Johann
Active Member
SALVATION
GOD’S PROVISION, MAN’S NEED
God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. Jesus offered once and for all the one perfect sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. No other satisfaction is necessary; none other can atone. Salvation is received as a gift on the condition of genuine faith.
ELEMENTS OF INITIAL SALVATION
Justification– To justify in Scripture is an act of God, by which, according to His grace and for Christ’s sake, He pardons all of our sins and accepts us as righteous. The Bible tells us that God accepts the one who confesses himself to be guilty, and who repents and believes in Jesus Christ. Mark 1:14, 15; 16:16; Rom. 1:16,17; 4:3-7; 5:1; Gal. 2:16, 17. This can only be found through the work of Christ, and not the law. Every attempt in sinners to justify themselves by the law is vain. Psa. 140:3, 4; 143:2; Rom. 3: 20, 28; 7: 5-24.
Regeneration– Is the change of nature that is wrought within the believer simultaneously with the work of justification. Matt. 19:28; Tit. 3:5. It is commonly called the NEW BIRTH, John 3:3-8.
It is the initial stage of sanctification in which the Believers nature is born again and re-united with God. It is passing out of death into life, Eph 2:1, 4, 5; 1 John 3:14; a new creation, 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15; a new heart and a new spirit, Ezek. 11:19; 18:31; 36:26.
Regeneration is necessary since in man’s fallen state he is unfit to inherit the Kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 15:50; Gal. 5:19-21. Also God is holy and heaven is a holy place, and sinful man must be changed in order to fellowship with God and enjoy heaven.
Adoption– An act of God by which we are accepted into the family of God as His own children. Rom. 8:15, 23; 9:4; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5.
Adoption, Regeneration, and Justification– All happen simultaneously when a Believer passes from death into life. Justification is necessary to enable the reconciliation between God and Man. When this takes place, all our former sins are forgiven. But God has to go further to be able to accept us, He must reform our corrupt nature, this of course is the function of regeneration. Adoption, that is, being born into and accepted into God’s family occurs in the same moment that regeneration and justification take place.
ATONEMENT AND THE BIBLE
Atonement– means to make as one, to satisfy, to take away the barrier that separates. Concerning Christ, it stands for the provision that he acquired through His sufferings upon the cross on our behalf. This provision makes possible the uniting of two divided parties, God and man.
Many use the term REDEMPTION as a synonym for ATONEMENT. To redeem is to “buy back”, or to pay a ransom. On this account Jesus is called the Redeemer. Isa. 59:20; 60:16; Rom. 3:24-26; Gal. 3:13; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19.
THE FACTS
Atonement is only through the death and resurrection of Christ.
Luke 22:19; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:6-11; 2 Cor. 5:18, 19; 1 Pet. 3:18; Gal. 1:4; Heb. 10:12; 1 Jn. 2:1-2.
We know the following: 1. Christ died for our sins. 2. It was necessary. 3. This is based in God’s love. 4. The death of Christ was not an accident.
The exact way in which this atonement works in the mind of God is a partial mystery to us.
THEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS
THE MYSTERY OF THE ATONEMENT
God has revealed sufficient and accurate facts for our understanding. There is enough information about the atonement in the Bible to know what God deems as essential for our salvation, but we do not have full knowledge. Now this is not to say that we cannot have accurate knowledge. I will hopefully demonstrate the difficulty that we face.
ALL VIEWS OF THE ATONEMENT ARE ESSENTIALLY THEORIES
There is no Theory in existence that satisfactorily answers every verse about the atonement.
I believe that God has used several models to explain His saving work to mankind. What is essential is that we find salvation and reconciliation through the merits of Christ. It is extremely important is that we use accurate and Biblical models to shape our thinking. It is essential that you understand that your view of how the atonement works, is the foundation block of everything that you understand about the Bible!
Our conclusions about the Atonement will give us theological biases that lead us to understand the Scriptures only in a way that our Atonement view will allow. If we are wrong here, we will be wrong in how we understand everything in Scripture!
ADVANTAGES AND LIMITS OF MODELS
Three Models Of Understanding
Anthropomorphic– This is a great model to use to appeal to the heart. It stresses the personal relationship with God. It is limited in answering the question of “how” the death of Christ satisfies the account against us. These human images help us to relate to the fact that Jesus atoned for our sins, but rarely gives us the details of "how" Jesus atoned for our sins. Because of the previous reasons, the anthropomorphic image of the atonement should not be used as our primary base for doctrine, but as an augmentation to enhance our doctrinally based view of God’s love towards us.
Sacrificial– This is an excellent model that has the support of the entire Old Testament. The fact that God has spent so much time emphasizing this form of atonement renders it to be very appealing. In the New Testament, the book of Hebrews makes good use of this perspective. The fact that God will stand as our "Judge" for those sins that were un-atoned for, will work with the idea of sacrifice, but its judicial implications seem to be foreign to the Old Testament. Because the New testament reached beyond Jews to the Gentiles, it would make sense that an explanation would be made in terms that would not deny sacrifice, but would fit into the vocabulary and knowledge of those who did not know the concepts of Judaism. The Sacrificial theory of the atonement seems to fit better into the Jewish mind than that of the Greek mind. Because God has revealed to us the nature of sacrifice throughout the Old Testament in such precise detail, we can gain an understanding of how it foreshadows and reveals what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. With the entire Old Testament for its support, this could, and should be one’s primary means of understanding atonement. He is the Lamb of God, who shed His blood as an atonement for sins.
Judicial– The Bible uses terminology that implies the idea of a judicial system. We will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. He is also our Advocate. God’s moral Government is emphasized by His use of the law. The fact that He is our Judge, and that our many violations of the law requires our personal day in court, we can only be found just before God because Jesus is the Advocate that pleas for us. It is only by the merit of Christ, and not our self-righteousness, that the Judge is willing, and just, in being and able to pardon us. Terms such as justification and pardon seem to fit the judicial model better than any other theory.
GOD’S PROVISION, MAN’S NEED
God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. Jesus offered once and for all the one perfect sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. No other satisfaction is necessary; none other can atone. Salvation is received as a gift on the condition of genuine faith.
ELEMENTS OF INITIAL SALVATION
Justification– To justify in Scripture is an act of God, by which, according to His grace and for Christ’s sake, He pardons all of our sins and accepts us as righteous. The Bible tells us that God accepts the one who confesses himself to be guilty, and who repents and believes in Jesus Christ. Mark 1:14, 15; 16:16; Rom. 1:16,17; 4:3-7; 5:1; Gal. 2:16, 17. This can only be found through the work of Christ, and not the law. Every attempt in sinners to justify themselves by the law is vain. Psa. 140:3, 4; 143:2; Rom. 3: 20, 28; 7: 5-24.
Regeneration– Is the change of nature that is wrought within the believer simultaneously with the work of justification. Matt. 19:28; Tit. 3:5. It is commonly called the NEW BIRTH, John 3:3-8.
It is the initial stage of sanctification in which the Believers nature is born again and re-united with God. It is passing out of death into life, Eph 2:1, 4, 5; 1 John 3:14; a new creation, 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15; a new heart and a new spirit, Ezek. 11:19; 18:31; 36:26.
Regeneration is necessary since in man’s fallen state he is unfit to inherit the Kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 15:50; Gal. 5:19-21. Also God is holy and heaven is a holy place, and sinful man must be changed in order to fellowship with God and enjoy heaven.
Adoption– An act of God by which we are accepted into the family of God as His own children. Rom. 8:15, 23; 9:4; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5.
Adoption, Regeneration, and Justification– All happen simultaneously when a Believer passes from death into life. Justification is necessary to enable the reconciliation between God and Man. When this takes place, all our former sins are forgiven. But God has to go further to be able to accept us, He must reform our corrupt nature, this of course is the function of regeneration. Adoption, that is, being born into and accepted into God’s family occurs in the same moment that regeneration and justification take place.
ATONEMENT AND THE BIBLE
Atonement– means to make as one, to satisfy, to take away the barrier that separates. Concerning Christ, it stands for the provision that he acquired through His sufferings upon the cross on our behalf. This provision makes possible the uniting of two divided parties, God and man.
Many use the term REDEMPTION as a synonym for ATONEMENT. To redeem is to “buy back”, or to pay a ransom. On this account Jesus is called the Redeemer. Isa. 59:20; 60:16; Rom. 3:24-26; Gal. 3:13; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19.
THE FACTS
Atonement is only through the death and resurrection of Christ.
Luke 22:19; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:6-11; 2 Cor. 5:18, 19; 1 Pet. 3:18; Gal. 1:4; Heb. 10:12; 1 Jn. 2:1-2.
We know the following: 1. Christ died for our sins. 2. It was necessary. 3. This is based in God’s love. 4. The death of Christ was not an accident.
The exact way in which this atonement works in the mind of God is a partial mystery to us.
THEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS
THE MYSTERY OF THE ATONEMENT
God has revealed sufficient and accurate facts for our understanding. There is enough information about the atonement in the Bible to know what God deems as essential for our salvation, but we do not have full knowledge. Now this is not to say that we cannot have accurate knowledge. I will hopefully demonstrate the difficulty that we face.
ALL VIEWS OF THE ATONEMENT ARE ESSENTIALLY THEORIES
There is no Theory in existence that satisfactorily answers every verse about the atonement.
I believe that God has used several models to explain His saving work to mankind. What is essential is that we find salvation and reconciliation through the merits of Christ. It is extremely important is that we use accurate and Biblical models to shape our thinking. It is essential that you understand that your view of how the atonement works, is the foundation block of everything that you understand about the Bible!
Our conclusions about the Atonement will give us theological biases that lead us to understand the Scriptures only in a way that our Atonement view will allow. If we are wrong here, we will be wrong in how we understand everything in Scripture!
ADVANTAGES AND LIMITS OF MODELS
Three Models Of Understanding
Anthropomorphic– This is a great model to use to appeal to the heart. It stresses the personal relationship with God. It is limited in answering the question of “how” the death of Christ satisfies the account against us. These human images help us to relate to the fact that Jesus atoned for our sins, but rarely gives us the details of "how" Jesus atoned for our sins. Because of the previous reasons, the anthropomorphic image of the atonement should not be used as our primary base for doctrine, but as an augmentation to enhance our doctrinally based view of God’s love towards us.
Sacrificial– This is an excellent model that has the support of the entire Old Testament. The fact that God has spent so much time emphasizing this form of atonement renders it to be very appealing. In the New Testament, the book of Hebrews makes good use of this perspective. The fact that God will stand as our "Judge" for those sins that were un-atoned for, will work with the idea of sacrifice, but its judicial implications seem to be foreign to the Old Testament. Because the New testament reached beyond Jews to the Gentiles, it would make sense that an explanation would be made in terms that would not deny sacrifice, but would fit into the vocabulary and knowledge of those who did not know the concepts of Judaism. The Sacrificial theory of the atonement seems to fit better into the Jewish mind than that of the Greek mind. Because God has revealed to us the nature of sacrifice throughout the Old Testament in such precise detail, we can gain an understanding of how it foreshadows and reveals what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. With the entire Old Testament for its support, this could, and should be one’s primary means of understanding atonement. He is the Lamb of God, who shed His blood as an atonement for sins.
Judicial– The Bible uses terminology that implies the idea of a judicial system. We will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. He is also our Advocate. God’s moral Government is emphasized by His use of the law. The fact that He is our Judge, and that our many violations of the law requires our personal day in court, we can only be found just before God because Jesus is the Advocate that pleas for us. It is only by the merit of Christ, and not our self-righteousness, that the Judge is willing, and just, in being and able to pardon us. Terms such as justification and pardon seem to fit the judicial model better than any other theory.
SALVATION
www.biblical-theology.net
I serve and follow Jesus who is alive, resurrected from the dead, who died for my sins and saved me. 
