...
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What is the Biblical basis for Synergism?
From Wikipedia:
In Christian theology, synergism is the position of those who hold that salvation involves some form of cooperation between divine grace and human freedom. Synergism is upheld by the ...
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What is the Biblical basis for Conditional Election?
From Wikipedia:
In Christian theology, conditional election is the belief that God chooses for eternal salvation those whom he foresees will have faith in Christ. This belief emphasizes the ...
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According to Calvinists, why does God not predestine all to Heaven?
It seems to me that if God chooses not only those who will go to heaven, but those who will go to hell, a Calvinist would hold the position of Universalism, that being that all people will be saved. ...
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What is the biblical basis for NOT believing that everyone has a fair chance to be saved?
In my previous question If everyone has a fair chance to be saved, then how is this reconciled with Romans 10:11-17 & John 6:44?, I laid out two conditions for scoping purposes:
This question is ...
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If everyone has a fair chance to be saved, then how is this reconciled with Romans 10:11-17 & John 6:44?
This question is scoped to Christians who believe that:
humans have libertarian free will (or at least are given temporarily some form of genuine freedom of the will through divine grace in specific ...
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According to Christians who believe that salvation can be lost, what is spiritual rebirth, what is eternal life and can salvation be regained?
According to Christians who believe that salvation can be lost:
What is eternal life? Is eternal life attained now (in this life / before death) or at the resurrection?
What is spiritual rebirth? ...
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How do Christians who believe that eternal life begins now explain the fact that Christians die?
Many Christians believe that eternal life begins now.
For example, in the article The Destiny: Eternal Life, John Piper states:
In believing we have eternal life NOW, not just in the future.
In John ...
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According to Christian mortalists (aka 'Soul sleep' advocates), does eternal life begin now (before death), and if so, does it continue after death?
Many passages seem to suggest that one becomes born again and obtains eternal life on this side of eternity (before death).
For example, regarding eternal life, the Apostle John said:
24 Truly, truly,...
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How defined is the threshold of graveness for mortal sins? (Catholicism)
The Catholic Church has defined criteria for when a sin is a mortal sin:
The sin is grave.
It's committed with full knowledge of the sin and its gravity.
It's committed with deliberate and complete ...
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Are the Five Solas considered "Axioms" or "Theorems" in the logic of salvation in Protestant theology?
It might be utterly reprehensible to apply reason to faith in this way and feel free to VTC this question if it's just not a question. I believe reason can't contradict faith and vice versa, but I'm ...
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Do those who are saved still face judgement? [closed]
Do those who are saved still face judgement?
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Question about Hebrews 10:26
Hebrews 10:26 says:
26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a ...
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How do proponents of an intermediate state interpret Matthew 7:21-23?
Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV):
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me,...
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Do Mormons agree with the Apostle Paul when he said at Acts 16:31 to the Philippian Jailer, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved."
At verse 32 Paul spoke the word of the Lord to him "together" with all who were in his house. Vs33, "And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and ...
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How do people who believe in the act of confession understand 1 John 1:9?
1 John 1:9:
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV)
In places like Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Church, there is ...
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According to Biblical Unitarians, what is the essential belief about Jesus in order to be saved?
The bible teaches many things about Jesus.
Where he came from
Who he came from
When he originated
What he was
How do we know what the most important aspect of Jesus is from the bible with reference ...
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How do people who hold salvation as a one time event respond to passages of "being saved"?
Philippians 2:12 Says:
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
...
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What kind of 'faith' justifies or imputes righteousness to a sinner as per the teachings of the Bible? [closed]
Protestant Christians in general believe that 'faith' makes a person righteous. The Letter to Hebrews chapter 11 in the N.T. talks about faith at length with specific examples. But what kind of 'faith'...
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Is it possible for a person to know now if he/she is saved and would be inheriting eternal life in the hereafter as per the Biblical teachings? [closed]
In general those who are pious in following any religion look forward to a better place hereafter. Even in Islam pious people without exception hope for a place in Janna.
My question is to the Bible ...
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Why can't God forgive a sinner without having to kill Jesus the righteous one?
Non-Christians raise many objections to the atoning death of Jesus Christ, who is the Lamb of God. One of the most important objections is that God being the Almighty and Sovereign should be able to ...
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What is the biblical basis for monergism?
Monergism is the concept that salvation is not a cooperative effort between God and Man that leads to Man’s salvation. What is the biblical basis for this claim?
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According to Evangelical Christians, what does a person need to believe about Jesus in order to be saved?
The Bible teaches about Jesus of Nazareth many things. It teaches that Jesus was born to a virgin. It teaches that he was without sin yet suffered, died, and rose again for us. It also teaches that ...
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Why did God create people who would reject him? [closed]
God created people with free will, and some of these people will freely choose salvation, while some others will freely choose to reject salvation.
God could have chosen to create only the subset of ...
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What is the biblical support for the idea that people in the Old Testament went to heaven?
There is, among many groups, a basic idea that people in the Old Testament, namely Israelites, went to heaven.
To further explain the scope of this question, I want to ignore the specific individuals ...
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What is the earliest example of the concept of Total Depravity?
Total Depravity is the Calvinist doctrine that human nature is thoroughly corrupt and sinful as a result of the Fall. Thus we can only do good works through God's grace.
What is the earliest document ...
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Is believing on God for salvation the same as believing in Jesus as Christ?
I'm interested in answers particularly from Evangelicals who might disagree with this idea, as well as those who agree with it. I'm especially interested in theological considerations - ie. does this ...
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Did anyone before Jesus go to Heaven and Will They Be Raised Up On the Last Day? (John 6)
I am deeply troubled in this matter of Soteriology and Eschatology.
John 6:52-59
52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to ...
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Are there any Trinitarian denominations that do not view belief in the Trinity as a "salvation issue"?
Trinitarians that subscribe to the Athanasian Creed believe, by definition, that rejection of the doctrine of the Trinity disqualifies one from salvation. Are there any Trinitarian denominations that ...
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What is the Biblical basis for the belief that Trinitarian belief is “not” required for salvation?
What is the Biblical basis for the belief that Trinitarian belief is not required for salvation?
The Athanasian Creed states
"And in this Trinity, no one is before or after, greater or less than
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What Bible Verses are Considered Contrary to Eternal Security? [duplicate]
Upon questioning, eternal security advocates (those who say a Christian cannot lose their salvation), will point to a variety of Bible verses to support their position. So, this begs the question of ...
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predestination beliefs
Reformed Protestants believe that God selected individuals at the time of the beginning of the world and predestined those individuals for salvation.
Orthodox believe that God knew at the time of the ...
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Is it possible for a person who has faith in Jesus to only receive “a measure of salvation” as opposed to “full salvation”?
I was prompted to ask due to this Q about measuring our salvation - Scriptural support - Measuring our salvation, God's love and blessings
But I want to confine my Q to views about measuring God’s ...
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Scriptural support - Measuring our salvation, God's love and blessings
Please help me with scriptural support for the following:
“Be careful not to measure your holiness "salvation" by other people's
sins.” - Martin Luther
In the same way, if we measure God's ...
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Do any Christian groups or denominations not see having a definite doctrinal position on God's nature as essential for salvation?
Every time I revisit questions about God's nature on Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange I can't help but come out with more doubts than convictions. For example, take a look at the following ...
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According to believers in libertarian free will, do all human beings have a genuine chance to freely choose to live a perfect sinless life?
Premise of this question: first of all, I'm basing this question on my common sense understanding that moral responsibility and judgement presuppose that human beings have the capacity to make free ...
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According to Catholics & Protestants, do good people from other religions go to heaven as well? If they do, what's the point in being a Christian?
(I'm going to assume that you're a protestant and don't believe in Purgatory. If you aren't one, please change mentions of heaven in this following para to purgatory)
Jack is a good human being. He is ...
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How do non-universalists account for these passages talking about the salvation of all?
I hold to universalism, but am perfectly willing to change my mind on the subject. I just have never received good defeaters to the universalist passages that I present.
First Corinthians 15:22 "...
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According to believers in the inexorable damnation of the unreached, why should they be punished in Hell and not be given more merciful alternatives?
Inspired by a thought-provoking comment section discussion about an answer to my previous question According to believers in the inexorable damnation of the unreached, how is God not unfair for ...