I.
Introduction
An academic study called "The Essence of
Salvation: Exploring Evangelical Perspectives and Practice" explores the
central doctrines and practices of evangelical Christianity concerning the idea
of salvation. In Christianity, salvation is described by the WordNet database
as the process of being freed from sin or saved from evil. It makes sense that
someone freed from something should not wish to return to servitude. So I ask
myself, what kind of redemption should one accept and not object to what they
have been saved from? There are two ways that
salvation is obtained, according to the Bible.
To begin with, one must confess one's sins to
God, and then one must hold to the belief that the gospel is revealed in 1
Corinthians chapter 15. Repeat this: "Repent ye, and believe the
gospel" (Mark 1:15) is what Jesus said. By examining numerous theological
stances and valuable applications within the evangelical tradition, this essay
aims to give readers a thorough knowledge of how evangelical Christians
perceive and experience salvation. Apostle Paul stated, "The message of
the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being
saved, it is the power of God" (1Cor 1:8). In the Coptic Orthodox
conception, salvation is understood to encompass all of life; it is not merely
a historical event that happened at a specific point in time. The Coptic
Orthodox Christian views salvation from the perspective of at least three
dimensions, as it is addressed in the Holy Scripture: After being baptized and
putting on our Lord Jesus Christ, I think I've been saved. Through the Church's
sacramental life, I am developing in our Lord Jesus Christ and am convinced I
am being rescued. God's grace will save me on the Last Day of Judgment.
"The greatest of all the gifts of
God" is salvation, also known as eternal life (because these two phrases
are synonymous in practically all our scripture sources). It cannot be bought
with money or something we can trade. It's also not something that can be
gained in the strictest meaning of the word. Accurately, redemption is a
precious gift, something magnificently sublime that can only be inherited and
given. Initially, the term
"salvation" among the Greeks and Romans denoted being entire and
healthy or "safe and sound." Therefore, to be saved meant to be
healed, and salvation meant being healthy—not just physically well, but also
morally and spiritually healthy. More broadly, salvation denoted both the state
of having arrived at a desired way of life and the process of getting there by
being taken out of a circumstance or set free from a peril that kept us from it
somehow. In Christian theology,
salvation is the deliverance or redemption of humanity from sin and its
effects, resulting in God's reconciliation with humanity. Salvation is a
central theme in Christian theology and is thought possible via trusting God's
grace and Jesus Christ as the savior. It is frequently understood as a process
that entails transformation, repentance, and faith, leading to eternal life and
a restored relationship with God.
It is possible to minimize God's redemptive
act to a personal experience (a "salvation of the soul"), to equate
it with forgiveness, or to concentrate solely on guilt as the source of
salvation need. It is accurate to say that life and salvation can exist
anywhere there is forgiveness. Despite its immense power, forgiveness cannot
fully capture the entirety of God's redemptive acts or the human experience of
salvation. Within evangelical
Christianity, salvation is often stressed as a personal and transformative
experience that requires a conscious decision to accept Jesus Christ as one's
Lord and Savior. Because they hold that faith in Christ is the key to eternal
life and a changed heart, evangelicals frequently emphasize the significance of
evangelism and sharing the good news of salvation with others. Ewell argues that
Evangelicals are adamant that Jesus is the way to redemption and that salvation
depends on a specific understanding of God's justice. He further says that
throughout Evangelicalism's history, there have been instances where
Evangelicals have lorded authority over others who look, believe, or conduct
differently by using the notion of redemption. But without the testimony of
many disciples who have learned from Christ to love their enemies and pray for
those who persecute them, a statement of the evangelical belief in salvation
via Christ alone would fall short.
"The Essence of Salvation: Exploring
Evangelical Perspectives and Practices" probably looks at how believers
live and how different theologies understand salvation in evangelical settings.
This article may also examine the many viewpoints within the evangelical
tradition by illuminating how evangelical Christians interpret ideas like
justification, sanctification, and redemption concerning salvation.
Salvation is a significant concept in
evangelical theology because it symbolizes the core conviction that people can
receive eternal life, forgiveness of sins, and reconciliation with God by
placing their faith in Jesus Christ. But as Horton points out, the Reformers
distinguished between the means (the gift of faith) and the result (the gift of
persistence and repentance) of our justification. They maintained that the idea
of salvation encompasses both judicial declaration and spiritual reform. Evangelicals emphasize
that accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior personally is necessary for one's
spiritual restoration, viewing salvation as the gospel's central message. A new
birth and relationship with God are brought about by salvation, a life-changing
event that ushers in a path of faith, obedience, and development into a more
Christlike person. Hodges further emphasizes that a believer's confidence in
salvation cannot be linked to his endurance. He argues that morality is not a
foundation for a believer's security, but this perspective completely separates
sanctification from justification. Since believers are called
to communicate the good news of salvation and lead others to a saving knowledge
of Jesus Christ, this emphasis on salvation highlights the evangelical
commitment to evangelism, missions, and discipleship.
II.
Theological Foundation of Salvation
The basic ideas that form the basis of the
Christian notion of salvation and everlasting life are examined in the
theological foundation of salvation. The fundamental tenet of Christian
doctrine is that salvation is obtained by trust in Jesus Christ, whose atoning
sacrifice on the Cross represents the pinnacle of human redemption. This
transforming process promises a deep inner rejuvenation that results in a life
marked by holiness, obedience to God, and forgiveness of sins for believers. In
the end, salvation is seen as a means of achieving eternal life, in which
followers of Christ are reunited with God in a state of unending joy and
contentment.
A.
Biblical perspective on salvation:
i.
Grace through faith
According to the Bible, salvation is a gift
from God that cannot be earned through good works alone but is received by
grace through faith. The New Testament book of Ephesians 2:8-9 states,
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not
from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works so that no one can
boast." Of course, there are occasions when turning to Christ for
salvation requires only faith (see, for example, John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Rom.
10:9; Eph. 2:8-9, et al.). These are well-known verses, and we frequently
highlight them while sharing the faith with people. However, because it is
assumed that genuine repentance entails trusting in Christ for sin forgiveness,
we frequently miss several other Bible passages that mention repentance. This emphasizes the belief
that salvation is a gift from God, given to those who accept Jesus Christ as
their savior through faith, rather than something that can be achieved through
human effort or merit.
ii.
Redemption through Christ
Another critical aspect of the Biblical
perspective on salvation is the belief in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
Christians believe that Jesus died on the Cross to pay the penalty for
humanity's sins, thus providing a way for people to be reconciled to God. In
addition to giving young people a deeper understanding of Jesus' death, I would
like to assert that, in his capacity as a "God-Man," Christ made the
ultimate sacrifice to save humanity. However, his crucifixion served as a more
potent declaration of God's love for all people. In other words, Christ's
atonement serves as proof of God's love and a means of satisfying our sins. This concept is captured
in John 3:16, which states, "For God so loved the world that he gave his
one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have
eternal life." Instead, God's love and forgiveness for humanity are united
in the Cross. They are integral to Christ's anguish and crucifixion. We should
pay close attention to God's redemption's purpose and method. According to the Bible,
salvation is made possible through the sacrificial death and resurrection of
Jesus Christ, who offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe in
him. God, who made himself known through Jesus Christ, is a loving God with a
special place in his heart for the poor and needs his children to put their
love into action by helping those in need. In my opinion, true love can only be
attained by deeds and the truth.
iii.
Transformation and eternal life
The Biblical perspective on salvation extends
beyond forgiveness of sin to include transformation and the promise of eternal
life. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, it is written, "Therefore, if anyone is in
Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
Christians believe that salvation brings a spiritual rebirth and a new life in
Christ, marked by a growing relationship with God and a character
transformation. Moreover, the Bible teaches that those who are saved will
inherit eternal life in the presence of God, as described in John 10:28, where
Jesus says, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one
will snatch them out of my hand." This promise of eternal life underscores
the hope and assurance that salvation offers to believers according to the
Biblical perspective.
B.
The doctrine of atonement and redemption
Atonement and redemption are cardinal issues
in evangelical Christian belief because they explain how human beings return to
the proper status of righteousness and fellowship with God through Jesus
Christ. It tackles two fundamental elements of the Christian faith: restoring
the broken connection between man and God (salvation) and liberating man from
the shackles of sin (deliverance). Taken together, these doctrines give the
now-familiar story of the need for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross
and what this signifies in terms of God's justice, love, and mercy. We bring those who have
sinned back to God through atonement, giving them the chance to receive
forgiveness. In Christianity, people are born in sin because of the
disobedience of Adam and Eve, who espended God's commandment and, therefore,
estranged man from close fellowship with Him. When left alone, humans couldn't
overcome this sin. Evangelicals believe that Jesus' sacrificial death on the Cross
bridged the wall of separation between the two. Specifically,
evangelicals base their understanding of atonement on penal substitution. This
theory asserts that Jesus took on the sins of the sinners and endured the
consequences of sin, thereby satisfying God's punitive justice for their
disobedience of his laws. It would also mean that He was fulfilling two
requirements at a time, meeting the justice of God and at the same time being
merciful to people. Isaiah 53:5 depicts this: "Like a sheep, He led to the
slaughter; like a dumb lamb standing before the shearers, He does not open His
mouth." He bore the chastisement for our peace, and His bruises heal us.
According to the evangelical perspective,
forgiveness is necessary to unite righteousness and divine love. Justice, a
divine attribute, is necessary because God is holy, and sin requires
punishment. However, once again, His love for people paved the way for
forgiveness. As God incarnate and the anointed son of a human, Jesus could mediate
and negotiate between God and human beings. It provided for God's justice while
justifying those who believe in Jesus Christ. Anyone with faith can access this
act of atonement, which forms the saving work of evangelism. Redemption, not far from
atonement, means freedom from sin, a type of slavery. The Old Testament warps
this concept of redemption by buying or ransoming someone back. Evangelical
theology holds that Jesus' death served as the payment for sin, thereby
releasing believers from its grip. Romans 6:23 concludes with, "For the
wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord." Forgiveness and deliverance entail liberation from the domain of
sin to enjoy liberty spiritually. Legally and spiritually,
redemption restores individuals to their original state, endowed with the
ability and capacity to fulfill God's will.
Additionally, systematic evangelical theology
views redemption as a massive reclamation project affecting others more than
man and the creation. The work of Christ here is credited with bringing about
the redemption of all creation. It is thought to be consummative of the cosmic
renewal revealed in Revelation 21, which affirms that the world is made anew
without blemish. This final element of redemption looks forward to the future,
providing the believer with comfort that there is a divine program for
individual salvation and the created world. The concept of atonement
and redemption also emphasizes and ushers in the idea of salvation for
everybody. Evangelicals believe that anyone who repents and accepts Jesus as
their savior receives forgiveness for all their sins. John 3:16 is well known
as follows: 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.'
This redemption feature also highlights the foreign nature of evangelicals, who
spread the good news because they believe the gospel is a message of change for
everyone. Hence, atonement and redemption serve as two mighty pillars of
evangelical Christianity. They uphold the gospel's
doctrines, explaining how the death of Christ reconciles humanity with God and
releases believers from the power of sin. These doctrines revolve around the
divine attributes of justice, guaranteeing salvation for both individuals and
the entire creation.
C.
Justification by faith
The central doctrine of the Protestant
Reformation, justification, forms the basis of much of the evangelical
Christian faith. It asserts that faith in Jesus Christ, rather than efficacious
grace for works, justifies human beings before God. This belief emphasizes
God's actions in salvation and is consistent with the idea that sin prevents
humankind from saving itself. Instead, we view justification as the mere divine
regeneration we receive on presumption, thanks to Christ's saving act on the Cross. The concept of
justification by faith asserts that God acquits human beings based on their
faith in the death of Jesus Christ. According to this doctrine, all people are
inherently sinful and fall short of God's standards, as Paul wrote in Romans
3:24: "There has not a man sinned, and all are short of the glory of God."
Sin has severed the connection with divinity, making it impossible for man to
redeem himself through moral or religious efforts. However, charitable
actions, adhering to the law, and exercising rationality or human virtue are
insufficient to 'wash off' sin. In other words, individuals cannot earn their
way into a position of righteousness before God.
In eliminating this human problem, the
teaching of justification by faith entails the redeeming act of Christ on the Cross
and His resurrection. Jesus endured suffering on the Cross as a payment for the
sins of humanity. They are close to sinless perfection, and his perfect
obedience and sacrificial death meet the righteous demand of the law. Christ unites the
believer in His righteousness and imputes the deed to the one who trusts Him.
Imputed righteousness holds that believing Christians are righteous because
Christ did it for them. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21: He hath made him
who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of
God in him.
Justification by faith is essential to the
Evangel, which declares the fact of grace and is thus the foundation of the
evangelical faith. God bestows grace on people without expecting a reward in
return. In justification, believers get salvation not by works but through the
gift of God as certified through faith in Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 sums up this
thought by saying, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through
faith—and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God—not by works so
that no one can boast." This passage underscores the idea of salvation
through faith, emphasizing that works are merely a means to an end.
Moreover, justification by faith does not
only place its believers within the right relationship with God but also in a
new elevation before Him. It changes them from the status of guilty sinners to
the status of righteous sinners before God's eyes. The law does not bring about
this change in status during justification; instead, sanctification (Beinecke:
'to conform to the image which Christ has,' p. 301) ensues. Instead, it is a
legal act when God looks at the believer as if he were Christ. Here are a few examples
of this doctrine's implications: It has theological and existential
implications. In the individualist's sense, justification by faith gives
believers the comfort and confidence they need in life. They no longer need to
struggle to gain God's favor or consideration through service or worship. However, they can rest
easy knowing that their salvation results from their faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1 reflects this assurance: "Because Christ's sacrificial death
set us right, we will undoubtedly enjoy peace with God through the Lord Jesus
Christ."
In justification by faith, there is
concentrated belief in the sufficiency of Christ's work and belief in faith alone.
In contrast to doctrines that assume faith and works to justify one's sins,
this excludes any implication that human merit or other works, on top of faith,
are necessary for salvation. This was evident during the Protestant
Reformation, where men like Luther stood against the Catholics regarding
indulgences and salvation by works. This doctrine of justification by faith
alone (sola fide), which Luther famously asserted, would determine the Church's
rise or fall.
Therefore, we can describe justification by faith as a doctrine that heavily
relies on grace and emphasizes the role of faith in the process. It asserts
that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, not the works of the law, justifies men
before God. It assures us that salvation brings peace with God and stresses the
adequacy of the work of Christ in redemption. It still upholds a central creed
of evangelical Christianity, which states that salvation is purely by faith and
can be as simple as a child's.
III.
Variations in Evangelical View on Salvation
The three belief
differences in the evangelical tradition are salvation, where slight
distinctions are witnessed based on predestination and free will, the savior's
role in salvation history, and transformation. These variations stem from more
profound soteriological issues connected with the relationship between divine
and human wills and the progression of salvation history. This section will
discuss these differences in contrast to the Calvinistic interpretation of
salvation and spiritual renewal and the Arminian, dispensational, and
charismatic perspectives on salvation and transformation.
Predestination
and free will, or Calvinist and Arminian attitudes
There is a
significant debate within Evangelicalism between Calvinism and Arminianism
regarding the sovereignty of God and free will. There is nothing new about this
controversy; it has cropped up in the theological discussions of Protestants
for centuries and is still alive in twenty-first-century Evangelicalism.
Named after John
Calvin, this branch of Christianity encompasses five central doctrines:
unconditional election focusing on God's sovereignty.
In Calvinist teaching, there are people whom God elects to heaven regardless of
any activity or belief that the individual may or may not have toward reaching
that state. Calvinists hold to the Biblical view of original sin and the total
depravity of man, so man cannot choose God on his own. This system also
consists of limited atonement—the belief that Christ only died for the sins of
the elect and irresistible grace means that the elect cannot resist accepting
God's call. This doctrine concludes with the perseverance of the saints,
asserting that a person, once saved, cannot stray.
Arminianism,
originating from Jacobus Arminius, centers on human free will. Conditional
election: Arminians do not support the idea of election being unconditional; instead,
the election is conditional on God basing his predestination on those who will
have faith in the future.
This also encompasses the idea of universal atonement, meaning that while
Christ died for everyone, each individual must accept his sacrifice. Arminians
embraced the idea of resistible grace, affirming that individuals can reject
God's call for salvation.
Dispensationalist
perspective on salvation history
These two
understandings offer opposite images of the relationship between the Lord's
control over human affairs and the people's freedom. Thus, Calvinists emphasize
divine predestination and have a stronghold on the notion of election;
Arminians, on the other hand, stress choice and responsibility, which forms a
classic tension in evangelical theology. This article summarizes the
dispensationalist view of salvation, which is based on how the relationship
between God and man changes over time, depending on the specific dispensation
in place. The nineteenth-century
formulation of this geological perspective has shaped evangelical Dispensationalism
and the understanding of salvation history.
In its broadest
terms, Dispensationalism divides human history into distinct epochs that
signify different modes of divine governance. The most familiar framework
divides history into seven dispensations, which are the pre-sin world (the age
of innocence), the sin world (the age of condemnation), the redemptive world
(the age of the Patriarch), the law world (the age of Moses), the gospel world
(the present Church age), the future world (the millennial kingdom), and
finally the eternal state.
Thus, dispensationalists believe the election has always been and will always
be by grace through faith, but the required faith varies by dispensation.
Another hallmark of dispensationalist thinking is
the segregation of the roles of Israel and the Church. Some believe that there
are unfulfilled administrative plans for Israel and the Church and that
Israel's promises regarding the land and kingdom are still in the future. On
the other hand, the Church is the spiritual body of Christ-sanctified believers
saved by faith in this age. This difference is crucial in the eschatology of
dispensationalists, who insist on the rapture of the Church before the
tribulation and the second coming of Christ to reign for a thousand years.
Despite the modern popularity of Dispensationalism, especially in American Evangelicalism,
the system came under scrutiny because of the sharp division it draws between
Israel and the Church, not to mention the division of time into clearly marked
periods. Opponents often point out that this perspective disrupts the
continuity of the divine plan of salvation. However, this perspective persists
today, particularly in the context of the end-times debate, and it continues to
influence evangelicals' interpretation of the Bible's salvation history.
The
charismatic interpretation of salvation and spiritual transformation
Religious movements
such as the Charismatic and Pentecostal wings of Evangelicalism place a
significant emphasis on the Holy Spirit at work both to bring salvation and
also for spiritual sanctification. These movements advance an embodied form of
religion by analyzing conversion and sanctification supposedly embodied in the Holy
Spirit's operations.
Charismatic
Christians think of physical salvation as a simple acquittal from sin and final
condemnation from God, apart from a gradual process of spiritual rebirth
through the operation of the Holy Spirit.
One of these elements is the baptism in the Holy Spirit, which the Pentecostals
view as a second blessed event or wave of the Holy Spirit's infusion. This
baptism equips believers for ministry through gifts like speaking in tongues,
prophecy, and healing. This is an opportunity for Charismatics to enrich
communion with God and Christian ministry.
The Charismatic
tradition focuses on the ongoing ministry of sanctification through the work of
the Holy Spirit. The Charismatic tradition expresses this as the growing
likeness to Christ and the 'fruit of the Spirit' concept of character change,
such as love, joy, and peace. Furthermore, the Nine Things emphasize that the
exercise of spiritual gifts signifies the presence of God in a believer's life,
contributing to their sanctity and the strengthening of the Church.
Charismatic Soteriology encompasses healing and deliverance as essential
aspects of the overall process of salvation. Several Charismatics affirm that
Christ's sacrifice not only redeems sins but also heals bodies and delivers
them from evil spirits. Such a biblical understanding of salvation implies that
God has saved all human beings, including the body, soul, and spirit.
Some of the
distinctive attitudes of the Charismatic movement include encounters with the
Holy Spirit and conversion experiences. However, all branches of Evangelicalism
unite in individual spiritual development, with charismatics particularly
emphasizing the power of dynamic-experiential salvation and the presence of the
Holy Spirit in a Christian's life.
Consequently, the changes in evangelical ideas about salvation prove no
uniformity within the belief system. Calvinists are predestinarians who lead to
inevitable divine control over everything that happens on earth, while Arminians
pay special attention to free will and human choice. While Covenant theology
describes salvation history and divides it into covenants, Dispensationalism
uses the dispensation concept. It divides salvation history into periods,
individualizing the plans of God for Israel and the Church. At the same time,
the Charismatic movements stress the Spirit's role in the initial and
continuing saving and sanctifying work, claiming an immediacy of the spiritual
experience and gift manifestation. However, all these perspectives underscore
the importance of Christ's blood and the individual's faith in Him. Despite the
diversity of Evangelicalism as a thought system, evangelicals worldwide unite
behind a single goal: preaching the gospel and God's saving work. The goal is
to preach the gospel and the saving work of God.
IV.
The experience of salvation
The evangelical
Christian faith understands salvation as a holistic, individual, and
progressive process that involves various significant steps in transforming a
person's life. Strict theology conceptualizes salvation as God's action through
Christ, but it also encompasses a series of processes such as conversion,
public faith confession through baptism, and living a Christian life. This
section will further address these four components of conversion/Das
Missionsmanifest, including conversion narratives/testimonies, the role of
baptism, and the call to Christian discipleship only.
Conversion
narratives and testimonies
One of the most
valuable experiences for an evangelical is their personal conversion narrative,
which involves the process of salvation. In the minds of many people who
embrace Christianity, the conversion is equal to becoming a new creature.
People typically recount their experiences of sin and how God restored their
wholeness through public testimony.
Conversion
narratives typically include key elements: a conviction of sin, consciousness
of need, contact with the Evangel, and acceptance of Christ. While some
conversions are dramatic, others are not, and understanding a new way of
thinking or a change in heart can trigger the latter. Still, if we pay
attention even to the correspondence, what remains primary is the notion of an
individual's meeting with Christ and the resulting transformation.
In evangelical communities, conversion stories are some of the most potent
weapons in the battle against sin and some of the most uplifting documents for
people who need inspiration. It both testifies to the change after accepting
Christ and encourages others to share theirs. Typically, congregations give
such narratives during or after prayers and fellowship meetings or during
routine life discourses, aligning with the evangelistic focus on individual
conversion and the reality of salvation.
Baptism
and the Signification of New Life in Christianity
Another part of the
evangelical experience of salvation is baptizing. Evangelicals accept baptism
as a ceremonial act that signals a new life resulting from faith in Christ's
death, even though the mode and time of baptism vary from denomination to
denomination. To evangelicals, however, baptism is a sign of a reality that is
unseen—the death, burial, and resurrection of the believer in connection with
Christ.
Mainly, the majority of the evangelicals accept only the believer's baptism,
where baptism is only conducted for those who have confessed faith. This
pertains to traditions that practice infant baptism. For evangelicals, baptism
not only marks the final stage following conversion but also signifies a public
surrender to Christ.
This refers to washing, symbolizing the forgiveness of sins and liberation
through the power of the Holy Spirit. Water plays a significant role in
baptism, as it drowns the individuals receiving it. Submerging the believer
into the water symbolizes the burial of the sinful individual and the receiving
of a "new burial" with Christ. Raising the believer out of the water
signifies their resurrected life in Christ. These images represent the biblical
reality of the forgiveness of sin and the change of behavior in a redeemed
person. Therefore, Evangelicals do not view baptism as a process that saves but
as the process that gives evidence that salvation has occurred and that it is a
fulfillment of the command of Jesus Christ.
Discipleship
and the process of salvation
In Evangelicalism,
sanctification is not a singular event but a continuous process involving
receiving and building upon the provided salvation. This process is known as
discipleship, as the believer attempts to live out the instruction of Jesus Christ
in all realms of life and experience continuous sanctification by the inspired
Scriptures and the Holy Spirit.
Discipleship comprises several practices, including fellowship and formal
public worship, Bible study, prayer, and service. The Evangelicals offer the
centrality of devotion, assembly, reading of the Bible, and constant prayer as
keys to the faith maturation process. In the Christian fellowship, discipleship
also involves constant evaluation by fellow believers, as followers encourage
and press each other towards genuine discipleship.
Holiness, or the
progressive act of becoming like Christ, is one of the main themes of
discipleship and the Christian life. Conversion triggers immediate
justification, whereas sanctification unfolds gradually. Evangelicals believe
that the Holy Spirit, working within the believer to produce the fruit of the
Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, and self-control, empowers this growth
(Galatians 5:22–23).
Fulfilling the Great Commission, which calls believers to share the gospel and
make disciples of all nations, is another aspect of discipleship, in addition
to personal spiritual growth (Matthew 28:18-20). Therefore, evangelicals
understand discipleship as involving evangelism and missions, considering
witnessing to Christ as essential to their salvation. Biblical salvation also
encompasses individuals' ethical behavior in their daily lives, with
evangelicals striving to live according to the Scripture.
This involves physically expressing affection and care to people, giving
justice and relatively enduring for other people's rights, and performing
honestly in everything an individual does. This discipleship makes evangelicals
think that they should reproduce the character of Jesus in the world, not only
with the mouth but also with the hands.
Therefore, Evangelicalism,
a type of Protestantism based on the individualistic "salvation"
model, encompasses a narrower and broader concept than the mere act of
conversion. The process begins with the illumination of the spirit and
continues through discipleship throughout the life cycle.
It is an objective consequence because conversion narratives and testimonies
effectively communicate individual change at the conversion level and,
therefore, focus on the meeting with Christ, which is at the center of
salvation. For this reason, baptism serves as a public declaration of faith and
a symbol of a renewed life in Christ, while discipleship serves as the means to
express this salvation. While baptism signifies the beginning of conversion,
training signifies its deepening. These aspects symbolize the individual's
conversion/born-again experience and the daily sanctification/perfection
process that the believer experiences.
V.
Salvation in Evangelical Practice
In Evangelicalism,
salvation means a theological hope and a mobilizing idea that inspires the
practice of faith in everyday life and acts of worship. It concerns evangelism
as the proclamation of the gospel, the Church as the means through which
individuals experience the saving work of God and redemption, and mission as
the outworking of that redemption in society and the world. These practices
evidence the doing of salvation—not merely claimed or owned but appropriated
through the mission and enacting it in the community and by action.
Evangelism
and the mission to share the message of salvation
Therefore,
evangelism is the foundation of evangelical practice. Rooted in the Great
Commission found in Matthew 28, evangelicals perceive themselves as having the
mission of preaching salvation to the whole world in their last stage, 18-20.
The central understanding of the gospel, which demands salvation for every
individual in Christendom, transforms this outreach mission into an
evangelistic one. The urgency stems from the belief that faith in Christ can
liberate an individual from sin and the ensuing separation from God.
In practice, evangelism can take various forms. This can be as structured as
conversion campaigns, revival meetings, evangelism, and Christian social
services and as unstructured as bearing witness to friends, relatives,
acquaintances, and strangers. Thus, evangelicals legislate "personal
testimonies," where believers share their personal stories to demonstrate
how faith transforms lives. Many evangelical churches 'train' people to be
'witnesses' at all times, encouraging them to spread the gospel in workplaces,
schools, and social spaces.
The evangelical practice of increased evangelism extends beyond local contexts.
It has a strong international focus, with most evangelicals and evangelical
churches actively engaging in outreach to non-Christian cultures. Southerners
see this as essential to Christ's worldwide mission to spread the gospel.
The
role of the Church in facilitating salvation experiences
The Church also
plays a crucial role in evangelical salvation, serving as a crucial contact
point and gathering place for evangelicals. In Evangelicalism, therefore, the Church
is the arena where a person receives the message of salvation, where they find
God, and where they develop spiritually. Despite the individual nature of their
faith, evangelicals understand that corporate worship and the local assembly's
ministry sustain salvation.
Most evangelical churches offer various committees and programs to assist
individuals interested in salvation, conversion to Christianity, and spiritual
growth. Worship services are on Sundays for Christians and the unsaved, with
sermons usually centering around the teaching of salvation through Christ.
Among several traditions and practices, the use of altar calls, standard in
many evangelical congregations, where a person comes forward to the front of
the Church to accept the Lord after a particular sermon or service, is very
evident in proclaiming the message concerning salvation.
The Church also remains sacramental in evangelical practice as far as
ordinances, especially baptisms and the Lord's Supper, are concerned. Despite
not being considered sacraments like Catholics or Orthodox Christians, these
practices remain significant symbols of faith and integral parts of the
community of devoted believers. Baptism often signifies when the individual
accepts salvation and a new life in Christ Jesus. At the same time, the Lord's
Supper is a constant reminder of the price Christ paid to save humanity.
Salvation
and Social Justice: Application to the Christian Life
The theology of
salvation, which has implications for how evangelicals relate to society in
general and the world in particular, is another relevant concept in their
soteriology. Evangelicalism has seen a previous preoccupation with individual
redemption and moral change of heart. Still, nowadays, there is an
understanding that saving includes the manifestation of change at the community
level where there is social injustice, poverty, and inequality.
This emphasis aligns with biblical themes, which emphasize that salvation is
not solely about an individual's or soul's destiny but also about the arrival
of God's rule or kingdom on earth and its practical social and moral
implications, such as justice, compassion, and charity, in both the present and
future.
Most evangelicals
today have embraced social justice as one of their primary tenets, regarding
the gospel as social.
Therefore, they argued that salvation should lead to lifestyle changes that, in
turn, change the world. Passages such as Micah 6:8, where God instructs people
to act righteously, love kindness, and walk in humility before their God, and
the gospel of Matthew 25:31–46, which emphasizes humbling to serve the Lord by
serving the needy, are the foundation of this belief.
More concretely,
this has meant a range of socio-political, religiously motivated, and inspired
social justice activities, including campaigns against human trafficking,
poverty, and racism on the one hand and for the sanctity of life and the
environment. The religious denominations in the evangelical fold work with
charities, humanitarian non-governmental organizations, and advocacy groups to
fight injustice and suffering because they seek to be the active agents of
Christ in the world.
Still, the combination of salvation and the fight for social justice has always
been a hot issue among evangelicals. ESV also reveals that some evangelicals
are inclined to approach social justice as a secondary issue compared to their
intention to evangelize and save.
In this argument, some individuals have equated faith and works, defining faith
as the commitment to holiness and the concern for social justice. We can relate
this discussion to the broader issues contemporary Evangelicalism faces in
embodying the gospel in a sinful and often unfair world.
In any case,
salvation in evangelical practice is not a notion that is merely symbolized in
theological language but a force within it that structures every experience of
faith. Evangelism is an indispensable component of the evangelistic imperative
to spread the word of salvation among people since everyone, without exception,
needs change through the power of the gospel. The Church is the leading
institution responsible for producing salvation experiences, as it offers the
context and means for spiritual development through faith. Additionally,
evangelicals often associate salvation with social aspects, such as their
representation of the Kingdom of God in society. These practices collectively
exemplify the evangelical tradition's core beliefs, emphasizing grace's role in
salvation and the tangible experience of faith.
VI.
Challenges and controversies
This paper aims to
demonstrate that the doctrine of salvation, an essential component of
evangelical theology, has not been immune to controversy. Social issues within
Evangelical communities continue to be complex, and these religious reflections
often result in significant conflicts among them. We can mention three
significant elements of conflict: the conflict between faith and works
regarding salvation, the conflict between universalists and exclusivists, and
the conflict between Hell and eternal punishment. These debates not only
sustain the aspirations of evangelical unity but also reveal the tensions that
characterize Evangelicalism and the challenges of applying selective doctrines
in contemporary societies.
The
Tension between Faith and Works
The relationship
between faith and works is a hot topic in evangelical theology. Evangelicals
firmly hold to the Reformation's solas, particularly the notion that salvation
comes solely from faith in Christ, not one's works. Evangelicals primarily draw
this belief from passages like Ephesians 2:8–9, which affirm that salvation is
by grace through faith, not by works, to prevent anyone from boasting.
However, the New Testament also contains numerous passages that stress the
importance of works in the life of a believer, most notably in James 2:14-26.
The writer uses James 2:14-26, which states that faith without works is dead.
This has sparked ongoing discussions among evangelicals about articulating the
necessity of faith in the scriptural mandate to perform beneficial works. They
assert that work is a natural and required outcome of genuine faith as evidence
of one's saved status. Some people are concerned that the doctrine of grace
might be reduced through works, and Christianity becomes the religion of works.
This tension also emerges when individuals delve deeper into the concept of
sanctification, which refers to becoming more like Christ after experiencing
salvation. There is consensus among Evangelicals on the view that salvation is
instantaneous and justification occurs through faith alone; sanctification,
however, is a gradual process that involves the work of the Holy Spirit and
man. Evaluating the measure of divine grace about human effort remains one of Evangelicalism's
most theologically and pastorally pressing issues.
Universalism
and exclusivism in Salvation beliefs
Within the
evangelical school of thought, the issue of universalism and exclusivism is a
highly debated topic. Historically, evangelicals have practiced a form of
salvation that allows only those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Scriptures like John 14, where Jesus declares, "I am the way, the truth,
and the life," ground this perspective. Acts 4:12 affirms that no one else
can bring salvation, as no other name under heaven can save us. Only I lead to
the Father. Recently, there has been
talk of universalism—the idea that everyone will be saved. At least some
evangelical Christians support the idea. The translators immediately explain
why adopting the doctrine of universalism is appropriate: They argue that the all-loving
and merciful Creator of the Universe cannot eternally punish sinners. They
frequently cite scriptures such as 1 Timothy 2:4, which expresses God's desire
for everyone to be saved and gain knowledge of the truth, as well as
illuminationist interpretations that question the effectiveness of Christ's
atonement.
As cited earlier,
this dialogue has essential consequences in evangelism and missionary work. The
exclusivist aims to clarify that if salvation is solely achievable through
unwavering faith in Christ, evangelicals must promptly engage in evangelism to
guarantee individuals have the chance to experience eternal life. For instance,
the pneumatics emphasize the forgiveness of sins, sinners, the entire creation,
and the experience of salvation, while the universalists focus on the ultimate
salvation of all individuals and the entire creation.
The fulcrum between exclusivism and universalism also concerns the eternal
destiny of the people who never heard of the gospel. Some evangelicals adopt a
more lenient stance, asserting that although individuals who have not
encountered Christ and are therefore not Christians will generally remain
unredeemed, Scripture permits salvation for those who appropriately respond to
God's revelation found in nature or the law within themselves. This middle
ground combines the confident insistence that Jesus Christ is the only means of
salvation with a more significant concern for justice and forgiveness from God.
Debate
over the nature of Hell and eternal punishment
The discussion of
universalism brings up the issue of Hell and eternal punishment. Traditional
evangelical theology sends those who die in sin to so-called Hell, or hades,
where they suffer eternal conscious punishment. Numerous biblical passages
support this view, including Jesus' warnings about Hell in Matthew 25:46, where
He states that the righteous will experience 'eternal life" while the
wicked will face 'eternal punishment.'
However, some evangelical scholars have criticized the doctrine of endless suffering
in recent years. This is because, according to the traditional position, a just
punishment of sin requires the suffering of an infinite god, which they contend
is unbefitting a loving God. The theory of annihilationism proposes that
evildoers will not face infinite punishment in the afterlife but will instead
face annihilation upon their physical death. Annihilationists often point to
verses like Matthew 10:28. It is a phrase that talks of the 'destruction, both
soul and body in hell,' the loss of everlasting life, rather than torture in Hell.
We have also considered conditional immortalism, which maintains that only the
saved will live forever and the unsaved will die. This vision dismantles the
traditional notion of the soul as an eternal entity and elevates eternal life
to a reward available only to believers. Proponents argue that this perspective
aligns more closely with biblical descriptions of death as the final enemy (1
Corinthians 15:26) and is just less vengeful than the chariot-framed Job's
perspective on God's justice.
Discussions about Hell
are also relevant to further general discussions about the justice of God or
His forgiving nature. Those who adhere to a particularist approach to
understanding Hell hold the belief that God is righteous and sin deserves
eternal punishment; therefore, they believe that eternal suffering from God is
a justified disregard for His gift of redemption. On the other hand, proponents
of the various views of Hell focus more on God's purpose, questioning if God's
desire for everyone's salvation justifies eternal punishment.
Therefore, the evangelism doctrine on salvation is characterized by deeply held
beliefs, yet it is also marked by differences, debates, and even controversy.
Despite standing for the 'fundamentals,' evangelical thought lacks a unified
stance on salvation by faith and works, the definition of salvation, and the
nature of Hell. This indicates that Evangelicalism continues grappling with
interpreting and applying the Scriptures in our postmodern world. These
challenges tell of the evolution of Evangelicalism as the movement tries to
wrestle with its past and with evolutionary faith and practice. Even with these
controversies in mind, the evangelical belief that centers on the Scripture
preserves that salvation is through Jesus Christ; therefore, the mission to
spread the word goes on as a model and essence of Evangelicalism.
VII. Conclusion
For this reason,
salvation assumes the role of the item upon which evangelical theology relies
as a quintessentially indispensable element for shaping the perspective of
faith and the course of church missions. Throughout this journey, we have
repeatedly emphasized the centrality of salvation to Evangelicalism,
encompassing elements like the soteriology of justification by faith, the
phenomenology of conversion and discipleship, and the diverse aspects of Evangelicalism.
Like the doctrine of salvation, numerous theological controversies and disputes
surround its evidence, including faith and works, universal and limited
salvation, and the doctrine of the everlasting penalty. These discussions
represent the 'battlefield' of evangelical thought and the passion to deal with
Scripture anew and understand the radical implications of salvation realized in
Christ.
Understand that
evangelical belief in salvation is not just an idea or a concept but an
experiential and impactful salvation. Herein, we view the process of salvation
as the first step in perpetual sanctification and growth in a believer's
relationship with Jesus Christ and the subsequent application of the Gospel
message to the world. In individual testimonies, evangelicals' participation in
evangelism, and their commitment to social justice, these groups perceive
salvation as an individual process of transformation and a means by which the
individual or Christian can transform the world. For evangelicals, salvation is
profoundly personal, yet it also possesses a communicative essence; it is a
message to spread and manifest through daily acts of compassion.
When we attempt to
consider the contemporary meaning of salvation for evangelical believers, it is
essential to note that this doctrine, considered foundational to evangelical
faith, continues to hold immense importance for them. This hope—the promise of
salvation through faith in Christ—gives direction, meaning, and a vocation that
informs the Christian's existence. In a complex and fractured world, the
evangelical message presents a hope of salvation in the personal and global
plane. It remains a vision that successive generations of evangelicals would
embrace and seek out the fullness of the faith, better comprehension of God's
word, and a more prosperous practice of redemption in the entire fabric of
their existence.
Last but not least,
understanding salvation is a journey that takes a lifetime. We can better
understand salvation by studying God's Word, praying, and joining the
Evangelical Community. While reading the Scriptures through the process of
interpretation, answering questions related to their own lives, and discussing
the soteriological issues of salvation, people are encouraged to become better
believers and develop their spirituality. We invite believers to delve deeper
into the doctrine of salvation, not just as an academic exercise but as an
odyssey in holiness that guides those called to participate more deeply in
Christ's saving work.
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ABOUT
THE AUTHOR: LEONARD NDZI
Leonard Ndzi is a passionate pastor and
scholar dedicated to biblical preaching, church planting, and discipleship. He
is the President and Founder of Action Disciples for Christ (2004-2016), a
group devoted to supporting struggling churches and fostering genuine discipleship
within local communities. Leonard also planted and led Grace Baptist Church
Kakar (2005-2014) and Kongwang Baptist Church Awing (2017), emphasizing sound
biblical teaching and spiritual growth.
In addition to his pastoral work, Leonard
served as the International Student Coordinator at Africa International
University (AIU) in 2022, providing guidance and support to international
students. He holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies (2022) and a Bachelor
of Arts in Biblical Studies (2015) from AIU and Cameroon Baptist Theological
Seminary, respectively. He is a PhD candidate. He is pursuing his PhD to become
a Systematic and Biblical Theology professor.
Leonard has published several scholarly
articles addressing critical issues in African evangelical Christianity,
including technological advancement, marriage, and the role of the Holy Spirit.
He also teaches theology courses at Africa International University (AIU),
blending academic excellence with his dedication to spiritual development. He
is a member of the Elders Scot at Karen Community Church (KCC), Nairobi Kenya.
His work reflects a deep commitment to faith, leadership, and advancing the
Kingdom of God.
