Fathom: Soteriology
Winston Arblaster
1) God loves me!
2) I have sinned.
3) Jesus died for me!
4) I need to decide to live for God.
Philippians 2:6-11
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
“Who, being in very nature God…being made in human likeness...”
“…he made himself nothing…”
“…he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!...”
“…Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name…”
“…the divine was hidden by the veil of our nature, in order that, as in the case of greedy fish, the hook of the divinity might be swallowed with the bait of the flesh, and thus when life came to dwell in death and light shone in the darkness, that which is understood as the opposite of light and life might be utterly destroyed. For it is not in the nature of darkness to remain in the presence of light, nor death to exist where life is active.”
St. Gregory of Nyssa
John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Philippians 2:12-13
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Discussion Questions:
1. When was the first time you heard the gospel story?
2. How has the gospel transformed your life?
3. What is something you can do today to grow
deeper in your understanding of the gospel?
