Introduction

The Bible is the most glorious book in the world. It is the only book inspired directly by the Spirit of God. It is the only book that is infallible. The Bible is literally a gold mine of precious doctrines. Among these doctrines are Theology (the doctrine of God), Anthropology (the doctrine of man), Christology (the doctrine of the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ), Pneumatology (the doctrine of the Holy Spirit), Eschatology (the doctrine of the last things) and others. This little study guide, entitled Studies in the Doctrine of Salvation, concerns what theologians call Soteriology. It concerns how God saves sinners from their sins and preserves them in everlasting salvation. In it the doctrine of salvation is studied systematically. This is so because the human mind is made in such a way that things are understood logically and chronologically. God is infinite. He is omniscient. He grasps all truth perfectly and at once. But we are finite. We have to take things one at a time to understand them. This is especially true of the great doctrine of salvation. To properly understand what the Bible says about salvation we have to dig in the gold mine of the Bible and to arrange in our minds what we find there. In other words, we must, prayerfully relying on the Holy Spirit, rightly divide the word of truth. (II Tim. 2:15). Truths that we do not study and learn systematically we have a tendency to lose.

Thus the plan of this little study book is systematic. The doctrine of salvation is studied according to the acronym TULIP. The "T" stands for Total Depravity (Mankind Dead in Sins); the "U" stands for Unconditional Election (the Doctrine of Election); the "L" stands for Limited Atonement (Particular Redemption); the "I" stands for Irresistible Grace; the "P" stands for Preservation of the Saints.

The reader might want to read Lesson Five first. This lesson is entitled "Salvation by Grace." It is really a very brief summary of the entire doctrine of salvation. I really should have used this lesson for an introductory lesson but I am choosing to leave it where it is. All the other lessons are in their proper places.

Each lesson is followed by what I trust will be thought-provoking questions which should be easily answered by reading the lesson and by looking up the references from Scripture.

Most of the lessons are followed by suggested memory verses. I can't urge too strongly that each reader commit these verses to memory as you move from lesson to lesson. These verses committed to memory will greatly aid you in meditation on the wonder of God's salvation. They will also greatly aid you in explaining to others what you believe. If you will memorize each verse as you come to it the task will not be too great.

I recommend this little study book for individual study, for group study, for family devotions. I have taught these lessons on two occasions at Grace Chapel Primitive Baptist Church, Memphis, Tennessee, and we have greatly enjoyed them and have been benefited by them.

I give many thanks to Brother Keifor Beauchamp who type-set this little work in an attractive and very readable form. Thank God for co-workers like this.

I will be amply paid for my work if just one of God's dear little children benefits thereby. One of the main reasons to study the glorious doctrine of God's salvation is that we may better praise the Lord for saving us from our sins. As the dear servant of God, Elder E. C. Holder, who baptized me forty years ago used to say: "These truths will stand when the world is on fire."

Zack Guess, Memphis, Tennessee
July 1994