Salvation

Salvation is a word commonly used to describe the goal of Christians. Salvation is aslo called "Eternal Life" and "Life Everlasting." Salvation should not be confused with Heaven nor with the Resurrection.

Salvation in the New Testament

In the New Testement it is possible to see that people are saved by repentence and baptism (Acts 2:38), belief (John 3:16), calling on the Lord (Romans 10:13), giving to the poor (Matthew 25:31-46), destruction of the flesh by Satan (1 Corinthians 5:5), the life of Jesus (Romans 5:10), child bearing (1 Timothy 2:15), belief and baptism (Mark 16:16), and faith (Luke 7:50).

Salvation in Calvinist Thought

In Calvinist theology human beings have no ability to influence whether or not they will be saved. Essentially, because man is totally depraved he is unwilling and unable to do any of the things required to be saved. Not even whether or not to believe or have faith in Jesus is within the power of man. Therefore, if anyone is to be saved, God must save them. In Calvinist soteriology, God saves some people by predestinating them to have faith in Jesus and repent of their sins. This idea is developed out of Martin Luther's theology, notably in Bondage of the Will and his Commenatry on Romans in which he side-steps the issue of predestination but not depravity.