Soteriology Flashcards
23) What is the difference between expiation and propitiation? Why does this difference matter and what does Scripture teach? Be able to biblically support and explain your answer.
a. Propitiation - “It belongs to the language of appeasement and is directed to the need that arises from the reality of the wrath of God” (Trevor Craigen).
b. Expiation – “the act of making amends or reparation for guilt or wrongdoing”
c. Often when focus is on expiation verses propitiation there is a desire to reject or deemphasize the significance of God’s wrath. (Trevor Craigen)
d. The wrath of God must be satisfied. God cannot overlook sin (Hab 1:13; Rom 6:23). The word group therefore is not a mere covering of/over sin, but a substitutionary bearing of wrath in the sinner’s place that the wrath of God be satisfied. (1 Jn 4:10 with 1 Jn 4:18).
e. “Confusion between expiation and propitiation will be avoided as long as it is kept in mind that sins (offenses, trespasses, etc.) are expiated. Wrath, or the person who is wrathful is propitiated. One does not expiate God; one expiates sin. Nor does one propitiate sin; one propitiates God or His wrath…Every successful propitiation therefore is also an expiation but propitiation and expiation are not the same” (Robert Culver, Systematic Theology, 55).
24) What is the significance of the prepositions ἀντί (anti) and ὑπὲρ (huper) in soteriological contexts?
a. “The preposition ἀντί characteristically has the meaning ‘in the place of’, ‘instead of’
b. Anti - Mk 10:45; Mt 20:28
c. Huper - 1 Tim 2:6; 2 Cor 5:15
d. In several other passages, however, notably John 11:50; 2 Cor 5:15; and Galatians 3:13, the meaning is more obvious. Regarding these verses Robertson says, ‘ὑπὲρ has the resultant notion of ‘instead’ and only violence to the context can get rid of it.
25) What are the divine motivations for the atonement? Be able to support your answer with Scripture.
a. God’s Glory
i. Rom 11:33-36
ii. Eph 1:6, 10, 12
iii. Eph 3:21
iv. 1 Tim 1:17
v. Rev 5:13
b. God’s Love
i. Jn 3:16
ii. Rom 5:8
iii. Eph 2:4
iv. 2 Thess 2:16
v. 1 Jn 3:1
vi. 1 Jn 4:9-10
26) What was the significance of the sacrificial system and the requirement of the shedding of blood in the OT? What were the limitations of the sacrificial system?
a. Heb 9:22 “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”
b. Leviticus 17:11
c. The Limitations of the Sacrificial System (From Bruce Demarest, The Cross and Salvation 170-71)
i. The sacrifices themselves were unable to fully atone for sin (Ps 15:16; Hos 6:6; Mich 6:6-8).
ii. The blood of bulls and goats could not clear the conscience (Heb 9:9-10; 10:4).
iii. The OT sacrifices, offered day by day and year by year (Heb 9:25; 10:11) could not permanently remove the stain of sin.
iv. The OT sacrifices under the Old Covenant were incapable of giving eternal life, which was only brought about by the New Covenant (Heb 9:15).
27) Be able to list, identify and briefly explain other views of the atonement.
a. The Ransom Theory/ The Classic Theory/Christus Victor
i. “According to this view, the ransom Christ paid to redeem us was paid to Satan, in whose kingdom all people were by virtue of sin” (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 581)
b. The Satisfaction Theory/ The Judicial Theory/Commercial Theory
i. “…God was robbed of the honor that was due Him. This necessitated resolution
c. Recapitulation Theory
i. “…Christ went through all phases of Adam’s life and experience, including the experience of sin. In this way, Christ was able to succeed wherein Adam failed”
d. Moral Influence Theory
i. Christ’s death was simply a way in which God showed how much he loved human beings by identifying with their sufferings, even to the point of death.
e. The Example Theory
i. Christ was an example of obedience, and it was that example of obedience to the point of death that ought to inspire people to reform and live as Christ lived”
f. The Governmental Theory/Rectoral Theory
i. God’s demonstration of the fact that his laws had been broken, that he is the moral lawgiver and governor of the universe, and that some kind of penalty would be required whenever his laws were broken.
29) What does Ephesians 2:1-10 teach us about the doctrine of grace?
a. Contextual Emphasis
i. 1:2, 6, 7; 3:2, 7, 8; 4:7, 29; 6:24
ii. The Spiritual Blessings Given by God (1:3-14)
iii. The Work of Salvation is clearly from God (1:3-3:21)
b. Grace’s Source: God (2:4-5)
i. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ”
c. Grace’s Greatness: Immeasurable riches (2:7)
i. “so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
d. Grace’s Purpose: Salvation (2:8)
i. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,”
ii. What does “this” (τοῦτο) refer to?
1. Grace (τῇ χάριτί)
2. Saved (σεσῳσμένοι)
3. Faith (πίστεως)
iii. “by grace you have been saved through faith” *
iv. “Rather than any particular word it is best to conclude that the τοῦτο refers back to the preceding section…Therefore in the present context, τοῦτο refers back to 2:4-8a and more specifically 2:8a, the concept of salvation by grace through faith” (Harold Hoehner, Ephesians, 343)
e. Grace’s Result: Good Works (2:10)
i. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
30) Be familiar with the biblical terminology for election (as taught in class).
a. Elect/Choose (Eph 1:4)
b. Appointing/Ordaining (2 Thess 2:13)
c. Predestine/Foreknowledge (Eph 1:5)
31) What is the effectual call and where do you find it in Scripture?
a. Rom 1:1, Eph 1:18; Col 3:15; 1 Thess 2:12
b. “efficacious drawings of predestined people to salvation in time, space, and history”
32) What does Scripture teach us about the Order of Salvation?
a. Romans 8:28-30
b. Foreknew -> Predestined -> Justified -> Glorified
34) Be familiar with the biblical terminology for justification (as taught in class).
34) Be familiar with the biblical terminology for justification (as taught in class).
a. צדק (sdq)
i. “The root basically connotes conformity to an ethical or moral standard”
b. The δικ (dik) word group
i. δικαιοσύνη (n.) “righteousness, uprightness”
ii. δίκαιος (adj.) “upright, righteous or in a right relationship with God”
iii. δικαιόω (v.) “to acquit, declare righteous, justify”
35) What does Romans 3:21-26 contribute to our theological understanding of justification?
a. Righteousness does not come by human effort (3:21)
b. Righteousness was revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ (3:21)
c. Righteousness was the promised plan of God (3:21)
d. Righteousness come through faith in Jesus Christ (3:22)
e. Righteousness is needed by every single person (3:22-23)
f. Righteousness is needed because of sin (3:23)
g. Righteousness declares a person to be right before God (3:24)
h. Righteousness is a declaration of God (3:24)
i. Righteousness is a free gift of grace (3:24)
j. Righteousness came at an expensive price (3:24)
k. Righteousness averts the wrath of God (3:25)
l. Righteousness demonstrates the character of God (3:25)
36) Be prepared to list 6 things justification is not (see class notes).
a. Justification is not a process.
b. Justification is not an impartation or infusing of righteousness.
c. Justification cannot be lost.
d. Justification does not increase or decrease.
e. Justification is not announcing that sinners are something they are not.
f. Justification is not the same as sanctification.
37) List five implications of adoption and support your answers with Scripture.
a. Bear a new name and identity as children of God (1 Jn 3:1)
b. Highlights God’s love for us (1 Jn 3:1; see also 3:2; 4:9-11)
c. Experience the intimate indwelling of God’s Spirit (Gal 4:6)
d. Enjoy the care of the Father (Lk 11:11-13)
e. Enjoy the loving discipline of the Father (Heb 12:7-8)
f. Freedom from fear and intimate access to the Father (Rom 8:15-17)
g. Obtain an eternal inheritance as fellow-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17)
38) What is faith’s role in initial salvation and progressive sanctification? Support your answer to both with Scripture.
a. Knowledge of Christ is closely related to faith, the believer’s union with Christ and the believer’s progressive sanctification.
b. Initial – Eph 2:8-9
c. Ongoing - Gal 2:20
39) What other ideas is faith closely associated with in Scripture (see class notes)? Be prepared to give one verse to support each answer you give.
a. Faith, Repentance, Obedience and Endurance (Acts 20:21)
b. Knowledge (John 20:31)
c. Fear (Rom 11:20)
d. Hope (1 Cor 13:13)
e. Love (1 Cor 13:13)
