Salvation in Christianity

Salvation in Christianity, or deliverance, is the saving of the soul from sin and its consequences.[1]

Variant views on salvation are among the main fault lines dividing the various Christian denominations, being a point of
disagreement between Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, as well as within Protestantism, notably in the
Calvinist–Arminian debate. The fault lines include conflicting definitions of depravity, predestination, atonement, and most
pointedly, justification.

Contents
Summary
Paradigms of salvation
Moral transformation
Christus Victor
Ransom from Satan
Satisfaction
Penal substitution and faith
Catholicism
Salvation of non-Catholics
Saint Anselm
Eastern Christianity
Protestantism
Lutheranism
Calvinism
Arminianism
Universalism
Churches of Christ
Comparison
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
See also
References
Further reading
Other websites

Summary
According to Christian belief, salvation from sin in general and original sin in particular is made possible by the life, death, and
resurrection of Jesus, which in the context of salvation is referred to as the "atonement".[2] Christian soteriology ranges from
exclusive salvation[3]:p.123 to universal reconciliation[4] concepts. While some of the differences are as widespread as Christianity
itself, the overwhelming majority agrees that Christian salvation is made possible by the work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, dying
on the cross.
 At the heart of Christian faith is the reality and hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. Christian faith is faith in the God of
salvation revealed in Jesus of Nazareth. The Christian tradition has always equated this salvation with the
transcendent, eschatological fulfillment of human existence in a life freed from sin, finitude, and mortality and united
with the triune God. This is perhaps the non-negotiable item of Christian faith. What has been a matter of debate is
the relation between salvation and our activities in the world.

— Anselm Kyongsuk Min[5]:p.79

Paradigms of salvation
Different theories of atonement have been proposed for how Christian salvation can be understood. Over the centuries, Christians
have held different ideas about how Jesus saved people, and different views still exist within different Christian denominations. The
[6]
main paradigms of salvation that have been proposed are:

Moral transformation
The moral transformation view was the predominant understanding of salvation among Christians during the first three centuries
AD,[7][8][9][10][11] and continues to be held by some denominations such as the Eastern Orthodox today. In this view, Jesus saved
people from sinfulness through his life and teachings, thus transforming their character to become righteous. This salvation is seen as
undeserved, since God graciously sent Jesus to save people when they were unrighteous and did not in any way deserve such a
favour. In the moral transformation paradigm, a person is saved from sinfulness by faithfully following the teachings of Jesus, and the
example he set of how to live. Consequently, a person becomes righteous in God's sight, and can expect a positive final judgment by
God. Perfection is not required, and mistakes are forgiven after repentance. In this view, Jesus' crucifixion is understood primarily as
a martyrdom.[12]

The moral transformation view has been criticised and rejected by manyProtestant Christians, for a variety of reasons. Critics believe
that the moral transformation view conflicts with various biblical passages (particularly ones by Paul regarding 'faith' and 'works'),
underestimates the seriousness of sin and denies theatoning value of Jesus' death.

Christus Victor
In the Christus Victor view, people needed salvation from the powers of evil. Jesus achieved salvation for people by defeating the
powers of evil, particularly Satan. This view has been dated in writings of the Church Fathers up to the 4th centuries AD, although it
remained popular for several centuries. Several perspectives on this idea existed, which can be roughly divided into conquest of Satan
and rescue from Satan's power. In the conquest of Satan version, writers such as Eusebius of Caesarea depicted Jesus defeating Satan
in a great spiritual battle that occurred between his death and resurrection.[13] By winning this battle, Jesus overthrew Satan and
saved people from his dominion. The Christus V
ictor view is not widely held in the West.

Ransom from Satan

The ransom theory of atonemententails the idea that Satan had power over sinful souls in the afterlife, but that Christ rescued people
from his power. Often, the death of Christ plays an important role in this rescue. The view appears to have arisen during the 3rd
century,[14] in the writings of Origen and other theologians. In one version of the idea, Satan attempted to take Jesus' soul after he had
died, but in doing so over-extended his authority, as Jesus had never sinned. As a consequence, Satan lost his authority completely,
and all humanity gained freedom. In another version, God entered into a deal with Satan, offering to trade Jesus' soul in exchange for
the souls of all people, but after the trade, God raised Jesus from the dead and left Satan with nothing. Other versions held that Jesus'
divinity was masked by his human form, so Satan tried to take Jesus’ soul without realizing that his divinity would destroy Satan's
power. Another idea is that Jesus came to teach how not to sin and Satan, in anger with this, tried to take his soul. The ransom theory
is not widely held in the West.
Satisfaction
In the 11th century, Anselm of Canterbury rejected the ransom view, and proposed the satisfaction theory of atonement. He depicted
God as a feudal lord, whose honour had been offended by the sins of humankind. In this view, people needed salvation from the
divine punishment that these offences would bring, since nothing they could do could repay the honour debt. Anselm held that Christ
had infinitely honoured God through his life and death and that Christ could repay what humanity owed God, thus satisfying the
offence to God's honour and doing away with the need for punishment. When Anselm proposed the satisfaction view, it was
immediately criticised byPeter Abelard.

Penal substitution and faith

In the 16th century, the Protestant Reformers reinterpreted Anselm's satisfaction
theory of salvation within a legal paradigm. In the legal system, offences required
punishment, and no satisfaction could be given to avert this need. They proposed a
theory known as penal substitution, in which Christ takes the penalty of people's sin
as their substitute, thus saving people from God's wrath against sin. Penal
substitution thus presents Jesus saving people from the divine punishment of their
past wrongdoings. However, this salvation is not presented as automatic. Rather, a
person must have faith in order to receive this free gift of salvation. In the penal
substitution view, salvation is not dependent upon human effort or deeds. A 'Jesus Saves' neon cross sign
outside of a Protestant church in
The penal substitution paradigm of salvation is widely held among Protestants, who
New York City.
often consider it central to Christianity. However, it has also been widely
critiqued.[15][16][17][18] Advocates of the New Perspective on Paul also argue that
many New Testament books by Paul the Apostle used to support the theory of penal substitution should be interpreted dif
ferently.

Catholicism
A crucial difference between the Catholic and Calvinist understanding of salvation is that, unlike Calvinism, Catholicism believes
that, after the Fall, humanity did not become totally corrupt (as per "total depravity", which precludes man from any merit in
salvation), but was only "wounded by sin," and "stands in need of salvation from God", nevertheless, "it is human nature so fallen,
stripped of the grace that clothed it, injured in its own natural powers and subjected to the dominion of death, that is transmitted to all
men..."[19]

Divine help comes in Christ through the law that guides and the grace that sustains, by which souls work out their "own salvation
with fear and trembling."[20] That divine help, that grace, is a favour, a free and undeserved gift from God which helps us to respond
to his invitation to enter relationship.[21]

Catholics profess belief that Christ alone is the Saviour of the human race. Christ is God incarnate, bringing about redemption from
sin, for "…all salvation comes through Christ."[22]

"…she (the Church) proclaims, and ever must proclaim Christ 'the way, the truth, and the life' (John 14:6), in whom
[23]
men may find the fullness of religious life, in whom God has reconciled all things to Himself."

In Catholicism, justification is granted by God via the act (ex opere operato) of baptism firstly,[24] by which the subject is formally
justified and made holy by his own personal justice and holiness (causa formalis),[25] instead of appropriated plainly by a living faith
as under sola fide, and normally from the sacrament of reconciliation after if a mortal sin is committed. Christ can work apart and
before the sacrament of baptism, as desire for eventual baptism is grace enough to be saved, since God is not tied to work by means
of his instituted sacraments.[26] Nevertheless, Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above
all for those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded ecclesial
communion. It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and to recover the grace of justification.
The Fathers of the Church present this sacrament as "the second plank [of salvation] after the shipwreck which is the loss of grace."
This is not the only way for sins to be forgiven, as in some cases these can also be forgiven by confessing to God alone. This is why
the Catholic Church teaches that Christians outside of the Church can be saved, since in many cases other Christian denominations do
not possess the priesthood instituted from Jesus Christ and thus lack access to the "binding and loosing" that priests of the New
Covenant practice through the sacrament.[27] A mortal sin makes justification lost even if faith (intellectual assent) is still present.
The Catholic Church declared in the ecumenical Council of Trent that, "If anyone says that the sinner is justified by faith alone,[114]
meaning that nothing else is required to cooperate in order to obtain the grace of justification, and that it is not in any way necessary
that he be prepared and disposed by the action of his own will, let him be anathema." in canon 9 of session VI.[28] It also said in the
VII session in canon IV, "If any one saith, that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary unto salvation, but superfluous; and
that, without them, or without the desire thereof, men obtain of God, through faith alone, the grace of justification;-though all (the
[29]
sacraments) are not indeed necessary for every individual; let him be anathema (excommunicated)."

Salvation of non-Catholics
In Catholicism, Christ provides the Church with "'the fullness of the means of salvation' which he has willed: correct and complete
confession of the Christian faith, full sacramental life, and ordained ministry in apostolic succession."[30] Although the Catholic
Church upholds the doctrine of extra Ecclesiam nulla salus (outside the Church there is no salvation) this does not mean that all the
elect were in visible communion of the Catholic Church during their life, for "Jesus, the Son of God, freely suffered death for us in
complete and free submission to the will of God, his Father. By his death he has conquered death, and so opened the possibility of
salvation to all men."[31]

As regards Protestants in particular, in Vatican II and subsequent teaching it is stated,

"The Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with those who, being baptized, are honored with the name
of Christian, though they do not profess the faith in its entirety or do not preserve unity of communion with the
successor of Peter. (Cf. Gal. 4:6; Rom. 8:15-16 and 26)

For there are many who honor Sacred Scripture, taking it as a norm of belief and a pattern of life, and who show a
sincere zeal. They lovingly believe in God the Father Almighty and in Christ, the Son of God and Saviour. (Cf. Jn.
16:13) They are consecrated by baptism, in which they are united with Christ. They also recognize and accept other
sacraments within their own Churches or ecclesiastical [Protestant] communities...They also share with us in prayer
and other spiritual benefits. Likewise we can say that in some real way they are joined with us in the Holy Spirit, for
to them too He gives His gifts and graces whereby He is operative among them with His sanctifying power. Some
[32]
indeed He has strengthened to the extent of the shedding of their blood..."

"...men who believe in Christ and have been truly baptized are in communion with the Catholic Church even though
this communion is imperfect. ...it remains true that all who have been justified by faith in Baptism are members of
Christ's body, and have a right to be called Christian, and so are correctly accepted as brothers by the children of the
Catholic Church...For the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation which derive their
efficacy from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Church...." "It is right and salutary to recognize the
riches of Christ and virtuous works in the lives of others who are bearing witness to Christ, sometimes even to the
[33]
shedding of their blood. For God is always wonderful in His works and worthy of all praise.”

Catholicism teaches that Protestantism is a part of Christianity, the only true "faith" (Catholicism regards all non-Christian religions
as "beliefs" since they are not based on God's revelation in history, Dominus Iesus p. 7),[34] nevertheless, individual Protestants
aware of the fact that Christ established the Catholic Church, but fail to join its membership, "cannot be saved" since they are living
in open contempt towards God's known truth.[32]

Concerning Jews and Muslims, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church,Lumen gentium, states:
 "In the first place we must recall the people [the Jews] to whom the testament and the promises were given and from
whom Christ was born according to the flesh. On account of their fathers this people remains most dear to God, for
God does not repent of the gifts He makes nor of the calls He issues. But the plan of salvation also includes those who
acknowledge the Creator. In the first place amongst these there are the Muslims, who, professing to hold the faith of
[32]
Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God, who on the last day will judge mankind."

Paragraph 16 of Lumen gentium takes a step further and declares:

"Nor is God far distant from those who in shadows and images seek the unknown God, for it is He who gives to all
men life and breath and all things, and as Saviour wills that all men be saved. Those also can attain to salvation who
through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by
grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience. Nor does Divine
Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at
an explicit knowledge of God and with His grace strive to live a good life. Whatever good or truth is found amongst
[32]
them is looked upon by the Church as a preparation for the Gospel"

However, Judaism and Islam cannot be seen by the Church to be satisfactory in themselves. Catholics must call all people to the
Christian faith, since it is Christ who must save them in the end. As noted above, whatever truth is found in Judaism and Islam is used
as a "preparation for the Gospel." The Christian faith cannot be merely looked at "human wisdom, a pseudo-science of well-being",
for "all are called to it and destined for it" since it contains the full truth (Redemptoris Missio p. 11).[35] Lumen gentium goes on to
state:

In explicit terms He Himself (Jesus Christ) affirmed the necessity of faith and baptism and thereby affirmed also the
necessity of the Church, for through baptism as through a door men enter the Church. Whosoever, therefore, knowing
that the Catholic Church was made necessary by Christ, would refuse to enter or to remain in it, could not be
saved.[32]

The Catholic Church holds to the possibility of non-Christians being saved from hell. As Pope John Paul II stated in his encyclical
Redemptoris Missio,

"The universality of salvation means that it is granted not only to those who explicitly believe in Christ and have
entered the Church. Since salvation is offered to all, it must be made concretely available to all. But it is clear that
today, as in the past, many people do not have an opportunity to come to know or accept the Gospel revelation or to
enter the Church. The social and cultural conditions in which they live do not permit this, and frequently they have
been brought up in other religious traditions. For such people salvation in Christ is accessible by virtue of a grace
which, while having a mysterious relationship to the Church, does not make them formally part of the Church but
enlightens them in a way which is accommodated to their spiritual and material situation. This grace comes from
Christ; it is the result of his Sacrifice and is communicated by the Holy Spirit. It enables each person to attain
salvation through his or her free cooperation."[36]

The number of non-Christians saved is known to God alone and must come through Christ's atonement for the sins of the world—an
atonement which is specifically called "mysterious" (above, Dominus Iesus p. 21).[34] Nevertheless, Catholics have been exhorted in
numerous recent papal encyclicals to not forget the mission ad gentes (to the non-Christians), as the evangelization of the non-
Christian world remains central to the Church's mission because of Jesus's great impetus: "Whoever believes and is baptized will be
saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."(Mark 16:16, Dominus Iesus p. 21-22 [34] ). Those who fail to preach the
exclusivity of Christianity as the fullness of God's revelation and the only means to be saved, are teaching against the doctrine of
Christ and the Church (Dominus Iesus p. 5-9).[34]
Saint Anselm
Shortly after 1100, Anselm, appointed as archbishop of Canterbury, wrote a classic treatise about atonement. In it he puts forward the
"satisfaction theory" of the atonement in salvation. Man's offense of rebellion against God is one that demands a payment or
satisfaction. Fallen man is incapable of making adequate satisfaction. Nevertheless, such is God's love that God will not simply
abandon us (at least not all of us) to the consequences of our sins. Anselm wrote, "This debt was so great that, while none but man
must solve the debt, none but God was able to do it; so that he who does it must be both God and man." The suffering of Christ, the
God-man who is God's only son, pays off what human beings owe to God's honor, and we are thereby reconciled to God. So God
took human nature upon himself so that a perfect man might make perfect satisfaction and so restore the human race. His
[37]
foundational work is seen later in Calvinism and Arminianism.

Eastern Christianity
Eastern Christianity was much less influenced by the theological writings of Augustine. It asks different questions, and it generally
views salvation less in forensic terms (e.g. pardon from punishment), more in therapeutic terms (healing from sickness, injury etc.). It
views salvation more along the lines of divinization or theosis, a seeking to become holy or draw closer to God by being united to
him in will and operation as an extension of God in the world, a traditional concept taught in the Orthodox Church, the Oriental
Orthodox Churches, and the Eastern Catholic Churches. It also stresses teaching aboutforgiveness.

The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church, known also as The Catechism of St. Philaret,[38] includes the
questions and answers:

155. To save men from what did (the Son of God) come upon earth? From sin, the curse, and death
.

208. How does the death of Jesus Christ upon the cross deliver us from sin, the curse, and death? That we may the
more readily believe this mystery, the Word of God teaches us of it, so much as we may be able to receive, by the
comparison of Jesus Christ with Adam. Adam is by nature the head of all humanity, which is one with him by natural
descent from him. Jesus Christ, in whom the Godhead is united with manhood, graciously made himself the new
almighty Head of men, whom he unites to himself through faith. Therefore, as in Adam we had fallen under sin, the
curse, and death, so we are delivered from sin, the curse, and death in Jesus Christ. His voluntary suffering and death
on the cross for us, being of infinite value and merit, as the death of one sinless, God and man in one person, is both a
perfect satisfaction to the justice of God, which had condemned us for sin to death, and a fund of infinite merit, which
has obtained him the right, without prejudice to justice, to give us sinners pardon of our sins, and grace to have
victory over sin and death.

Orthodox theology teaches prevenient grace, meaning that God makes the first movement toward man, and that salvation is
impossible from our own will alone. However, man is endowed with free will, and an individual can either accept or reject the grace
of God. Thus an individual must cooperate with God's grace to be saved, and he can claim no credit of his own, as any progress he
makes is possible only by the grace of God.

The Orthodox Church further teaches that a person abides in Christ and makes his salvation sure not only by works of love, but also
by his patient suffering of various griefs, illnesses, misfortunes and failures (Luke 16:19-31, Mark 8:31-38, Romans 6:3-11,
Hebrews 12:1-3, Galatians 6:14).[39]

Protestantism
The Protestant Christian perspective on salvation is that no one can merit the grace of God by performing rituals, good works,
asceticism or meditation, because grace is the result of God's initiative without any regard whatsoever to the one initiating the works.
Broadly speaking, Protestants hold to the five solae of the Reformation, which declare that salvation is attained by grace alone in
Christ alone through faith alone for the Glory of God alone as told in Scripture alone.
Some Protestants, such asLutherans and the Reformed, understand this to mean that God saves solely by grace and that works follow
as a necessary consequence of saving grace. Others, such as Methodists (and other Arminians), believe that salvation is by faith alone
but that salvation can be forfeited if it is not accompanied by continued faith and the works that naturally follow from it. Most
Protestants believe that salvation is achieved through God's grace alone, and once salvation is secured in the person, good works will
be a result of this, allowing good works to often operate as a signifier for salvation. A minority rigidly believe that salvation is
accomplished by faith alone without any reference to works whatsoever, including the works that may follow salvation (see Free
Grace theology).

Karl Barth notes a range of alternative themes: forensic (we are guilty of a crime, and Christ takes the punishment), financial (we are
indebted to God, and Christ pays our debt) and cultic (Christ makes a sacrifice on our behalf). For various cultural reasons, the oldest
themes (honor and sacrifice) prove to have more depth than the more modern ones (payment of a debt, punishment for a crime). But
in all these alternatives, the understanding of atonement has the same structure. Human beings owe something to God that we cannot
pay. Christ pays it on our behalf. Thus God remains both perfectly just (insisting on a penalty) and perfectly loving (paying the
penalty himself). A great many Christians would define such a substitutionary view of the atonement as simply part of what orthodox
Christians believe.[37]

According to Christian Frank Stagg, salvation is rooted in the grace of God. "For bankrupt sinners with no ground of their own upon
which to stand, with nothing of their own upon which to stand, with nothing of their own to hold up to God for [one's] reward, it is
their only hope, but it is their sufficient hope."[40]:80

"Debates about how Christ saves us have tended to divide Protestants into conservatives who defended some form of
substitutionary atonement theory and liberals who were more apt to accept a kind of moral influence theory. Both
those approaches were about 900 years old. Recently, new accounts of Christ's salvific work have been introduced or
reintroduced, and the debates have generally grown angrier, at least from the liberal side. Those who defended
substitutionary atonement were always ready to dismiss their opponents as heretics; now some of their opponents
complain that a focus on substitutionary atonement leads to violence against women and to child abuse."

— William C. Placher[37]

Lutheranism
Lutherans believe that God has justified all sinners, that is, he has declared them "not guilty" for the sake of Christ. Lutheran
churches believe that this is the central message in the Bible upon which the very existence of the churches depends. In Lutheranism,
it is a message relevant to people of all races and social levels, of all times and places, for "the result of one trespass was
condemnation for all men" (Romans 5:18). All need forgiveness of sins before God, and Scripture proclaims that all have been
[41]
justified, for "the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men" (Romans 5:18).

Lutheranism teaches that individuals receive this free gift of forgiveness and salvation not on the basis of their own works, but only
through faith (Sola fide):[42]

“ 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.(Ephesians
2:8,9) ”
Saving faith is the knowledge of,[43] acceptance of,[44] and trust[45] in the promise of the Gospel.[46] Even faith itself is seen as a gift
of God, created in the hearts of Christians[47] by the work of the Holy Spirit through the W
ord[48] and Baptism.[49] Faith is seen as an
instrument that receives the gift of salvation, not something that causes salvation.[50] Thus, Lutherans reject the "decision theology"
which is common among modernevangelicals.[51]

Calvinism
Calvinists believe in the predestination of the elect before the foundation of the world. All of the elect necessarily persevere in faith
because God keeps them from falling away. Calvinists understand the doctrines of salvation to include the five points of Calvinism,
typically arranged in English to form theacrostic "TULIP".[52]

"Total depravity:" This doctrine, also called "total inability," asserts that as a consequence of thefall of man into sin,
every person born into the world is enslaved to the service ofsin. People are not by nature inclined to love God with
their whole heart, mind, or strength, but rather all are inclined to serve their own interests over those of their neighbor
and to reject the rule of God. Thus, all people by their own faculties are morally unable to choose to follow God and
be saved because they are unwilling to do so out of the necessity of their own natures. (The term "total" in this
context refers to sin affecting every part of a person, not that every person is as evil as possible.) [53] This doctrine is
derived from Augustine's explanation of Original Sin.
"Unconditional election:" This doctrine asserts that God has chosen frometernity those whom he will bring to himself
not based on foreseen virtue, merit, or faith in those people; rather , it is unconditionally grounded in God's mercy
alone. God has chosen frometernity to extend mercy to those he has chosen and to withhold mercy from those not
chosen. Those chosen receive salvation through Christ alone.Those not chosen receive the just wrath that is
warranted for their sins against God[54]
"Limited atonement:" Also called "particular redemption" or "definite atonement", this doctrine asserts that Jesus's
substitutionary atonementwas definite and certain in its purpose and in what it accomplished. This implies that only
the sins of the elect were atoned for by Jesus's death. Calvinists do not believe, however , that the atonement is
limited in its value or power, but rather that the atonement is limited in the sense that it is designed for some and not
all. Hence, Calvinists hold that the atonement is suf ficient for all and efficient for the elect.[55] The doctrine is driven
by the Calvinistic concept of the sovereignty of God in salvation and their understanding of the nature of the
atonement.
"Irresistible grace:" This doctrine, also called "efficacious grace", asserts that the saving grace of God is effectually
applied to those whom he has determined to save (that is,the elect) and, in God's timing, overcomes their resistance
to obeying the call of the gospel, bringing them to a saving faith. This means that when God sovereignly purposes to
save someone, that individual certainly will be saved. The doctrine holds that this purposeful influence of God's Holy
Spirit cannot be resisted, but that the Holy Spirit, "graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to
repent, to come freely and willingly to Christ."[56]
"Perseverance of the saints:" Perseverance (or preservation) of thesaints (the word "saints" is used to refer to all
who are set apart by God, and not of those who are exceptionallyholy, canonized, or in heaven). The doctrine
asserts that since God is sovereign and his will cannot be frustrated by humans or anything else, those whom God
has called into communion with himself will continue in faith until the end. Those who apparently fall away either
never had true faith to begin with or will return.[57]

Arminianism
Arminianism is a school of soteriological thought within Protestant Christianity, held by Christian denominations such as the
Methodist Church. It is based on the theological ideas of the Dutch Reformed theologian Jacobus Arminius (1560–1609). Like
Calvinists, Arminians agree that all people are born sinful and are in need of salvation. Classical Arminians emphasize that God's free
grace (or prevenient grace) enables humans to freely respond to or to reject the salvation offered through Christ. Classical Arminians
believe that a person's saving relationship with Christ is conditional upon faith, and thus, a person can sever their saving relationship
with Christ through persistent unbelief. Arminians hold the following beliefs:

Depravity is total: Arminius states "In this [fallen] state, the free will of man towards the true good is not only
wounded, infirm, bent, and weakened; but it is also imprisoned, destroyed, and lost. And its powers are not only
debilitated and useless unless they be assisted by grace, but it has no powers whatever except such as are excited
by Divine grace."[58]
Atonement is intended for all: Jesus's death was for all people, Jesus draws all people to himself, and all people
have opportunity for salvation through faith.[59]
Jesus's death satisfies God's justice: The penalty for the sins of the elect is paid in full through Jesus's work on the
cross. Thus Christ's atonement is intended for all, but requires faith to be fected.
ef Arminius states that "Justification,
when used for the act of a Judge, is either purely the imputation of righteousness through mercy… or that man is
justified before God… according to the rigor of justice without any forgiveness." [60] Stephen Ashby clarifies:
"Arminius allowed for only two possible ways in which the sinner might be justified: (1) by our absolute and perfect
adherence to the law, or (2) purely by God's m i putation of Christ's righteousness."[61]
Grace is resistible: God takes initiative in the salvation process and his grace comes to all people. This grace (often
called prevenient or pre-regenerating grace) acts on all people to convince them of the Gospel, draw them strongly
towards salvation, and enable the possibility of sincere faith. Picirilli states that "indeed this grace is so close to
regeneration that it inevitably leads to regeneration unless finally resisted." [62] The offer of salvation through grace
 does not act irresistibly in a purely cause-effect, deterministic method but rather in an influence-and-response
fashion that can be both freely accepted and freely denied. [63]

Man has free will to respond or resist: Free will is limited by God's sovereignty , but God's sovereignty allows all men
the choice to accept the Gospel of Jesus through faith, simultaneously allowing all men to resist.
Election is conditional: Arminius defined election as "the decree of God by which, of Himself, from eternity , He
decreed to justify in Christ, believers, and to accept them unto eternal life." [64] God alone determines who will be
saved and his determination is that all who believe Jesus through faith will be justified. According to Arminius, "God
regards no one in Christ unless they are engrafted in him by faith." [64]

God predestines the elect to a glorious future: Predestination is not the predetermination of who will believe, but
rather the predetermination of the believer's future inheritance. The elect are therefore predestined to sonship
through adoption, glorification, and eternal life.[65]

Christ's righteousness is imputed to the believer : Justification is sola fide. When individuals repent and believe in
Christ (saving faith), they are regenerated and brought into union with Christ, whereby the death and righteousness
of Christ are imputed to them for their justification before God. [66]

Eternal security is also conditional: All believers have full assurance of salvation with the condition that they remain
in Christ. Salvation is conditioned on faith, therefore perseverance is also conditioned. [67] Apostasy (turning from
Christ) is only committed through a deliberate, willful rejection of Jesus and renunciation of saving faith. Such
apostasy is irremediable.[68]
The Five Articles of Remonstrance that Arminius's followers formulated in 1610 state the above beliefs regarding (I) conditional
election, (II) unlimited atonement, (III) total depravity, (IV) total depravity and resistible grace, and (V) possibility of apostasy. Note,
however, that the fifth article did not completely deny perseverance of the saints; Arminius, himself, said that "I never taught that a
true believer can… fall away from the faith… yet I will not conceal, that there are passages of Scripture which seem to me to wear
this aspect; and those answers to them which I have been permitted to see, are not of such as kind as to approve themselves on all
points to my understanding."[69] Further, the text of the Articles of Remonstrance says that no believer can be plucked from Christ's
hand, and the matter of falling away, "loss of salvation" required further study before it could be taught with any certainty
.

Universalism
Christian Universalists agree with both Calvinists and Arminians that everyone is born in sin and in need of salvation. They also
believe that one is saved by Jesus Christ. However, they emphasize that judgment in hell upon sinners is of limited duration, and that
God uses judgment to bring sinners to repentance.[70]

Churches of Christ
Western Churches of Christ are strongly anti-Calvinist in their understanding of salvation, and generally present conversion as
[71]
"obedience to the proclaimed facts of the gospel rather than as the result of an emotional, Spirit-initiated conversion."

Some churches of Christ hold the view that humans of accountable age are lost because of their sins.[72] These lost souls can be
redeemed because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, offered himself as the atoning sacrifice.[72] Children too young to understand right
from wrong, and make a conscious choice between the two, are believed to be innocent of sin.[72][73] The age when this occurs is
generally believed to be around 13.[73]

[74]
Some Churches of Christ, which don't identify as a denomination, teach that the process of salvation involves the following steps:

1. One must be taught biblically and listen expositoraly

2. One must believe or have faith
3. One must repent of one's sins, which means turning from one's former lifestyle and choosing God's ways
4. One must confess belief that Jesus is the Son of God and Saviour
5. One must be baptized for the remission of sins
6. One must remain faithful until death on Earth
.[75]
While other Churches of Christ which identify as a denomination do not hold this view
Beginning in the 1960s, many preachers began placing more emphasis on the role of grace in salvation, instead of focusing
exclusively implementing all of the New Testament commands and examples.[76] This was not an entirely new approach, as others
had actively "affirmed a theology of free and unmerited grace," but it did represent a change of emphasis with grace becoming "a
[76]
theme that would increasingly define this tradition."

Because of the belief that baptism is a necessary part of salvation, some Baptists hold that the Churches of Christ endorse the doctrine
of baptismal regeneration.[77] However, members of the Churches of Christ reject this, arguing that since faith and repentance are
necessary, and that the cleansing of sins is by the blood of Christ through the grace of God, baptism is not an inherently redeeming
ritual.[77][78][79] One author describes the relationship between faith and baptism this way, "Faith is the reason why a person is a
child of God; baptism is the time at which one is incorporated into Christ and so becomes a child of God" (italics are in the
source).[80] Baptism is understood as a confessional expression of faith and repentance,[80] rather than a "work" that earns
salvation.[80]

Comparison
Protestant beliefs about salvation.[81] This table summarizes the classical views of threeProtestant beliefs about salvation.[82]

Topic Calvinism Lutheranism Arminianism

Total Total depravity:[83] Humanity

Humanity possesses possesses
depravity:[83]
free will in regard to freedom from
Humanity
"goods and necessity, but
possesses "free
Human will possessions", but is not "freedom
will",[84] but it is
sinful by nature and from sin” unless
in bondage to
unable to contribute to enabled by
sin,[85] until it is its own salvation. "prevenient
"transformed".[86] [87][88][89] grace".[90]
Conditional
election in view
Unconditional Unconditional
Election of foreseen
election. election.[83][91] faith or
unbelief.[92]
Justification
made possible
Justification by
Justification for all for all through
faith alone.
Justification men,[94] completed at Christ's death,
Various views
and Christ's death and but only
regarding the
atonement effective through faith completed
extent of the
alone.[95][96][97][98] upon choosing
atonement.[93] faith in
Jesus.[99]
Synergistic,
Monergistic,[100]
Monergistic,[101][102] resistible due to
through the the common
Conversion through the means of
means of grace,
grace, resistible.[103] grace of free
irresistible.
will.[104]
Perseverance Perseverance of Falling away is Preservation is
and apostasy the saints: the possible,[106] but God conditional
eternally elect in gives gospel upon continued
Christ will assurance.[107][108] faith in Christ;
certainly with the
possibility of a
 possibility of a
persevere in final
faith.[105] apostasy.[109]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) defines the term salvation based on the teachings of their prophet
Joseph Smith, as recorded in the Doctrine and Covenantsand summarized in theArticles of Faith (Latter Day Saints)number four.

"We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second,
Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy
Ghost."[110]

The general Christian belief that salvation means returning to the presence of God and Jesus is similar to the way the word is used in
the Book of Mormon, wherein the prophet Amulek teaches that through the "great and last sacrifice" of the Son of God, "he shall
bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; ... to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and
bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance. And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and
encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of
justice".[111]

There are two kinds of salvation, conditional and unconditional. Unconditional salvation is similar to what is believed by other
Christians in that the atonement of Jesus Christ redeems all mankind from the chains of death and they are resurrected to their perfect
frames. They will also be redeemed from the powers of Satan, except those sons of perdition of vile wickedness and those who have
been enemies to God, in which they will be returned to their master. All others will receive a degree of glory set apart for their just
metes. Conditional salvation of the righteous comes by grace coupled with strict obedience to Gospel principles in which those who
have upheld the highest standards and committed to the covenants and ordinances of God will inherit the highest heaven. Full
salvation is attained by virtue of knowledge, truth, righteousness, and following true principles.

See also
Christology
Ecclesiology
Eternal life (Christianity)
Redeemer (Christianity)

References
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42. Keller, Brian R., Believe it or not: You Are Forgiven Through Christ! (http://www.wlsessays.net/bitstream/handle/1234
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sins is proclaimed in the gospel as a ready and complete blessing, won by Christ Jesus.et, Y no one receives the
benefits of this gospel message without faith. By faith, the individual receives the forgiveness of sins and eternal life."
43. John 17:3 (http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:John.17:3–17:3), Luke 1:77 (http://www.biblica.c
om/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:Luke.1:77–1:77) ,Galatians 4:9 (http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bibl
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faith in terms of knowledge.
44. John 5:46 (http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:John.5:46–5:46)refers to acceptance of the
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notes the rejection of his teaching.
45. John 3:16,36 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:16–3:16&version=50) , Galatians 2:16 (htt
p://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:Galatians.2:16–2:16), Romans 4:20-25 (http://www.biblica.co
m/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:Romans.4:20–25:20) , 2 Timothy 1:12 (http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-
bible/?osis=niv:2_Timothy.1:12–1:12) speak of trust, confidence, and belief in Christ.John 3:18 (http://www.biblica.co
m/en-us/bible/online-bible/?osis=niv:John.3:18–3:18)notes belief in the name of Christ, andMark 1:15 (http://bible.or
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59. Arminius I:316
60. Arminius III:454
61. Ashby Four Views, 140
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64. Arminius Writings, III:311
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66. Forlines, F. Leroy, Classical Arminianism: A Theology of Salvation, ch. 6
67. Picirilli Grace, Faith, Free Will 203
68. Picirilli 204ff
69. Arminius Writings, I:254
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83. "Calvinism and Lutheranism Compared"(https://web.archive.org/web/20090927073128/http://www .wels.net/cgi-bin/si
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94) on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2015. "Both (Lutherans and Calvinists) agree on the devastating
nature of the fall and that man by nature has no power to aid in his conversions...and that election to salvation is by
grace. In Lutheranism the German term for election isGnadenwahl, election by grace--there is no other kind."
84. John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, trans. Henry Beveridge, III.23.2.
85. John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, trans. Henry Beveridge, II.3.5.
86. John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, trans. Henry Beveridge, III.3.6.
87. WELS Topical Q&A: WELS vs Assembly of God (https://web.archive.org/web/20140714213942/http://arkiv .lbk.cc/faq/
site.pl@1518cutopic_topicid257cuitem_itemid7092.htm) : "[P]eople by nature are dead in their tranbsgressionssic)
(
and sin and therefore have no ability to decide of Christ (Ephesians 2:1, 5). W
e do not choose Christ, rather he
chose us (John 15:16) We believe that human beings are purely passive in conversion."
88. Augsburg Confessional, Article XVIII, Of Free Will(http://bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.php#article18.1) ,
saying: "(M)an's will has some liberty to choose civil righteousness, and to work things subject to reason. But it has
no power, without the Holy Ghost, to work therighteousness of God, that is, spiritual righteousness; since the natural
man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God (1 Cor. 2:14); but this righteousness is wrought in the heart when
the Holy Ghost is received through the Word."
89. Henry Cole, trans, Martin Luther on the Bondage of the Will (London, T. Bensley, 1823), 66. The controversial term
liberum arbitrium was translated "free-will" by Cole. HoweverErnest Gordon Rupp and Philip Saville Watson, Luther
and Erasmus: Free Will and Salvation (Westminister, 1969) chose "free choice" as their translation.
90. Keith D. Stanglin and Thomas H. McCall,Jacob Arminius: Theologian of Grace(Oxford University, 2012), 157-158.
91. The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Lutheran Church, XI. Election. "Predestination" means "God's
ordination to salvation".
92. Roger E. Olson, Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities(InterVarsity Press, 2009), 63. “Arminians accepts divine
election, [but] they believe it is conditional."
93. The Westminster Confession, III:6, says that only the "elect" are "effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and
saved." However in hisCalvin and the Reformed Tradition (Baker, 2012), 45, Richard A. Muller observes that "a
sizeable body of literature has interpreted Calvin as teaching "limited atonement", but "an equally sizeable body . . .
[interprets] Calvin as teaching "unlimited atonement".
94. "Justification / Salvation"(https://web.archive.org/web/20090927073134/http://www .wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1518&cu
Topic_topicID=45&cuItem_itemID=2954). WELS Topical Q&A. Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Archived
from the original (http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1518&cuTopic_topicID=45&cuItem_itemID=2954)on 27
September 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2015. "Romans 3:23-24 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=r
m3:23-24&version=NIV), 5:9 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rm5:9&version=NIV), 18 (https://ww
w.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rm5:18&version=NIV)are other passages that lead us to say that it is most
appropriate and accurate to say that universal justification is a finished fact. God has forgiven the sins of the whole
world whether people believe it or not. He has done more than "made forgiveness possible." All this is for the sake of
the perfect substitutionary work of Jesus Christ. "
 95. "IV. Justification by Grace through Faith"(http://www.wels.net/what-we-believe/statements-beliefs/this-we-believe/jus
tification). This We Believe. Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Retrieved 5 February 2015. "We believe that
God has justified all sinners, that is, he has declared them righteous for the sake of Christ. This is the central
message of Scripture upon which the very existence of the church depends. It is a message relevant to people of all
times and places, of all races and social levels, for "the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men"
(Romans 5:18 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rm5:18&version=NIV) ). All need forgiveness of sins
before God, and Scripture proclaims that all have been justified, for "the result of one act of righteousness was
justification that brings life for all men" R
( omans 5:18 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rm5:18&versi
on=NIV)). We believe that individuals receive this freegift of forgiveness not on the basis of their own works, but only
through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=eph2:8-9&version=NIV) ). ... On the
other hand, although Jesus died for all, Scripture says that "whoever does not believe will be condemned" Mark
(
16:16 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mk16:16&version=NIV) ). Unbelievers forfeit the forgiveness
won for them by Christ (John 8:24 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=jn8:24&version=NIV))."
96. Becker, Siegbert W. "Objective Justification"(http://www.wlsessays.net/files/BeckerJustification.pdf) (PDF).
Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. p. 1. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
97. "Universal Justification"(https://web.archive.org/web/20090927133257/https://www .wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1518&cu
Topic_topicID=45&cuItem_itemID=16624). WELS Topical Q&A. Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Archived
from the original (https://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1518&cuTopic_topicID=45&cuItem_itemID=16624)on 27
September 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2015. "Christ paid for all our sins. God the Father has therefore forgiven
them. But to benefit from this verdict we need to hear about it and trust in it. If I deposit money in the bank for you, to
benefit from it you need to hear about it and use it. Christ has paid for your sins, but to benefit from it you need to
hear about it and believe in it. We need to have faith but we should not think of faith as our contribution. It is a gift of
God which the Holy Spirit works in us."
98. Augsburg Confession, Article V, Of Justification. People "cannot bejustified before God by their own strength, merits,
or works, but are freely justified for Christ's sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor
,
and that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake. ..."
99. "Faith is a condition of justification". Keith D. Stanglin and Thomas H. McCall,
Jacob Arminius: Theologian of Grace
(Oxford University, 2012), 136.
100. Paul ChulHong Kang, Justification: The Imputation of Christ's Righteousness from Reformation Theology to the
American Great Awakening and the Korean Revivals (Peter Lang, 2006), 70, note 171. Calvin generally defends
Augustine’s "monergistic view".
101. Diehl, Walter A. "The Age of Accountability"(https://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1518&cuTopic_topicID=58&cuItem_
itemID=11345). Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Retrieved 10 February 2015. "In full accord with Scripture the
Lutheran Confessions teach monergism. "In this manner , too, the Holy Scriptures ascribe conversion, faith in Christ,
regeneration, renewal and all the belongs to their ef ficacious beginning and completion, not to the human powers of
the natural free will, neither entirely, nor half, nor in any, even the least or most inconsiderable part, but in solidum,
that is, entirely, solely, to the divine working and the Holy Ghost" (T rigl. 891, F.C., Sol. Decl., II, 25 (http://bookofconc
ord.org/sd-freewill.php#para25))."
102. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Monergism
103. "Calvinism and Lutheranism Compared"(https://web.archive.org/web/20090927073128/http://www .wels.net/cgi-bin/si
te.pl?1518&cuTopic_topicID=10&cuItem_itemID=15094). WELS Topical Q&A. Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran
Synod. Archived from the original (http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1518&cuTopic_topicID=10&cuItem_itemID=150
94) on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
104. Roger E. Olson, Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities(InterVarsity Press, 2009), 18. "Arminian synergism" refers
to "evangelical synergism, which affirms the prevenience of grace."
105. The Westminster Confession of Faith, Ch XVII, "Of the Perseverance of the Saints".
106. "Once saved always saved"(https://web.archive.org/web/20090927165641/https://www .wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1518
&cuTopic_topicID=10&cuItem_itemID=9372). WELS Topical Q&A. Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Archived
from the original (https://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1518&cuTopic_topicID=10&cuItem_itemID=9372)on 27
September 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2015. "People can fall from faith. The Bible warns, "If you think you are
standing firm, be careful that you don't fall" (! Corinthians 10:12). Some among the Galatians had believed for a
while, but had fallen into soul-destroying error . Paul warned them, "You who are trying to be justified by law have
been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace" (Galatians 5:4). In his explanation of the parable of the
sower, Jesus says, "Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have
no root. They believe for a while, but in time of testing they fall away" (Luke 8:13). According to Jesus a person can
believe for a while and then fall away. While they believed they possessed eternal salvation, but when they fell from
faith they lost God's gracious gift."
107. "Perseverence of the Saints (Once Saved Always Saved)"(https://web.archive.org/web/20090927073121/http://ww
w.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1518&cuTopic_topicID=10&cuItem_itemID=17945). WELS Topical Q&A. Wisconsin
Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Archived from the original (http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1518&cuTopic_topicID=1
0&cuItem_itemID=17945)on 27 September 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2015. "We cannot contribute one speck to
our salvation, but by our own arrogance or carelessness we can throw it away . Therefore, Scripture urges us
repeatedly to fight the good fight of faith Ephesians
( 6 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=eph6&versi
on=NIV) and 2 Timothy 4 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2tim4&version=NIV)for example). My
sins threaten and weaken my faith, but the Spirit through the gospel in word and sacraments strengthens and
preserves my faith. That’s why Lutherans typically speak of God’s preservation of faith and not the perseverance of
the saints. The key is not our perseverance but the Spirit’s preservation."
108. Bruce Demarest, The Cross and Salvation: The Doctrine of Salvation(Crossway, 1997), 437-438.
109. “Many Arminians deny the doctrine of theperseverance of the saints." Bruce Demarest, The Cross and Salvation:
The Doctrine of Salvation(Crossway, 1997), 35.
110. LDS Church (2006), "The Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints"
(http://scriptures.lds.or
g/en/a_of_f/1/), The Pearl of Great Price(online ed.)
111. "Alma 34:14-16" (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/34/14-16#14)
.

Further reading
Atkin, James. The Salvation Controversy. San Diego, Calif.: Catholic Answers, 2001.ISBN 1-888992-18-2
Jackson, Gregory Lee.Justification by Faith: Luther versus the U.O.J. [i.e. "Universal Objective Justification"
Lutheran] Pietists. [Glendale, Ariz.]: Martin Chemnitz Press, 2012.ISBN 978-0-557-66008-7
Lutheran World Federation and Roman Catholic Church. Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification . English
language ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: W. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2000.ISBN 978-0-8028-4774-4

Other websites
Salvation- Catholic encyclopaedia
Pohle, Joseph (1913). "Controversies on Grace". In Herbermann, Charles.Catholic Encyclopedia. New York:
Robert Appleton Company.

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