Page 72 - Bible Doctrine Survey I- Student Textbook

Study Section 9: The Doctrine of Salvation

9.1 Connect.

We have a BIG problem! When you were born, you were born with a nature to sin. You are
selfish and your desire is to rebel against anyone telling you what to do. As a result, you sin
against the Holy God. You have disqualified yourself from spending eternity in Heaven, and
your path will lead you to eternal punishment in Hell. But God, in His great love, provided us
a way to be forgiven. Our doctrinal study today will demonstrate what it took for God to
provide us salvation. Let’s dig in….

9.2 Objectives:

1. The student should be able to describe that over the eons of time, God has provided
salvation to those who trust Him in numerous ways, all pointing to the ultimate solution of the
coming of Christ for a final solution.

2. The student should be able to explain what was accomplished on the cross when Jesus died
for us.

3. The student should be able to describe the doctrines of election vs. free will and how they both
pertain to salvation.

9.3 Salvation Comes to Men.

When Adam sinned in the garden of Eden, man lost fellowship with
God. Death entered the world. Sin brought a curse to the Creation
which has been groaning ever since. All men inherited a nature to
sin and disobey God. Romans 5:12 says, “Therefore, just as sin
entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in
this way death came to all people, because all sinned. The only
way back to God would be for God to provide a way back. And God
had a plan.

The History of Salvation
In every age God has provided salvation. In Genesis 3:15 God promised a solution. Throughout the Old
Testament, men looked for the Passover lamb (Isaiah 53). But the requirement for salvation was always
to trust in God’s provision for sin – even when that provision was unknown or only pictured as in the
sacrificial system. One thing that was always present, however, was the idea of sacrifice. God provided
Adam and Eve with a covering of skins by sacrificing the life of an animal (Genesis 3). God was pleased
with Abel’s sacrifice of an animal (Genesis 4) but rejected Cain’s offering of vegetables and fruits.
Abraham sacrificed a ram in the place of his own son, Isaac (Genesis 22). At the Exodus from Egypt, a
sacrifice was required (Exodus 12). The Levitical system revealed to Moses
centered on animal sacrifice for sin (Leviticus 17:11).

So when Christ came as the “Lamb of God” (John 1:29), the world was well-
prepared by God for the final sacrifice which would permanently take away

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