Soteriology
Soteria (σωτηρία) is the Greek word for Salvation, so Soteriology is the study of Salvation. But, to study it, one must break it into it’s component parts.
- Why do we need to be saved?
- What do we need to be saved from?
- Can we save ourselves?
- How then can we be saved?
- If saved, can we then be lost again?
GotQuestions.org explains the importance of Soteriology, like this…
Other than Christology, Soteriology is the area where Christianity is the most different from the cults and other world religions. Understanding Biblical Soteriology will help us to know why salvation is by grace alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. No other religion bases salvation on faith alone. Soteriology helps us to see why. A clear understanding of our salvation will provide a “peace that passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) because we come to know that He who can never fail is the means by which we were saved and the means by which we remain secure in our salvation. If we were responsible to save ourselves and keep ourselves saved, we would fail.
So you can see why this subject would be very important for Christians, and can also be a point of debate when it comes to the finer details of salvation.