1. THE WORK OF CHRIST SOTERIOLOGY

2. THE ATONEMENT – “TO COVER” Five background elements to the atonement. Romans 3:21-26 The Nature of God – God is holy and He cannot be in union with sinful man. God is also loving and merciful. At the cross justice and mercy meet. Rom 3:21 The Law – The law is an expression of His character. To disobey the law is to offend God. Romans 3:21b

3. THE ATONEMENT The Human Condition – Total Depravity has affected every human. We are all sinners deserving death. Rom 3:23 The Sacrificial System – Sin is only removed/covered by the shedding of blood. Sin is so grave that it deserves death. Rom 3:25b

4. THE SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM The Day of Atonement The Day of Atonement - Yom Kippur (End of September) Bulls and Goats – Leviticus 16 The sins of the priests and the people were “covered” another year. Hebrews 9:1-28 – Jesus is our Great High Priest and Sacrifice

5. THE ATONEMENT The Human Condition – Total Depravity has affected every human. We are all sinners deserving death. Rom 3:23 The Sacrificial System – Sin is only removed/covered by the shedding of blood. Sin is so grave that it deserves death. Rom 3:25b Jesus Christ – In perfect humanity he could serve as our representative. Rom. 3:25a-26

6. PROPITIATION Romans 3:24-25 “…and are justified by his grace as a gift, through redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.” Jesus was the satisfaction of God’s Wrath that has been patiently stored up throughout time making God propitious (favorable) towards us. Pagan Propitiation vs Biblical Propitiation Illustration: Credit Card Bill

7. A PERFECT SACRIFICE Jesus never sinned and had no inclination to sin. Made possible by His virgin birth. He not only didn’t sin, but he also obeyed perfectly (Active Obedience) He suffered (bearing sin; painful death; abandonment; God’s wrath; His perfection, both passive and active, qualified Him as our substitute on the cross.

8. PROPITIATION “There was an eternal, unchangeable, requirement in the holiness of God that sin be paid for.” Wayne Grudem Systematic Theology Jesus was the final and complete fulfillment of the sacrificial system. Jesus declared, “It is finished.” Then the temple curtain was torn from top to bottom!

9. 4 NEEDS – 4 PROVISIONS We owe a debt for our sin that we cannot pay and live Sacrifice – Jesus paid our debt Heb. 9:26 We deserve God’s wrath for our sin Propitiation – Jesus removes God’s wrath 1 Jn. 4:10

10. 4 NEEDS – 4 PROVISIONS We are separated from God because of our sins Reconciliation – Jesus restores fellowship with God 2 Cor 5:18 We are in slavery to sin. We are only free to be as sinful as we desire. Redemption – Jesus set us free from our bondage to sin Mk 10:45

11. FAULTY VIEWS Ransom to Satan Theory – teaches that Satan had a just right to demand payment. Only God was owed payment, not Satan

12. FAULTY VIEWS Moral Influence Theory – teaches that Jesus only died as an example of God’s great love for us to the point of death. Removes the objective nature of just penalty for sin.

13. FAULTY VIEWS Example Theory – teaches that Jesus’ death was an example of self sacrifice and obedience to God. Again, misses the mark regarding God’s just requirement for payment for sin. Taken further, this theory of atonement leads to man-centered justification and redemption. One need only to follow Christ’s example and obey as he did.

14. FAULTY VIEWS Governmental Theory – teaches that Jesus died only to illustrate the importance of following God’s laws. His death was to demonstrate that he was the supreme lawgiver and should be obeyed. This theory also removes the objective nature of offensive sin against a holy God.

15. SIN SHOULD OUTRAGE We don’t like to think of God as being angry or full of wrath regarding sin. What we should do is reflect on why sin doesn’t outrage us more than it does. We should hate sin! Deep brokenness over sin would lead us to deeper gratitude for His grace. We would see more accurately what God did for us. We can only see this clearly if God will reveal it to us. Ask Him!

16. THE LAW OF FAITH Romans 3:27-31 “Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.”

17. THE LAW OF FAITH Hebrews 11:1-3;6 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible…And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

18. THE LAW OF FAITH Faith is not: Simply a sincere belief or personal conviction of the truth of facts. Saving Faith is: A personal trust in Jesus Christ as a living person for forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God. Grudem, Bible Doctrine p.308

19. FAITH AND REPENTANCE Repentance A heartfelt sorrow for sin, a renouncing of it, and a sincere commitment to forsake it and walk in obedience to Christ. Grudem, Bible Doctrine p309 Biblical Faith and Repentance must always go together Isaiah 55:6-7

20. BORN AGAIN Regeneration is a: “secret act of God in which he imparts new spiritual life to us” Grudem, Bible Doctrine Totally the work of God – James 1:8; 1 Pet 1:3; Eph. 2:1-5 Instantaneous event / only once – 2 Cor 5:17; Results in life changes – 1 Jn 3:9; Gal. 5:22-23; Comes before saving faith and repentance – Eph.2:1-5; Jn 6:44; Acts 16:14

21. SALVATION Three Stages (Past Present and Future) Justification – legal declaration of righteousness. We are not declared merely forgiven (neutral) but declared just or righteous even though we are not. We have been saved from the penalty of sin. Justification includes our adoption as children of God. We have been given the rights a privileges of legally adopted children.

22. SALVATION Three Stages (Past Present and Future) Sanctification – our declared righteousness being realized in our daily experience as we become like Jesus. This is a process taking place throughout our Christian lives. God is at work as we obey. Saved from the power of sin. Philippians 1:6 God’s Role – He will bring our Salvation to completion Ephesians 4:17-24 Our Role – Allow God to Renew our minds and Put Off / Put On

23. SALVATION Three Stages (Past Present and Future) Glorification – our righteousness will come to full fruition. We will be like Jesus Christ. Saved from the presence of sin. Glorification is the final step in the application of redemption. It will happen when Christ returns and raises from the dead the bodies of all believers for all time who have died, and reunites them with their souls, and changes the bodies of all believers who remain alive, giving all believers at the same time perfect resurrection bodies like his own. 1 Jn 3:2-3

24. ELECTION OR MAN’S RESPONSIBILITY Sovereign Grace John 6:35-37;44 Acts 13:48 Ephesians 1:4-5 Romans 9:10-24 1 Peter 2:8 Man’s Choice John 1:11-13 John 3:16-20 John 5:40 Romans 10:8-13

25. CENTER OF BIBLICAL TENSION We must acknowledge that the Bible clearly teaches both, God’s sovereignty in election and Man’s responsibility and free will. We must not divorce the doctrine of election from God’s other revealed attributes. We must humbly accept the mystery of this apparent paradox or contradiction. There are serious errors and implications which follow if we don’t stay in the center of biblical tension.

26. HOMEWORK Read in Grudem chapters 54 (p.1091-1108) and 56 (pp1140-1156) Answer question #2 on page 1105 and #1 on page1153 Next Week- Doug Rutt