25-01 The Doctrine of Salvation in Jesus Christ

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Pope Benedict XVI began his encyclical God Is Love (2006) with these moving words: “‘God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him’ (1 John 4:16). These words from the First Letter of John express with remarkable clarity the heart of the Christian faith: the Christian image of God and the resulting image of mankind and its destiny.” The pope has immediately added that “I wish in my first Encyclical to speak of the love which God lavishes upon us and which we in turn must share with others” (#1).

The sacred message that God is love undergirds the Church’s teachings on God’s intention “to redeem” or “to save” creation. As the pope has mentioned in his encyclical, the God of the Bible is intent on bringing about our redemption, our freedom from sin and death. Or to put it another way, God wills our salvation, our healing for eternal life. Again, to quote Benedict XVI: “The one God in whom Israel believes . . . loves with a personal love” (#9). In other words, God knows us by name and wants us to attain the fullness of life forever. Each lecture in The Doctrine of Salvation in Jesus Christ explores a major topic within the Church’s teachings on redemption or salvation.

Course Content

Unit 1: The Theme of Salvation in the Old Testament

Unit 2: Jesus’ Teachings on Salvation

Unit 3: The New Testament’s Images of Jesus Christ as Savior

Unit 4: The Christian Tradition’s “Theories” of Jesus Christ as Savior

Unit 5: Vatican II’s Teachings on Salvation in Jesus Christ

Course Format

• Six weeks in duration; first week for orientation.
• Up to 20 students in each course.
• Video lectures with text transcripts available.
• Supplemental readings are provided to encourage further exploration.
• Written assignments (200-250) required.
• Facilitator-moderated weekly Zoom sessions with participants.

Participation Requirements

• Read or view weekly lectures.
• Read assigned texts; keep notes, questions, and comments for class discussions.
• Answer weekly discussion question. 
• Respond to every unit assignment.
• Attend weekly Zoom for each unit. If you cannot attend, you can still meet the participation requirements.
• Complete the course evaluation.

Time Expectations

4 to 6 hours per week, depending on your learning style and schedule.

Course Certificate

An electronic certificate of completion awarding 25 contact hours will be available in course when completing all course requirements.