I. The Savior - Of course there are two basic element of Soteriology - the Savior and the Salvation.
A. The Savior's seven Positions.
1. The eternal Position.
Were talking about the pre-incarnation of Jesus Christ. As to His eternal Person He is equal to the Father and the Spirit. Under this we find Him in the O.T. as "The Angel of Jehovah." These are called theophanies.
Gen. 16:7-12; 181-33; 28:12-25; 32:24-30/Ex.3:2-22/Num.22:22-35/Jud.6:12-21; 13:3-22/2 Sam.24:16-17/etc.
The various N.T. passages include: Jn. 1:1-4; 17:5/Col.1:16-17/Heb.13:8.
2. The Incarnation.
He took human nature, not for a time, but forever.
Jn. 1:14/Heb.2/Phil.2:5-9/I Tim. 2:5/etc.
3. Crucifixion.
Included is His death and burial (Mt. 27/ect).
4. Resurrection. [Gospels/etc].
5. Ascension.
6. Session (Heb.1:3).
7. Return to reign (Rev.19:11-20:6).
8. Mediation offered up. (1 Cor. 15:25-28)
B. The Savior's Preparation.
1. Negatively - the sinful state of the world.
a. All are Guilty before God (Rom. 3:9-18) under sin (Ro.3:9/Gal.3:22/Ro.11:32). All of mankind is guilty before God (Ro.3:23/Ja.2:10/etc).
b. Therefore all deserve to Get eternal punishment from God (Jn.3:18-19; 3:16/Gal.3:10/Rom.1:32; 6:23/etc.
2. Positively.
a. Theophanies prepared the way.
b. Nation of Israel prepared the way.
c. Prophecies prepared the way (Gen.3:15).
d. Types that prepared the way, like the animal sacrifices.
e. Mosaic Law prepared the way (Ro.3:19-22/Gal. 3:24-26).
C. The Savior's Person over two natures.
Hypostatic union is the union of the divine and human natures in one person, and was essential to the accomplishing fo the work of salvation. He is perfectly God and perfectly human in one person, without any confusion of them. This union made it possible for Christ to be a mediator (Job 9:32,35/1 Tim.2:5/Heb.7:25/Gal.3:20/2 Cor.5:19).
It relates to the concept of kinsman-redeemer (Lev.25:29/Isa.59:20/Rom.3:24/Book of Ruth).
D. Particular offices of Christ
1. Prophet.
Deut. 18:15-19/Mt.13:57/Lu.13:33/Jn.6:14/etc)
2. Priest.
Book of Hebrews.
3. Potentate.
He was born as King (Mt.2:2/Jn.18:37), rejected as king (Lu.19:14/Jn.19:14-15), and will return to reign as king (Rev. 19:16).
E. Passion of Christ.
1. His sufferings was Part of salvation (Lu.24:26,46/Ac.26:23; 3:18).
Sin and suffering go hand in hand! It was necessary that the greatest suffering be to God Himself in the Person of His Son, it was by His painful death as our substitute that our salvation is possible.
2. His sufferings were Planned before the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8/Eph.1:4/2 Thess. 2:13).
For reasons only known to God Himself, His plan included sin entering this universe by Satan. We must accept the fact that God is just and righteous, as well as powerful and wise. He was not suprised by sin, nor was He the author of it, though He permitted it.
3. His sufferings were Prophecied (Gen. 3:15/Isa.52:13-53:12/Mt.16:21; 17:12,22-23/etc).
4. His sufferings were Pictured.
This is seen in Abel's sacrifice (Gen.4:4/Heb.11:4); the sacrifice of Isaac (Gen.22/Ro.8:32); the paschal lamb (Jn.1:29); the Levitical offerings (Lev.1-5); the two birds (Lev.14:1-7, 49-53/2 Cor. 4:7/Heb.9:12,14, 24); the Day of Atonement; the red heifer; etc.
These pictures of suffer before the cross have no power to atone for sin. It was only as Christ actually died on the cross that salvation could take place (1 Pet. 2:24).
5. His sufferings had a Purpose.
a. Godward.
The finish work on the cross is of more value to God than to man. It was a sweet-savor offering to God.
By it the Father was Propitiated (1 Jn. 2:1-2), and thus acquired a possession for the praise of His glory (Eph.1:14,18); became a means of manifesting His grace (Eph.2:7); it pleased the Father that by means of the work of Christ, all things should be reconciled to Himself (Col.1:19-20); and every believer will be present with great joy (Jude 24). Not just our joy but Gods! (Ezk.18:23,32/Lu.15:7,10).
b. Manward.
(1). For the saved - the cross is the basis for all we are and have (I Cor.1:18,23-24; 3:21-23; 15:10/Eph.2:5-7/etc.)
(2). For the lost - men continue to live because of the provisions of the cross. If God had not provided the cross, He would have had to kill Adam when he sinned (I Tim.4:10). They are encouraged to come to Christ before they experience death and thus eternal judgment, but in the meantime they experience the general blessings of God (Mt.5:45).
The death of Christ is sufficient to save anyone who believers in Him (Jn.3:16/1Jn.2:2).
6. His sufferings were Produced by:
a. The Romans, at the hand of Pilate (Mt. 27:2,16ff/Mk.15:1/Lu.23:1,24/Jn.18:29-32; 19:10,19-22)
b. The Jews (Ac.2:23b.36; 3:14-15; 5:30/Mt.27:25).
c. Satan (Gen.3:15).
d. The Father (Ac.2:23a/Jn.3:16/Ro.8:32).
e. Christ Himself (Jn.10:11,15,17/Eph.5:2,25).
f. You and I! (Gal.2:20).
7. Our Participation in Christ's suffering.
Of course we cannot participlate in His vicarious sufferings for sin. But there is a way we can participate. Christ suffered in His heart because of the sad condition of the multitude (Mt.9:36). He suffered in His spirit because of the rebelliousness of Jerusalem (Mt.23:37/Lu.13:34; 19:41-42). He also suffered at the hands of men because of His faithfulness to His Father (Lu.4:228-29/Jn.8:59a; 10:31/Rom.15:3).
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:10-11
. We may suffer with Him in the Reproaches that come to us because we are His (1 Pet.4:13-14).
b. We may suffer with Him as we Regard the condition of the lost (2 Tim. 2:10/Rom.9:1-3).
c. We may suffer with Him as we Realize the burden of fellow believers (Col.1:24/2 Cor. 11:28).
d. When we suffer with Him we can expect a Reward one day (2 Tim.2:12/Rom.8:17/2 Cor.4:17).
We must always make a distinction between sufferforChrist and sufferingwithHim. Suffering for Christ may include the involutary sacrifice of friends, property, health, etc. Or the voluntary sacrifice of house, wife, bretheren, parents or children (Lu.18:29,30/Mk.10:29-30). See Phil. 1:29
So to suffer for Christ means the sacrifice of something for His sake and the gospel's. To suffer with Him involves suffering in the same way He suffered. "With Him" indicates indentification with Him in suffering.
8. The Perversions of His sufferings.
a. That He died as a Martyr.
Truth is He was not overtaken by death but voluntarily gave Himself (Lu.4:29-30/Jn.8:59; 10:31.39).
b. That He died as a Moral influence.
The object of salvation is regeneration not mere reformation (Jn.3:3-7/Mt.12:43-45). He died as a substitute for our sins (1 Pet.2:24; 3:18/2 Cor.5:21/etc.).
c. That He died simply to Manifest God's love.
That would not deal with the sin question, yes the cross is an expression of the love of God, but it is much much more than that!
The Bible is clear that the effect of the death of Christ is to atone for sin and sins. The holiness of God says, "The sinner must be condemned." His love says, "I want to save the sinner." Holiness cannot give in. The salvation must allow God to justly justify the believing sinner.
for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:26
Johnny Palmer Jr
StrugglingThruScriptures.ning.com
