Questions tagged [soteriology]
The study of the mechanisms by which an individual is saved.
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Without Hell, from what does Jesus save?
This question is about the liberal versions of Christianity, the versions which don’t have a conception of Hell. Put simply, without Hell, just what exactly is Jesus saving me from?
Even the most ...
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What is the basis for missions in a wider hope/inclusive framework?
I read No Other Name: An Investigation into the Destiny of the Unevangelized by John Sanders. I am persuaded about a wider hope for salvation other than exlusivism provides. I grew up in plain ole ...
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A promise in Acts 16:31?
In the book of Acts, chapter 16, verse 31, reads as follows:
They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household." (NET)
They replied, "Believe in the Lord ...
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When and where does the statement, "Christ paid the penalty for our sins" first appear?
The statement, "Christ paid the penalty for our sins" does not appear in the Bible.
When in the history of Christian theology did this specific statement first appear? Who said it?
Please provide ...
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What did salvation mean to the Israelite people of the OT?
Modern Christians have various ideas of salvation since Jesus came (going to heaven when you die; free from the curse of the law; set free from the flesh, the devil and the world; adopted into God's ...
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Is baptism by water necessary for salvation? [duplicate]
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
If the Kingdom of God is inside you (Luke 17:21), ...
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In Catholicism is salvation by grace alone or by following the ten commandments and confession? [duplicate]
I have many catholic friends, and lately I have been engaging them as to whether or not they believe that salvation is by grace alone. My one catholic friend, (who would label themselves as an "...
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If salvation is possible from all religions, then is proselytizing required?
There are some Christian groups who believe that all religions are inherently good
and that a good person who rejects Jesus Christ will still go to Heaven. According to them, if good people can go to ...
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According to Emanuel Swedenborg, will a good person who rejects Jesus go to heaven?
According to Emanuel Swedenborg, or the New Church, can a good person go to heaven if he or she rejects Jesus? If all religions are inherently good, it would mean the a good person who believes only ...
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According to Emanuel Swedenborg, do infants go to heaven?
According to Emanuel Swedenborg, or the New Church, do infants who die young go to heaven?
If not, do they go to hell?
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According to baptist belief what do you do to be saved?
I have heard many times by baptist that I need to be saved. I feel I have already been saved, but I am curious what it means to a baptist. How can I be saved the baptist way? What are the requirements?...
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From a Calvinist perspective, does Limited Atonement make the Gospel offer empty?
It seems to me that the limited atonement of Calvinism makes the Gospel offer seem empty. Let's say that I hear someone saying that he is in need of $100 and I tell him "I have $100, I can give it to ...
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How are justification and sanctification related to salvation?
Among Evangelicals there are subtle differences in emphasis on how justification relates to sanctification (e.g., Ordo Salutis vs. Historia Salutis).1 My question is not about those subtle differences....
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Are there examples of God forgiving without sacrifice?
So far I have seen, some kind of sacrifice, direct or indirect, is required to have forgiveness from sin. So, my question is - Are there examples of God forgiving our sins without any sacrifice?
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What was the justification of morality in Puritan Antinomianism?
As far as I know, Puritans were devout Calvinists. According to Theopedia, Antinomianism is associated with disobedience to the established authority, so it may be connected with the idea of ...
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What is Heaven like according to Catholics?
What does a person experience who is saved, after their death?
Are they going to have a bodily resurrection in the New Jerusalem, in the real world, or is it a spiritual existence? If in the real ...
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What is the basis that some Protestants teach the non-necessity of baptism for salvation?
I have heard many Protestants say that "baptism is not necessary for salvation". They follow Paul I guess, who says all works including Baptism or circumcision are optional. But having read the ...
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What was Anselm's biblical basis for his theory of atonement by satisfaction?
Upon which Bible verses did Anselm base his satisfactory theory of atonement?
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Are there any Christian churches or groups which teach that all religions are inherently good?
Are there any Christian churches or groups which teach that all religions are inherently good and that one need not convert to Christianity and that it is enough for an adherent to remain in their non-...
user13992
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What does it mean that God is the saviour of all people, especially those who believe? [closed]
So this verse puzzles me:
1 Timothy 4:10, ESV: For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
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From a Lutheran perspective, does Hebrews 6 mean that some who fall away can never be restored?
Francis Pieper says that Lutheranism teaches both monergistic election and a salvation that can be lost:
What Scripture teaches on final perseverance may be summarized in
these two statements: 1. ...
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What is the Lutheran view on sovereign election?
My understanding is that Lutherans have some doctrine of sovereign election/predestination, yet they also affirm unlimited atonement and that some do go on to shipwreck their faith. What are the ...
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What are the soteriological consequences of heresy?
From the Catechism (paragraph 2089), quoting canon law 751:
Heresy is the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an ...
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What is the Biblical backing for the perspective that our actions affect who makes it to heaven?
Some members of my church believe that through our actions, people who would not otherwise have been saved will be saved. I want to know what the Biblical backing for this doctrine is. If you want a ...
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According to Mormonism, how does a person get saved?
My question is pretty straightforward; I'm just wondering how a person gets "saved" according to Mormons.
By "saved" I'm referring ultimately to entrance into the "third heaven" of Mormon doctrine, ...
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Is this age the only opportunity for salvation? [duplicate]
The majority of mainstream Protestant churches in the U.S. proclaim this age is the only opportunity for salvation. There's a prominent minority, mostly non-denominational, that claim the period ...
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What does childbearing have to do with the salvation of a woman? [closed]
Verse concerning saved:
12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the ...
user17640
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Did Jacob Arminius and/or the remonstrants believe they were in agreement with John Calvin?
In a comment on another question on this site, a user says that the Remonstrants thought they more faithfully represented Calvin and Augustine's teaching than did those who eventually convened the ...
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What is an overview of the schools of thought regarding the soteriological status of alien life forms?
What is an overview of the various opinions on whether alien life forms are saved and can go to heaven?
I would accept the idea that this has not been substantially discussed as an answer if that is ...
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2 Corinthians 2:15-16 - what does this passage mean? [closed]
Peace, grace and blessings everyone! I’m new to this board. I look forward to everyone's answer.
For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being
saved and among those who are ...
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What is considered to be free choice in the context of "choosing to go to hell"?
Let me preface this by stating that I received a Christian education and have seen the idea that individuals choose to go to hell (rather than God sending them there), mostly from a vaguely ...
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Does the Bible indicate whether Solomon is in heaven?
Solomon was possibly one of the most blessed Old Testament figures—God gave him wisdom, wealth, honor beyond anyone in his time. Solomon also wrote Proverbs & Ecclesiastes, and possibly the Song ...
user10620
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Can a married woman enter heaven if she bears no children? [closed]
Is there biblical basis for the idea that if a married woman bears no children she won't go to heaven? Is there a biblical basis against the idea?
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What is the biblical basis for the Covenant of Redemption?
In Covenant Theology the Covenant of Redemption is an eternal agreement made between the members of the Trinity in which the Son of God agrees to become incarnate and die for the the sins of God's ...
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"Felix culpa" - is it correct?
The Easter hymn Exultet speaks about felix culpa ("happy fault"):
O felix culpa,
quæ talem ac tantum méruit habére Redemptórem!
O happy fault
that earned for us so great, so glorious a ...
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According to Scripture, is sacrifice a requirement for salvation?
Regarding salvation, I was always under the impression a sacrifice had to be made (and as Christians we know Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for all sins), but looking through the Bible I see ...
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Did the LDS believe that Christians are doomed to hell?
While perusing the Vatican's official website, I stumbled upon this:
THOUGHTS FROM THE DIALOGUE CENTRE IN ÅRHUS, DENMARK
"... The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) used to
...
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What is the Calvinist perspective on John 5:28–29 in regard to earning salvation?
John 5:28–29 seems to teach salvation by works:
Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the ...
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Why do adherents to Hypostatic Union believe that God the Son (Jesus) must be fully Human?
Orthodox teaches that Jesus assumed the full human nature. Why is it necessary that he is fully human?
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What role does the New Covenant play in Reformed Theology?
After looking at @Affable Geek's answer to an overview question on different understandings of why Jesus had to die, and in particular after his comment on Catholicism in this respect, I went to look ...
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What are the general positions of different traditions on the question "did Jesus have to die?"
I wish to take a much closer look at the theology of the death of Jesus. I understand that the evangelical position is largely that he had to die to pay for our sins but I fully expect that there are ...
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Why did Christ have to pay the price? [closed]
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. (Ephesians 1:7, NIV)
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased ...
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Which denominations would say that Jesus weeps for the souls in Hell?
I was reading about a girl named Angelica, who claimed to have visited Heaven and Hell. I am touched from her testimony that Jesus was weeping when they were visiting Hell.
When the Lord weeps, it’s ...
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Those who believe that Baptism is necessary for salvation explain the apparent uncertainty with scripture please? [duplicate]
My questions relates to whether baptism a necessary act for salvation, according to the Bible, or whether its actual meaning has been misunderstood.
'Baptism' actually means, immersing in water. In ...
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What are some criticisms of "Spirit-filled" church soteriology? [closed]
I know that according to the teachings of some church groups that originated in the early 20th century, a person must receive 'Holy Spirit baptism', necessarily evidenced by the manifestation of the '...
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What is the scriptural basis that the Devil or Satan understood God's salvation plan?
Extending from this question and the accepted answer, what is the scriptural basis that the Devil or Satan understood God's salvation Plan?
Please see OP's answer to What is the scriptural basis that ...
user13992
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How do people become the sheep that Jesus speaks of in John 10?
In my daily Bible study, I've been working through the book of John, and have come to the point where Jesus makes several references to the sheep of His sheepfold. Today's passage, below, which marks '...
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Does "all Israel shall be saved" mean that all Jews, even those who die in their sins, will be saved? [duplicate]
I am confused by the statement that Paul makes in Romans 11:26, where he explains that all Israel shall be saved. My church believes that if you die in your sins, there is no further hope for you. ...
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How is the view of guaranteed salvation for infants justified?
Many Christians hold the view that unborn and born infants and children who die before the age of reason or eternal responsibility are guaranteed access to heaven. For instance, Dr. William Lane Craig ...
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Are (or were) sacraments necessary for salvation in the Catholic religion?
According to the Wikipedia page,
Though not every individual has to receive every sacrament, the Church affirms that, for believers as a whole, the sacraments are necessary for salvation, as the ...
user14523