Sermon Notes for 12 April 2026
The Doctrine of Soteriology
Romans 8:29-30 (KJV)
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
SOTERIOLOGY: The study of how God saves people.
Soteriology is the branch of theology that studies the doctrine of salvation—how a person is saved, from what they are saved, and what salvation includes.
Soteriology is the branch of theology that studies the doctrine of salvation—how a person is saved, from what they are saved, and what salvation includes.
1. THE PROBLEM: WHY DO WE NEED SALVATION?
We are all sinners and separated from God.
Romans 3:23 (NKJV) “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 6:23 (NKJV) “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Isaiah 59:2 (NKJV) "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear."
2. THE SOURCE: WHERE DOES SALVATION COME FROM
Salvation comes from God’s grace, not our effort.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (NKJV) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Titus 3:1-5 (NKJV) Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
John 3:16 – God’s love initiated salvation
3. THE SOLUTION: WHAT DID JESUS DO?
Jesus died and rose again to pay for our sin debt!
1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV) who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
John 14:6 (NKJV) – Jesus is the only way! – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
4. THE RESPONSE: HOW DO WE RECEIVE SALVATION?
We receive salvation through faith and repentance.
Mark 1:15 (NKJV) – Repent and believe – Jesus Begins His Galilean Ministry
14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Acts 16:31 (NKJV) – Philippian Jailer – Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
Romans 10:9–10 (NKJV) If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
5. THE RESULT: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE SAVED?
God changes your position, your heart, and your future.
A. POSITION: Justification (New Standing)
Romans 5:1 (NKJV) – Justified by faith – Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
B. HEART: Regeneration (New Life)
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) – New creation – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
C. FUTURE: Adoption (New Family)
Romans 8:15 (NKJV) – Spirit of adoption – For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
6. THE PROCESS: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER SALVATION?
Salvation begins a lifelong journey called sanctification.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NKJV) – This is God’s will: your sanctification – For this is the will of God, your sanctification…
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV) – Being transformed – But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
7. THE RESPONSIBILITY: DO WE NEED TO CONTINUE?
We must continue in faith.
Colossians 1:23 (NKJV) – Continue in the faith – if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
John 15:4 (NKJV) – Abide in Me – Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
Hebrews 3:14 (NKJV) – Hold firmly to the end – For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,
8. THE HOPE: WHAT IS OUR FINAL DESTINATION?
Believers will one day be glorified!
Romans 8:30 (NKJV) – Glorified – Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
1 John 3:2 (NKJV) – We shall be like Him – Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
Revelation 21:4 (NKJV) – No more death or pain – Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
CONCLUSION:
“Soteriology teaches that we are saved from sin, by grace, through faith, because of Jesus, into a new life, and for eternal glory—if we continue in Him.”
We are all sinners and separated from God.
Romans 3:23 (NKJV) “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 6:23 (NKJV) “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Isaiah 59:2 (NKJV) "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear."
2. THE SOURCE: WHERE DOES SALVATION COME FROM
Salvation comes from God’s grace, not our effort.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (NKJV) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Titus 3:1-5 (NKJV) Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
John 3:16 – God’s love initiated salvation
3. THE SOLUTION: WHAT DID JESUS DO?
Jesus died and rose again to pay for our sin debt!
1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV) who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
John 14:6 (NKJV) – Jesus is the only way! – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
4. THE RESPONSE: HOW DO WE RECEIVE SALVATION?
We receive salvation through faith and repentance.
Mark 1:15 (NKJV) – Repent and believe – Jesus Begins His Galilean Ministry
14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Acts 16:31 (NKJV) – Philippian Jailer – Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
Romans 10:9–10 (NKJV) If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
5. THE RESULT: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE SAVED?
God changes your position, your heart, and your future.
A. POSITION: Justification (New Standing)
Romans 5:1 (NKJV) – Justified by faith – Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
B. HEART: Regeneration (New Life)
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) – New creation – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
C. FUTURE: Adoption (New Family)
Romans 8:15 (NKJV) – Spirit of adoption – For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
6. THE PROCESS: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER SALVATION?
Salvation begins a lifelong journey called sanctification.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NKJV) – This is God’s will: your sanctification – For this is the will of God, your sanctification…
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV) – Being transformed – But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
7. THE RESPONSIBILITY: DO WE NEED TO CONTINUE?
We must continue in faith.
Colossians 1:23 (NKJV) – Continue in the faith – if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
John 15:4 (NKJV) – Abide in Me – Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
Hebrews 3:14 (NKJV) – Hold firmly to the end – For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,
8. THE HOPE: WHAT IS OUR FINAL DESTINATION?
Believers will one day be glorified!
Romans 8:30 (NKJV) – Glorified – Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
1 John 3:2 (NKJV) – We shall be like Him – Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
Revelation 21:4 (NKJV) – No more death or pain – Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
CONCLUSION:
“Soteriology teaches that we are saved from sin, by grace, through faith, because of Jesus, into a new life, and for eternal glory—if we continue in Him.”
HAVE YOU DISCOVERED THE LOVE OF GOD?
Will you give your life to Jesus today?
Pray this prayer to receive Jesus as your Savior:
“Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You died on the cross for my sins and rose again to give me new life. Today, I turn from my old ways and invite You into my heart. Be my Lord, be my Savior, and help me follow You all the days of my life. Right now, I trust you as my Savior and will follow you as my Lord. Thank You for loving me. Amen.”
Assurance of Salvation
If you prayed that prayer and meant it in your heart, you can be sure that you are saved.
Romans 10:13 (NLT) “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
John 10:28 (NLT) “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me.”
Romans 10:13 (NLT) “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
John 10:28 (NLT) “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me.”
(If you prayed to receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord, please complete the Connection Card below and watch the "Bridge Illustration" video at the bottom of this post.)
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