Thus far we have studied Paul’s doctrine of salvation in objective terms. Salvation is the work of divine grace, centering in the atoning death of Christ on the cross and bringing about a change in the relation of mankind to God, a change described as redemption, justification, and reconciliation. We turn now to the subjective and personal aspect of salvation, to Paul’s answer to the question, "What must I do to be saved?"

Faith

When this question was asked by the Philippian jailer, Paul replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). The word for personal acceptance of the salvation accomplished in the Christ-deed is faith. This word occurs as noun or verb, pistis or pisteuo, some 200 times in Paul’s letters, and is rich in meaning.

Faith stands, first of all,…