LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
History of Salvation
Submitted to Professor Grayson Hammond,
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
THEO 360-B01
Biblical Theology
by
Michelle Davis
July 1, 2024 Introduction
Salvation is the only way humanity can regain a relationship with God. When humankind fell into temptation and lost the perfect relationship with God, a plan was made to bring His creation back to their original state: sinless with a desire to serve God.
Because of the sinful fall, God began His plan of redemption, starting with those who first sinned. God established covenants with his chosen people to renew His relationship
with his creation. The steps in the history of salvation include the creation and fall of man, rescue of Noah, promises to Abraham, giving of the law to Moses, and the promise
of kingship to David.1 Each Old Testament covenant points to the final act to redeem humanity: the sacrifice made on the cross of calvary by Jesus Christ. Through this act of
love, all who believe on Jesus, both Jew and Gentile, may accept this free gift called salvation. Within the contents of this paper, the author will explore the history of salvation beginning with Adamic Covenant and concluding with the New Covenant, describe how each covenant points to the coming Messiah, and how Jesus Christ offers salvation today.
History of Biblical Covenants
Before discussing what the different covenants are, it is important to understand what a covenant is. According to God’s Kingdom through Covenants: A Concise Biblical Theology, a covenant is defined as “an enduring agreement which defines a relationship between two parties involving a solemn, binding obligation(s) specified on the part of at least one of the parties toward the other, made by oath under threat of divine curse, and ratified by a visual ritual.”2 Because of the sinful nature of humankind, God established
1 Ceroke, Christian P Ceroke, “Principles of Salvation History,” Marian Studies: Vol. 16, Article 7 (1965): 30.2 Peter J. Gentry and Stephen J. Wellum, God’s Kingdom through Covenants: A Concise Biblical Theology,
(Wheaton: Crossway, 2015), 45.
History of Salvation
Submitted to Professor Grayson Hammond,
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
THEO 360-B01
Biblical Theology
by
Michelle Davis
July 1, 2024 Introduction
Salvation is the only way humanity can regain a relationship with God. When humankind fell into temptation and lost the perfect relationship with God, a plan was made to bring His creation back to their original state: sinless with a desire to serve God.
Because of the sinful fall, God began His plan of redemption, starting with those who first sinned. God established covenants with his chosen people to renew His relationship
with his creation. The steps in the history of salvation include the creation and fall of man, rescue of Noah, promises to Abraham, giving of the law to Moses, and the promise
of kingship to David.1 Each Old Testament covenant points to the final act to redeem humanity: the sacrifice made on the cross of calvary by Jesus Christ. Through this act of
love, all who believe on Jesus, both Jew and Gentile, may accept this free gift called salvation. Within the contents of this paper, the author will explore the history of salvation beginning with Adamic Covenant and concluding with the New Covenant, describe how each covenant points to the coming Messiah, and how Jesus Christ offers salvation today.
History of Biblical Covenants
Before discussing what the different covenants are, it is important to understand what a covenant is. According to God’s Kingdom through Covenants: A Concise Biblical Theology, a covenant is defined as “an enduring agreement which defines a relationship between two parties involving a solemn, binding obligation(s) specified on the part of at least one of the parties toward the other, made by oath under threat of divine curse, and ratified by a visual ritual.”2 Because of the sinful nature of humankind, God established
1 Ceroke, Christian P Ceroke, “Principles of Salvation History,” Marian Studies: Vol. 16, Article 7 (1965): 30.2 Peter J. Gentry and Stephen J. Wellum, God’s Kingdom through Covenants: A Concise Biblical Theology,
(Wheaton: Crossway, 2015), 45.
