th 513

1. TH 513 Systematic Theology II
PPt. by Dr. Mark Hardgrove
GEISLER, NORMAN
SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY II

2. Geisler, Norman Vol. 3
Systematic Theology II
Chapter 69
“The Content of
Salvation”

3. The Content of Salvation
In this chapter Geisler wrestles with the thorny
of issue of what a person must believe (the
content of his faith) in order to be saved.
Though differences between denominations
may be subtle or stark, the question of content
is important in terms of establishing what we
must believe in order to be saved, and thereby
acknowledge one another as “brothers” and
“sisters” in the body of Christ.

4. Distinctions
 Geisler makes distinctions between different aspects of believing
and of faith:
 The Object of faith vs. the Basis of faith
 The Object of faith vs. the Content of faith
 The Conditions for Obtaining a Gift vs. Conditions for Losing a
Gift
 Absolute Conditions vs. Normative Conditions
 One-Time Normative Conditions vs. All-Time Normative
Conditions
 Explicit Necessary Conditions vs. Implicit Necessary Conditions
 Consistent Beliefs vs. Inconsistent Beliefs
 Denying vs. Not Believing

5. The Difference Between
Absolute and Normative
It is normally but no absolutely necessary to use dry
wood in order to build a fire. Similarly, God could will
as normatively necessary what is not absolutely
necessary for someone to be saved. For example, He
could will as a normative salvific condition that all
people believe in Christ’s substituionary death
(atonement) on their behalf, even if this particularly
belief were not an absolute necessity for salvation. The
present issue is not whether in fact Christ needed to die
for our sins in order for us to be saved but whether
belief in that reality is an absolutely necessary
condition for salvation.

6. The Difference Between Explicit and
Implicit Normative Conditions
What is implicitly necessary for salvation is not always
explicitly so. It would seem that all essential salvific
(saving) truth itself is necessary for salvation in its
comprehensive sense. However, even granting this (as
most evangelicals do) does not mean that a person must
explicitly believe every element of it in order to receive
the gift of everlasting life. It is possible, for example, that
a certain truly saved person never heard about (let alone
believed in) Christ’s virgin birth or ascension at the time
he believed the gospel and was saved (cf. Rom. 1:16; 1
Cor. 15:1-6).

7. Geisler’s Assessment of Content
In the final slide of this presentation is a chart
(found on pages 544-545 of Geisler, vol. 3), in
which Geisler, using the delimiters of absolute,
normative, explicit and implicit, indicates what
he believes is essential for salvation.
Absolutely refers to what is nor isn’t an
absolute necessity for belief today to be saved;
that is, whether God could or couldn’t save
someone unless he or she believed it.

8. Geisler’s Assessment of Content
Normatively refers to whether something is
mandated by God but is not absolutely
necessary; that is, whether the belief is required
by God for His own reasons, not because
salvation wouldn’t be possible without that
specific belief.

9. Geisler’s Assessment of Content
Explicitly refers to whether a person must
overtly believe in a specific truth in order to
receive salvation.
Implicitly refers to whether or not a certain
truth, while not an explicit part of the belief
content necessary for salvation today, is implied
in another truth in which belief is explicitly
necessary for salvation today.

10. Geisler’s Assessment of Content
Familiarize yourself with the chart on the
next slide. Ask yourself if you agree with
Geisler’s assessment and why you agree or
disagree.

11. What Is Necessary to Believe to Be Saved?
Absolutely Normatively Explicitly Implicitly
Only
1. Human Depravity No Yes No Yes
2. Christ’s Virgin Birth No Yes No Yes
3. Christ’s Sinlessness No Yes No Yes
4. Christ’s Humanity No Yes No Yes
5. Christ’s Deity Yes Yes Yes No
6. God’s Unity Yes Yes Yes No
7. TheTrinity No Yes No Yes
8. The Necessity of Grace Yes Yes Yes No
9. The Necessity of Faith Yes Yes Yes No
10. Christ’s Atoning Death No Yes Yes No
11. Christ’s Bodily Resurrection No Yes Yes No
12. Christ’s Bodily Ascension No No No No
13. Christ’s Present Session No No No No
14. Christ’s Bodily Second Coming No No No No

12. Reminders
Know when your final paper is due and prep for
the final exam.