Theology / Salvation

  • Jesus, The Perfect Savior

    Colossians 1:19–20

    As Protestants, we are not likely to turn to Mary or the saints of years gone by as mediators who can secure favor with God. As saints who still fight against sin, however, we are likely to believe we have ...Read More

  • One Way of Salvation

    Acts 4:11–12

    The pressure to deny the exclusivity of Jesus is enormous, and, barring a revival, this pressure is only likely to increase. Holding fast to the confession of Christ as the only Savior requires a thorough grounding in the Scriptures and ...Read More

  • The Content of Belief

    1 Timothy 3:16

    The portion of the medieval church that evolved into modern Roman Catholicism is actually the church that departed from the Apostles’ Creed. The Protestant Reformers who sought to uphold the ancient faith in the controversy over justification did not depart ...Read More

  • What Faith Must Believe

    Matthew 28:18–20

    We can imitate the example of Jesus all we want, but if we do not believe the gospel, we do not know Him. The gospel is simple — we are to put our hope of salvation only in the Son, who ...Read More

  • Saved Through Christ Alone

    John 3:36

    Paul, the great Apostle of justification by faith alone, commends the “obedience of faith” (Rom. 1:5) not because faith is a meritorious work that earns salvation but because to trust in Jesus alone is to follow His command. In ...Read More

  • The Gospel Revealed in Paradise

    Genesis 3:15

    The gospel is often called the “gospel of the kingdom” (Matt. 4:23) because it is about the King who crushed Satan and his realm in order that we might enjoy the kingdom of God forever. We who trust in ...Read More

  • One Mediator

    1 Timothy 2:5

    “One Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph. 4:5) — this indeed is a scandalous confession in our day. We should not expect otherwise, however, for apart from the work of the Holy Spirit, no one can receive Jesus as the ...Read More

  • True God

    John 3:16

    In Cur Deus Homo, Anselm of Canterbury gives another reason why the Mediator must be fully God: “If any other person [except God] were to redeem a man from eternal death, the redeemed man would be rightly judged to be ...Read More

  • More Than a Creature

    Isaiah 7:14

    Other religions may have some idea of divine intervention in that God sends a message through a seer or “prophet,” but no other religion has as radical a view of divine intervention as orthodox Christianity. The Christian faith tells us ...Read More

  • Paying for Our Sin

    1 Peter 3:18

    Christ not only died for us, He lived for us as well. Understanding this point helps to assure us of our salvation. We are, of course, called to please God through obeying His will. Nevertheless, we realize that the best ...Read More

  • A True Man

    Hebrews 2:14–18

    The humanity of Christ is essential to our salvation, as only a human being can pay the price for the sins of human beings. There are other benefits as well. Hebrews 2:18 tells us that Jesus can help us ...Read More

  • No Mere Creature

    Psalm 49:7–9

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  • Justice Satisfied in Another

    Romans 8:3–4

    The hymn “Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness” reminds us that for every believer in Jesus, His blood “a full atonement made.” We can trust the Lord because He is just and always fulfills His promises, even His promise to punish ...Read More

  • Luther’s Search for Assurance

    Romans 3:20

    Do you continue to feel guilt for the sins you have committed but have confessed to the Lord? If so, know that you need no longer feel this guilt if you have trusted in Christ alone for your salvation. He ...Read More

  • Paul’s Former Confidence

    Philippians 3:4–6

    John Calvin wrote, “Paul speaks here of that righteousness which would satisfy the common opinion of mankind. For he separates the law from Christ.” When the law of God is treated as an end in itself, then we start to ...Read More