Review article

»Your Faith has Saved You«. New Testament's Aspects of Faith and Salvation

Božidar Mrakovčić ; Theology in Rijeka, Dislocated Studies of Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Rijeka, Croatia

Abstract

The article deals with the concepts of faith and salvation in the New Testament and with their mutual relationship. Concerning the topic of faith, the author limits himself to an analysis of the meaning and the usage of the noun faith and the verb to believe, while concerning the topic of salvation, he analyses the usage of the noun salvation and the verb to save. After that, the author discusses the relationship between these two topics in the New Testament or, more specifically, in Paul, in John and, finally, in synoptic gospels, while taking into account that for Paul the topic of salvation is identified with the justification, and for John the topic is identified with the eternal life. In the conclusion, the author emphasises christocentricity of faith in the New Testament, its objective and subjective dimension, which presuppose and complete each other. Concerning the topic of salvation in the New Testament, the author notices the dominance of its supernatural meaning, that is, spiritual salvation that has its present dimension (forgiveness of sins, new life in Christ and the Holy Spirit), but also a future, eschatological dimension (resurrection of the dead and the final institution of the Kingdom of God). Some New Testament books (Jn, Col, Eph) emphasise the present dimension of salvation, that is, so-called realised eschatology as a consequence of the postponed Second Coming of Jesus Christ (parusia). In synoptic gospels, which insist on the complete salvation that includes not only the human spirit (forgiveness of sins), but also the human body (health), there is a greater emphasis on the natural understanding of salvation, which suggests the need to escape the overly spiritualised understanding of salvation. The relationship between faith and salvation in the New Testament is always of the cause-effect type. Paul puts the greatest emphasis on the fact that the initial, present stage of salvation (justification) is a gift which cannot be earned, but only accepted by faith in Jesus Christ. On the other hand, John emphasises that faith in Jesus Christ, which makes us the participants in his divine life, is God's work in us. Concerning the final salvation, the Biblical authors agree on the fact that it is conditioned on active faith which is the fruit of the present salvation, that is, a believer's communion with Christ.

Keywords

faith; salvation; life; justification; Paul; John; synoptic

Hrčak ID:

109818

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/109818

Publication date:

25.10.2013.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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