Soteriology - the Doctrine of Salvation and Discipleship

Soteriology - The Doctrine of Salvation and Discipleship "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" No question is more important or more debated than this one presented by the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:30. The answer to this important question is found in the basic aspects of the faith. This is why the doctrine of salvation is so important. No doctrine of the faith is more fundamental than this doctrine. The essence of the gospel message is that God has achieved eternal salvation for all who will receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, believing that He died on the cross of Calvary as the sin bearer of the world. Salvation was accomplished for men by the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ. This is what we call “Soteriology”, or “The Study of our Salvation”. The word “Soteriology” comes from the Greek word “Soteria”, which is rendered as “Savior” in the English language. There is a direct connection between Soteriology and discipleship. Like a specialized surgeon, Christian leaders and workers must focus in communicating the need of a savior to deliver us from eternal condemnation. This important job must be done with precision because misconceptions regarding this doctrine could potentially result in eternal destruction. In order to explain more profoundly how Soteriology is related to the process of discipleship, it is necessary to point out the most important features of this important doctrine and the full spectrum of its implications. The following paragraphs will provide an extensive explanation of this doctrine. The Bible teaches that mankind is in need of salvation. Genesis 1 narrates how God made us in His image, with the capacity to have a relationship with Him. Man was created and equipped to be a servant in fellowship with the Creator himself and to exercise dominion over the world. Adam openly rebelled against God in disobedience, falling from his state of perfection. His fall brought many consequences over him and everything created

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