S10: E10 Beyond The Salvation Wars: Rethinking Salvation with Matthew Bates

Theology on Mission

Is our understanding of salvation too small?

In this thought-provoking episode, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore sit down with Matthew Bates, professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary and author of Beyond the Salvation Wars, to challenge long-held assumptions about the gospel. From the pitfalls of individualistic salvation to the deeper call of allegiance to King Jesus, they explore what it truly means to be saved—and why both Protestants and Catholics need to rethink their approach.

🎙️ In This Episode:

• Why reducing the gospel to “justification by faith” misses the bigger picture.
• How allegiance to Jesus reshapes our understanding of salvation.
• The problem with both evangelical and progressive approaches to discipleship.
• Why the Gospel Coalition and the Catholic Church might have more in common than we think.
• How pastors can cultivate a Gospel Allegiance Culture in their churches.

📌 Highlights:

• [00:04:00] The problem with how Protestants and Catholics frame salvation.
• [00:12:00] Justification as a benefit of the gospel, not the gospel itself.
• [00:19:00] Rethinking righteousness: Imputed, imparted, or incorporated?
• [00:27:00] Why spiritual disciplines should be allegiance opportunities.
• [00:32:00] The danger of reducing faith to “try harder and do better.”

💡 Takeaway:

The gospel isn’t just about avoiding hell or doing justice—it’s about swearing allegiance to King Jesus and being swept up in his mission for the world. When we move beyond an individualistic, works-based mindset, we discover a deeper, more holistic understanding of salvation.

📖 Additional Reflection:

What would change in your life if you saw faith not as belief or effort, but as allegiance to Jesus? Let us know your thoughts!