The Doctrine of Salvation

As part of my seminary assignments, I'm reading "The Doctrine of Salvation," a small paperback by Charles M. Horne that is no longer in print.  You can probably still find a used copy on Amazon.comfor a few bucks.

By way of recommending this very readable little book, allow me to just share a few of Horne's thoughts, two of the helpful charts he includes, and a couple of great quotes he often adds to aid the reader in understanding a particular issue.

Reflecting on Paul's message and method described in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, Horne concludes, "...preaching is not the proclamation of a preacher's private opinions, nor the public airing of his doubts, but rather the full authoritative proclamation of the Word of God."

As we try to understand the different aspects of our salvation in Christ, Horne considers four facets:  sacrifice, propitiation, reconciliation and redemption.  He says:

1. Sacrifice is directed to the need created by our guilt. 
2. Propitiation is directed to the need that arises from the wrath of God.
3. Reconciliation is directed to the need created by God's alienation from us.
4. Redemption is directed to the need created by man's bondage to sin.
   

Horne explains justification as the restoration of our spiritual relation to God.  He explains it to include 3 things:

1. The removal of guilt by the imputation of Christ's righteousness.
2. The removal of condemnation by the gift of forgiveness.
3. The removal of separation by the restoration to fellowship.

And here's a quote that would make a good twitter feed:


"Strictly speaking, it's not even faith in Christ that saves, but Christ who saves through faith."

Here are a couple of the charts that the author includes throughout the book that I've found very helpful & clarifying.

Lastly, here are a couple of quotes that Charles Horne includes from other theologians.  I've found them to be incredibly helpful in summarizing or drawing conclusions in regards to the different aspects of soteriology.

...Fear is not faith; remorse is not repentance; nor is there sufficient power in mere terror to effect the conversion of the heart.  The heart is turned by the attraction of the Saviour's love...
James Buchanan, The Office and Work of the Holy Spirit

Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our Church.  We are fighting today for costly grace...Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession.  Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

Reconciliation is much more than a change of feeling on man's part towards God, and must imply first of all a change of relation in God towards man.

W.H. Griffith Thomas, The Principles of Theology

So now you've had a very piece-mealed exposure to this great book by Charles M. Horne.  I trust it's been helpful and that it might  have encouraged you to obtain your own copy.