The Role of Christ in Salvation

Christians believe that all human beings sin against God - they disobey God’s laws. This means that they deserve to be punished, which for some religious believers can mean being sent to hell. Others also believe that God is all-loving and does not want to condemn people to eternal punishment.

Jesus' role

God sent his son, Jesus, who was a man, to take on people’s sins and, by dying on the cross, to atone for them.
Because Jesus was himself innocent, and the Son of God, this act of self-sacrifice was sufficient to take away the sins of mankind. It is an act of atonement (an act that makes amends for wrongdoing).
Therefore Christians refer to Jesus as their saviour, and his resurrection is seen as proof of his divine nature and also that there is life after death.

Theories of salvation

There are 3 main theories of Christ's role in salvation:

The Ransom theory.
The Substitution theory.
The Moral Transformation theory.

Bible verse - John 3

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.’ [John 3:16-17 NIV]

Bible verse - 2 Timothy 1

‘He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.’ [2 Timothy 1:9-10 NIV]

1Buddhism

2Christianity

2.1Key Beliefs

2.1.1The Nature of God

2.1.2The Problem of Evil

2.1.3Monotheism

2.1.4Creation

2.1.5Bible Accounts of Creation

2.1.6The Trinity and Creation

2.1.7Afterlife

2.1.8Heaven and Hell

2.1.9The Influence of Afterlife on Life

2.1.10End of Topic Test - Christianity Key Beliefs

2.1.11Exam-Style Questions - Christian Beliefs

2.2Jesus Christ & Salvation

2.2.1The Incarnation

2.2.2Jesus - Divine & Human

2.2.3The Crucifixion

2.2.4Jesus' Betrayal

2.2.5Resurrection & Ascension

2.2.6Sin

2.2.7Original Sin

2.2.8Punishment

2.2.9The Means of Salvation

2.2.10Achieving Salvation

2.2.11Disagreements About Salvation

2.2.12The Role of Christ in Salvation

2.2.13Theories of Salvation

2.2.14End of Topic Test - Jesus Christ & Salvation

2.3Worship & Festivals

2.3.1Different Forms of Worship

2.3.2Prayer

2.3.3Sacrament

2.3.4Baptism

2.3.5Other Sacraments

2.3.6Eucharist

2.3.7Pilgrimage & Celebrations

2.3.8Christmas & Easter

2.3.9End of Topic Test - Worship and Festivals

2.4Community

2.4.1Local Community

2.4.2Mission, Evangelism & Church Growth

2.4.3Worldwide Church

2.4.4Reconciliation

2.4.5Persecution

2.4.6Caring for Those in Need

2.4.7End of Topic Test - Community

2.4.8Exam-Style Questions - Christian Practices

3Catholicism (Christianity)

4Islam

5Judaism

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