Soteriology

Question 1

By nature, how is man related to God? (2 ways)

Answer 1

By nature, man is:
1 - relationally alienated from God
2 - judicially accountable to him

Question 2

What does it mean that man is relationally alienated from God?

Answer 2

Man is unable to enjoy the fellowship with God for which he was created

Question 3

What does it mean that man is judicially accountable to God?

Answer 3

Man is required to pay the penalty for breaking God’s laws and belittling his glory

Question 4

When did God’s plan of redemption begin?

Answer 4

In eternity past

Question 5

Describe the Trinitarian form of redemption.

Answer 5

In eternity past
- God the Father set his electing love on undeserving sinners, determining to call out from the world a redeemed humanity as a gift to the Son.
- He appointed the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son, to accomplish redemption on behalf of the elect by becoming man, by rendering perfect obedience to God, and by dying as the substitute in the place of his people to pay the penalty for their sin.
- The Father and the Son have sent God the Holy Spirit to apply to the elect all the saving benefits that the Son purchased for his people.

Question 6

What is the short-form of the Trinitarian form of salvation?

Answer 6

The Father has planned redemption, the Son has accomplished redemption, and the Holy Spirit applies redemption

Question 7

What is the driving purpose for which God saves his people? Give one O.T. and one N.T. scripture to back it up.

Answer 7

It is his ultimate purpose for all things - to bring glory and honor to himself

Isa. 43:25 - “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
1Jhn 2:12 - I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.

Question 8

What is the one of the most common errors people make when thinking about salvation?

Answer 8

That it is man-centered, instead of God-centered

Question 9

What are 7 privileges/benefits of salvation?

Answer 9

1 - Being chosen by God for salvation on the basis of nothing in oneself
2 - Being provided a substitute of such worthiness and honor as the Son of God himself
3 - Receiving the gift of the new birth apart from any works of one’s own
4 - Being united to Christ
5 - Declared righteous apart from works
6 - Adopted into the family of God
7 - Conformed into his image, progressively on earth and perfectly in heaven

Question 10

Why does God save sinners (Eph. 1:6)?

Answer 10

“to the praise of his glorious grace,”

Question 11

The Old Testament archetype of God’s salvation is what?

Answer 11

The redemption of Israel from slavery in Egypt

Question 12

What is the ultimate reason that God saved Israel from slavery in Egypt according to the psalmist?

Answer 12

Ps. 106:8 - Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power

Question 13

What are 3 reasons God saved Israel from slavery in Egypt?

Answer 13

1 - God had compassion on the plight of his people and desired to see them freed from their yoke of bondage (cf. Ex. 2:23–25; 3:7–8, 16)
2 - God desired to bring justice on Egypt for their cruel oppression (cf. Ex. 3:9; 6:1–9)
3 - God’s ultimate concern in Israel’s redemption was to honor his name (cf. Ex. 9:16; 14:4, 17–18).

Question 14

What is Isa. 42:8 about?

Answer 14

In this chapter, God promises the coming of his Spirit-filled servant to establish justice in the earth, to open blind eyes, and to free prisoners from darkness.

42:8 says “I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.” This is to say, “I will not allow the honor and praise that belongs to my name to be given to anyone else. I am Yahweh, and therefore I will be praised.”

Question 15

What is the reason that God promised to rescue and restore Israel in Eze. 36?

Answer 15

He will save them for the sake of his own name Eze. 36:22-23.

Question 16

Provide O.T. scriptures that show God acts on behalf of man because the chief concern of his own glory.

Answer 16

Ps. 106:8 - Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power.
Isa. 42:8 - I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.
Isa. 48:9 - “For my name’s sake I defer my anger; for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off.
Isa. 48:11 - For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.
Eze. 36:22-23 - “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.
Isa. 43:25 - “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
1Jhn 2:12 - I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.

Question 17

How does Ephesians 1 describe the Trinitarian form of salvation?

Answer 17

Paul declares that all aspects of man’s salvation
- Election by the Father (1:4–6)
- Redemption accomplished by the Son (1:7–12)
- Sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit (1:13–14)

All these have been carried out “to the praise of his glorious grace” (1:6), “to the praise of his glory” (1:12), “to the praise of his glory” (1:14).

Question 18

What is common grace?

Answer 18

It is the universal goodness of God displayed to all people

Question 19

List the first benefit of common grace?

Answer 19

It temporarily restrains sin and militates against sin’s damaging effects. Apart from divine grace, the full expression of humanity’s fallen nature would be unleashed in society. The full manifestation of that sinfulness is restrained through the conscience.

Question 20

List the second benefit of common grace?

Answer 20

It enables unbelievers to enjoy beauty and goodness in this life.

Question 21

List the third benefit of common grace?

Answer 21

It affords sinners time to hear the gospel so that they might be motivated to repent.