The Doctrine of Salvation -- By: Larry Dixon

Journal: Emmaus Journal
Volume: EMJ 10:2 (Summer 2001)
Article: The Doctrine of Salvation
Author: Larry Dixon


The Doctrine of Salvation1

Larry Dixon *

[*Larry Dixon is a graduate of Emmaus Bible College and is Professor of Church History and Theology at Columbia Biblical Seminary and School of Missions in Columbia, South Carolina. He attends Woodland Hills Community Church in Columbia. This is chapter seven in a series of articles entitled Back to the Basics: A Fairly Serious Survey of the Fundamentals of the Faith.]

Section One: The Heart of the Issue: Two Schools

“Salvation does not give you joy. It simply makes it possible.” (Stephen Brown)

“Jesus came not to hush the natural music of men’s lives, nor to fill it with storm and agitation, but to retune every silver chord and to make it echo with the harmonies of heaven.” (James Farrar)

“God is not against us because of our sins; He is for us against our sins!” (Anonymous)

“The ‘whosoever wills’ are the elect, and the ‘whosoever won’ts’ are the non-elect.” (D. L. Moody)

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” (Titus 3:4–5, NIV)

You may have heard the story about a little boy who answered the telephone: “Hello,” he whispered. A man said, “Is your dad home?” “Yes,” whispered the little boy. “Can he come to the phone?” “No,” he said quietly. “Why not?” asked the man. “He’s busy,” the soft voice said. “Can your mom come to the phone?” “No,” he answered. “Well, why not?” “She’s busy too,” the lad said very quickly. “Well, young man,” the caller was growing more frustrated, “I understand you have a sister. Can she come to the phone?” “No,” whispered the little boy, “she’s busy.” The caller hears the sound of policemen and firemen in the background. “Son, I find it difficult to believe that every member of your family is too busy to come to the phone. What are your family members busy doing?” The little boy in a last whisper, just before he hangs up the phone, says, “They’re busy—looking for me!

The Searching Heart of God

When we think of the doctrine of salvation, we need to keep in mind that God is looking for lost people. Jesus came to “seek and save that which was lost,” we learn in Luke 19:10. As one preacher put it, ...

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