Summer Bible Institute # 4 - Salvation

The study of salvation is called "soteriology" from the Greek word for salvation. It is sometimes difficult to narrow down the content of this area of study because it really touches on many different areas of theology. For example, I am including in our study some aspects of the "Work of Christ" which really is a part of the study of Christ, the Redeemer. I'm also including some information on "The Application of the Work of Redemption" which involves the work of the Holy Spirit in applying the saving work of Christ to each individual believer which usually falls into the study of the Holy Spirit.

Salvation is the whole work of God in planning, securing, and applying redemption to fallen human beings so you can see why it is hard to contain it within one topic.

This week I have chosen for our readings three authors writing specifically about the subject of the "atonement" which is part of the work of Christ. The Bible teaches, and Christians believe, that when Jesus Christ died on the cross he provided an atonement for our sins through his death as a sacrifice in our place. These three writings are written at three different levels; they don't all communicate the same information, nor do they present competing views but they are all about the atonement of Christ.

Relatively Easy: "Major Bible Themes"(Chafer and Walvoord): Chapter 9: God the Son - His Substitutionary Death.

Moderately Hard: "The Problem of Forgiveness" - Chapter 4 from The Cross of Christ, by John R. W. Stott.

Downright Difficult: "The Death of Christ" - Chapter 4 from On The Incarnation of the Word of God, by Saint Athanasius (third century AD).