Trinitarian Salvation

Our salvation is put into effect by the Trinitarian economy of redemption. 

In other words, each person of the Triune God plays a specific role. In brief, the Father plans redemption and directs it out of love for the Son. The Son accomplishes redemption in glorifying obedience to the Father. And the Holy Spirit applies redemption to us in fulfillment of the New Covenant promises.

I compiled these lists of the major works of each person of the One Triune God in our salvation (with selected Scripture references) for the purpose of training leaders in churches. 


The lists are also useful for personal Bible study, reading and reflecting, praying and praising the God of our great salvation! Print this out and take your time and enjoy!

The Role of God the Father:
Redemption Planned and Directed Out of Love for the Son

1. Election of a People in Eternity. 


1. Deuteronomy 7:6

2. Isaiah 43:21
3. 
Acts 13:48
4. 
Ephesians 1:3-14
5. 
Romans 8:29,33

6. 2 Thessalonians 2:13

2. Sent His Son as a Man for the Salvation of the World. 


1. John 3:13-17

2. Galatians 4:4-5

3. 2 Timothy 1:10

4. 1 John 4:9-10,14

3. Calling Us by the Gospel. 


1. John 6:44

2. Acts 16:14
3. 
Romans 1:16; 8:30; 9:23-26
4. 
1 Corinthians 1:9

5. 2 Thessalonians 2:14
6. 
2 Timothy 1:9

4. Justification. 


1. Psalm 103:12
2. 
Isaiah 61:10

3. Romans 3:21-5:21; 8:30-33

4. 1 Corinthians 1:30
5. 
2 Corinthians 5:21 
6. Philippians 3:9
5. Adoption. 


1. John 1:12

2. Romans 8:14-25
3. 
Galatians 3:23-4:7

4. Colossians 1:13-14
5. 
1 John 3:1-2

6. Union with Christ, especially in His Death, Resurrection and Glory. There are many aspects of (and many more verses talking about) being “In Christ.”
1. 

Romans 6:1-11; 7:4; 8:11,30
2. 
1 Corinthians 15:12-58 

3. Ephesians 1:3-4; 2:6
4. 
Colossians 3:1-4

5. 2 Timothy 1:9

The Role of God the Son:
Redemption Accomplished in Glorifying Obedience to the Father

1. Came with Mission as the Incarnate Divine Messiah.
1. 

Mark 10:45
2. 
John 4:34; 6:38 

3. Philippians 2:5-8
4. 
Hebrews 10:5-10

2. Lived a Life of Righteousness.


1. Matthew 5:13
2. 
Romans 10:4-5
3. 
Philippians 3:9 

4. Hebrews 5:8-9

5. 1 John 3:5

3. Ministry of Revelation. (Father and Spirit also)
1. 

Matthew 7:28-29; 11:27
2. 
John 1:14,18; 6:68; 14:9-10
3. 
1 John 1:1-3

4. Cross and Resurrection unto the Father. There are many aspects of redemption in the Cross and Resurrection, and many more verses. 


1. Matthew 20:28
2. 
John 10:17-18
3. 
Romans 3:25-26; 4:25; 5:6-11
4. 
Ephesians 5:25-27

5. Colossians 1:15-20

6. 1 Peter 2:24

5. Representative and Mediator Between God and Man.


1. Hebrews 2:14-18; 7:1-10:18
2. 
1 Timothy 2:5-6

6. Head of New Race as the Second and Last Adam. 
1. 

Romans 5:12-21
2. 
Ephesians 1:22-23
3. 
Colossians 1:18

4. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22,45-49

7. Spirit Effusion and Intercession. (Father also)
1. 

Matthew 28:20
2. 
John 14:16-18; 16:7
3. 
Acts 2:33

4. Romans 8:34
5. 
Hebrews 2:18

8. Authoritative Judgment and Rule confirmed in His Exaltation, Session, and Parousia. (Father also) 


1. Matthew 28:18,20

2. John 5:22,26-29

3. Acts 10:42 

4. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28

5. Philippians 2:9-11
6. 
Hebrews 1:3b-13; 2:5-8

7. Revelation 22:1-5

The Role of God the Holy Spirit:
Redemption Applied in Fulfillment of New Covenant Promise of Purity, Presence, and Power

1. Conviction of Sin. 


1. John 16:8-11

2. 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5

2. Regeneration. (Strong association with Father’s Calling with Word)


1. Ezekiel 36:26-27

2. John 1:13; 3:3-8 
3. 
Ephesians 2:5

4. Colossians 2:13

5. James 1:18

6. Titus 3:5-6

7. 1 Peter 1:3,23

3. Sealing/Pledge and Baptism into the Body of Christ. 


1. 1 Corinthians 12:13

2. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 5:5

3. Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30

4. Sanctification. There is a range of meaning and various aspects of “Sanctification.” (Father and Son also)


1. John 17:17,19
2. 
Romans 15:16

3. 1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:11
4. 
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

5. 2 Thessalonians 2:13

6. Hebrews 2:11; 10:10,14
7. 
1 Peter 1:2

5. Indwelling/Abiding, Comfort/Assurance, and Giving Gifts to Church. (Father and Son also) 


1. John 14-17

2. Romans 5:1-5
3. 
1 Corinthians 12:7-11

4. Ephesians 4:4-16
5. 
1 Jn 3:24; 4:13

6. Scripture, Revelation/Illumination, Teaching, and Guiding/Directing. (Father and Son also)


1. Luke 12:11-12
2. 
John 14:26; 16:13-15

3. Acts 13:2; 15:28; 16:6,7

4. 1 Corinthians 2:10-16
5. 
Ephesians 1:17-19

6. 2 Peter 1:20-21 

7. 1 John 2:27

7. Powerfully Working Obedience/Perseverance unto Glory. (Father and Son also)


1. Romans 8:4-27
2. 
Galatians 5:16-26
3. 
Ephesians 5:18-21
4. 
Philippians 2:12-13

5. 1 Peter 1:5
6. 
2 Peter 1:3-11

8. Wrote Scripture.


1. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

2. 1 Peter 1:10-12

3. 2 Peter 1:20-21

Ordinary Trainers Make Training More Accessible

When it comes to accessibility, there are less helpful trainers and there are more helpful trainers.

This overly sharp contrast will highlight how trainers who are current practitioners make ministry more understandable, easily applicable and lead to greater results.

Less Helpful Trainers

You have seen them. Although they are extraordinary people with inspiring ministry stories, most likely it has been a while since they have done the ministry for which they are providing training. Nevertheless, they are the recognized experts, ministry celebrities, and have a wealth of resources.

Their presentations are refined and their stage presence is polished. The systems and solutions offered appear simple and easy to use. However, at the book table the program details and pricing overwhelm. But people buy in because they want the grand ministry success promised. Or they sign up to learn how to become a certified system trainer themselves.

When the participants get back home to their own ministries they are frustrated the new system doesn’t work as easily as they thought it would. Some wisely dump the materials and do what they know works, while others keep signing up for more and more help from the ministry franchise.

More Helpful Trainers

You have met them. They are ordinary ministers and people doing the same type of ministry for which they providing training. They are current practitioners. They know well the needs and struggles of their ministry colleagues personally and identify with them as partners, even friends.

Their presentations are encouraging and they carry themselves with humble credibility. The participants leave knowing that they can improve their ministry on their own by what they have learned. The trainers share ministry tools freely and allow them to be modified to fit a variety of ministry contexts.

There are more of these types of trainers available because these people are the ordinary ministers who serve all around the world. This group has greater potential because of their sheer number, personable influence and much broader networks.

Still, many more of these types of trainers could be mobilized. Maybe some of them need to understand how much they really do have to offer. Maybe some of them just need a quality opportunity to get involved.

Certainly, the global Church needs many types of training and trainers, from the extraordinary to the ordinary, as the Lord gifts and provides. Pray that the Lord will move upon many more of His ordinary ministers with confidence in their gifts and the power of the Holy Spirit to train others.

These ordinary men and women are even more likely to make far greater and deeper impact on the way Gospel ministry is actually accomplished around the world than the few extraordinary ones.


[See a related blog entry: Customization Over Standardization]

5 Images Of Love’s Devotion and Strength

Love songs are the best songs to sing.

This is because love is one our basic human desires.  And this is why the biblical book the Song of Songs is so entitled, because it is about the best of songs; it is about love. It is a love poem about the proprieties and experiences of human love. The central message of the poem is that marital love is to be enjoyed to its fullest.

Marital Love

In 8:6-7, the bride in the poem speaks to her groom, expressing the incomparable strength and devotion of marital love.

Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm.
For as strong as death is love,
as severe as the grave is jealousy.
Its flashes are flashes of fire, a most vehement flame.
Many waters are not able to quench love,
nor are rivers able to wash it away.
If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love,
it would be utterly despised.

Many images of love’s devotion and strength have just been placed in our minds. Love is compared to the absolute security of a seal, the unyielding grip of death, and the heat of the hottest fire. It is also pictured as containing enough fortitude to withstand all the forces of nature, typified by water. And it is priceless; it cannot be bought with all the money in the world.

During a wedding ceremony we celebrate the union of a man and a woman in their marital love for one another. They are pledging their lives together in undying love. How can they do this? How can any of us do so for that matter? It seems today that love is an emotion that comes and goes and we float along with it. What is the unique kind of love that forms a marital structure strong enough to last for a lifetime in devotion?

It is the love portrayed in the Song of Songs. It is human love that has properly progressed to the point of being given over to one another in the covenant of marriage. This is according to God’s design from Creation; and it remains His plan until the end of the world. Let’s look at the five images of love’s devotion and strength from Song of Songs 8:6-7.

A Seal

The first image is that of a seal. Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. A seal marks ownership, or possession. This is a love that is given over to absolute devotion. The seal upon the heart and arm is symbolized today in the wedding ring. It is a pledge of lifelong devotion. It symbolizes a mutual ownership of one another.  This love commits up front to an unending devotion, sustained and constrained by covenant for life before God Almighty.

This image is the most important one, for it parallels that of Jesus Christ’s love for His Church. He enters into covenant and communion with those who place their faith in His cross for forgiveness of their sin and for gaining the righteousness of Christ so as to be justified before God. And further, He grants the Holy Spirit as a seal to Christians, pledging His eternal covenant faithfulness and marking them out as His own possession.

The human marriage relationship is to mirror the relationship between Christ and His Church. May we strive in all the grace of God to attain this ideal of love, and enjoy it and model it for all!

Death

Second is the image of death. For as strong as death is love, as severe as the grave is jealousy. This sure seems strange and unromantic, wouldn’t you say? How odd that we would talk about death at a wedding! But, the comparison is not between love and death per se, but between their irresistible power. In this they are similar.

How many people have been able to hold off death from overtaking them? None. Death and love are personified here. Death never gives up in its pursuit of whomever it desires. Finally, it succeeds and once it obtains its object, never lets it go. The grave is fiercely inflexible in never allowing the release of anyone from its possession.

This is what marital love is like. It is a love that pursued its beloved until the marriage day and then keeps on holding its lover close through the unyielding power of love. This is quite the image!

Lightning

Third, its flashes are flashes of fire, a most vehement flame. Do we love each other with burning passion? This is part of the true love of marriage! In fact, all of us who are married must burn like the searing and evaporating heat of lightning. Marital love is a jealousy for one another such that your pre-occupying desire is for total enjoyment of one another.

Marriage is not to be endured as an estate of tolerance, growing apart from one another. This is the sad state of affairs for many. But, we should not be discouraged by this. We can choose otherwise. Marriage is to be blissful and full of joy. Marital love is to be enjoyed with great fervor and this is why the focal message of the book of the Song of Songs in 5:1 is expressed as, “Eat, O friends; drink your fill O lovers!” This injunction describes marital love as satisfaction. It is feasting on your love for one another.

Floods

Fourth, love is shown in its overwhelming effect upon the heart. It is a love so powerfully overwhelming that it is described as withstanding all the forces of nature. Many waters are not able to quench love, nor are rivers able to wash it away.

True love withstands all the onslaughts with which it is confronted. We will encounter them as we all do. Conflict has been built into the structure of our world and woven into the fabric of our being since the Fall of Adam and Eve. Marital pleasure is as pure and delightful as already stated. But, that was only part of the story.

Surely we all know about the pressures, challenges, and conflicts involved in the marital relationship. And so, we need humility, patience, conflict resolution skills, forgiveness, honest communication, joy in the truth and in righteousness, desiring the benefit of the other, hoping the best about one another, a willingness to bear one another’s burdens, and remembering your marriage covenant. In the end, we all must rely upon God’s grace to make our marriages work because we are all so naturally selfish. It involves love, in other words—the love portrayed in Song of Songs.

Wealth

Finally, love is priceless. Were a man to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly despised. What is marital love worth?

This image in the Song is that of buying love even if it cost all the possessions of one’s household. Historically, this is the bride-price being mentioned. If love is not present, the purchase price and the would-be purchaser together are despised. Marital love is worth more than all that could be given in a dowry.

We don’t have dowries today, but we do have marriage licenses. And marital love and commitment doesn’t automatically come with them. Generally speaking, marriage isn’t worth much in our contemporary culture.

Don’t let your love be bought by anyone, or anything else. Temptations of all sorts will vie for our affections, and it won’t just be other lovers. It could be career, money, possessions, friends, entertainments, hobbies, or whatever. Despise them all! Yes, despise whatever it might be that would weaken your marital bond. Keep you love and commitment solely upon one another.

This of course is not all there is to marriage. It is not even close. Yet, from this biblical passage it is clear that the purpose of marital love is the full enjoyment of one another under the blessing of God. There is still so much more that we discover together throughout your lives. May we keep growing together and make our marriages an experience of the blessings recounted in the Song of Songs. This is the kind of love that will make for a marriage that will last a lifetime.

I Already Answered That Question

Years ago I taught a group of 20 young national church planters in a remote and hidden location for a week. My topic was the doctrine of the Trinity. But, to my surprise, at the end of the week the class was most interested in Bible verses about the Return of Christ.

Unusual Question & Answer

Open question and answer sessions can be very helpful to those asking the questions and to everyone listening and thinking through the answers together. These kinds of sessions can also reveal a lot about where a group is in their understanding of doctrine, Christian living, and how they are thinking about their community and mission.

The first person asked about the meaning of a passage in Matthew about the timing and events surrounding Christ’s Return. I answered the question. A second person asked about the meaning of a verse in Mark about Christ’s Return. It was a similar passage, but I answered the question. A third person asked about the meaning of a verse in Revelation about the end times. Again, it was a very similar question. I pointed out how all these questions were almost asking the same thing, and then I answered the question again.

And yes, a fourth person found a passage in Luke he couldn’t understand about Jesus’ coming again and asked the same types questions again! At this point I put a stop to the questions, “I already answered that question,” I said. They looked confused. It was time to have a conversation about the value of systematic theology.

Biblical Literacy is Elementary

This group of young men and women knew their Bibles well and could quote many verses by heart. They were passionate about their faith in Christ, understood the Gospel and could communicate it clearly. Objections to Christianity were readily answered with chapter and verse.

Listening to them share with one another, they would meaningfully encourage and challenge one another from the Bible. They quickly found key verses for spiritual guidance and answers to life’s problems. In many ways they were inspirational leaders who modeled Biblical knowledge and its practical usage.

Systematic Theology Develops Maturity

At first they did not see their problem. They resigned themselves to live with many many unanswered questions, hoping someday to find someone with the answers. They were hoping I was that person, at least for this topic. Maybe God would send them others for other topics.

We talked about how having a theology would help them understand the Bible better, interpret passages more consistently and faithfully. We talked about how our theology can grow and develop as we learn more together. Their own questions they were asking me was a perfect example for them to see the value of systematic theology.

Together we identified other topics of interest and collected Bible verses on the subject. I asked them questions to help them synthesize the Bible’s message on a few topics and be able to present the theology coherently. Confidence started to grow that they could find the answers from God’s Word on many other important topics by thinking systematically about the whole of the Bible’s message. In other words, I taught them how to do basic systematic theology.

Equipping Everyone Everywhere

This experience with these brothers and sisters was a blessing to me as much as it was to them. This is because I would see the same situation replicated in many other parts of the world. When poor interpretation combines with passion, confusion results and sometimes even heresy.

We should be aware of this struggle and work to meet the needs of churches and leaders for theological development. I have found that one of the best ways to teach the process is to focus on the basic doctrines of Christianity (Trinity, Person and Work of Christ, and Salvation) and lead them to discover the historic theology directly from the Bible for themselves. It is exciting! It has tremendous value that helps in practical ministry. And they are then well equipped to work on other doctrines by themselves.