condensed theology lecture 27

8/6/2019 Condensed Theology Lecture 27

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Condensed Theology

A Primer in Systematic Theology


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Soteriology:

The Doctrine of Salvation

What does the Bible teach about

salvation?


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Introduction

What Is Soteriology?


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Introduction: What Is Soteriology?

Moving from Christology to Soteriology isa natural progression

For we move from the work of Christ itself,which is objective

To the applicationof the work of Christ toindividuals, which is subjective.

Hence Soteriology is often referred to asThe Application of Redemption


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The Ordo Salutis

The Order of Salvation


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The Ordo Salutis

That there is such nomenclature impliesthat we can (or believe we can) discernfrom Scripture an order to the application

of redemption.

Rom 8:30: and these whom Hepredestined, He also called; and these whom

He called, He also justified; and these whomHe justified, He also glorified.


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The Ordo Salutis

Romans 8:30 appears to be preserving for us asequence in the application of redemption First, we are predestined. Second, we are called.

Third, we are justified. Fourth, we are glorified.

We discern that there is a sequence not onlyfrom the ordering of the four elements of

salvation, but also according to how eachelement is understood by Paul. For example, by definition predestination precedes

calling, justification, and glorification.


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The Ordo Salutis

From the rest of the New Testament we see thefollowing aspects of the application of redemption inorder: Election

Predestination Effectual Calling

Regeneration

Faith

Repentance

Justification Adoption

Sanctification

Glorification


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The Ordo Salutis

The order should not be understoodstrictly chronologically;

Instead, it should be understood as thelogical ordering of the different aspects ofsalvation.


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The Ordo Salutis

There are some elements that are both logicallyand chronologically prior to/following others (e.g.election and predestination precede faith and

repentance). Eph 1:4, 13: just as He chose us in Him before the

foundation of the world, that we would be holy andblameless before Him.13In Him, you also, after

listening to the message of truth, the gospel of yoursalvationhaving also believed, you were sealed inHim with the Holy Spirit of promise.


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The Ordo Salutis

There are other elements that cannot be relatedto one another in terms of chronology; yet theyrelate to one another in a logical sequence (e.g.

regeneration and faith). Gods act of causing us to be born again involves

applying the gift of faith to the individual such that heor she inevitably and invariably believes. Thus they

are inseparable. At the same time, since a new heart (being born

again) is required to exercise faith we can say thatlogically regeneration precedes faith.


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Union with Christ

The Central and Organizing Motif

of the Ordo Salutis


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Union with Christ

Our discussion of the application ofredemption provides an excellent segueinto what is the central and organizing

motif of the biblical understanding of theapplication of redemption; namely,

Union with Christ


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Union with Christ

It is in Christthat we have been elected andpredestined for salvation.

It is in Christthat we are called and regenerated.

It is in Christthat we receive the gifts of faith andrepentance.

It is in Christthat we are justified.

It is in Christthat we have received the adoption

as sons. It is in Christthat we are sanctified.

And it is in Christthat we are glorified.


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Union with Christ

In other words, all of the aspects of theordo salutisbelong to us only throughunion with Christ.

They are his and through our union withhim by the Holy Spirit all of them areoursfrom eternity past to eternity

futurewe have been blessed with everyspiritual blessing in Christ(Eph 1:3).


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Union with Christ

We must understand that as long as

Christ remains outside of us, and we areseparated from him, all that he has

suffered and done for the salvation of thehuman race remains useless and of no

value for us (John Calvin, Institutes

3.1.1).


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Union with Christ

Christ Our Representative


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Union with Christ:

Christ Our Representative Jesus saves us from within our humanity, the

first from humanity to break out of this fallenworld into the eschatological reality of theredeemed world.

Heb 2:10: For it was fitting for Him, for whom are allthings, and through whom are all things, in bringingmany sons to glory, to perfect the author of theirsalvation through sufferings.

Heb 12:2: fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author

[pioneer, founder] and perfecter of faith, who for thejoy set before Him endured the cross, despising theshame, and has sat down at the right hand of thethrone of God.


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Union with Christ:

Christ Our Representative Rom 8:29: For those whom He foreknew, He

also predestined to become conformed to theimage of His Son, so that He would be thefirstborn among many brethren.

For Christ to be the firstborn among manybrethren does not mean that the eternal Son is acreation of the Father;

Rather, it means that as a human being he goesbefore us, doing everything forus and aheadofus.


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Union with Christ:

Christ Our Representative Rom 5:19: For as through the one mans disobedience

the many were made sinners, even so through theobedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

1 Cor 15:20, 23-24: But now Christ has been raised

from the dead, the first fruits of those who areasleep.23But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming,then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdomto the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule

and all authority and power. As our representative, Christ not only accomplishes

redemption for us, but as a human being is himselfredeemed for us.


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Union with Christ:


Therefore, we may say that Christexperienced/accomplished all of theelements himself before any of us.

In union with Christ we have been chosen andpredestined:

Eph 1:4-5: just as He chose us in Him beforethe foundation of the world, that we would be holyand blameless before Him. In love He predestinedus to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ toHimself, according to the kind intention of His will.


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Union with Christ:


In union with Christ we have beeneffectually called to salvation. 1 Cor 1:2, 9: To the church of God which is at

Corinth, to those who have been sanctified inChrist Jesus, saints by calling, with all who inevery place call on the name of our LordJesus Christ, their Lord and ours.9God is

faithful, through whom you were called intofellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ ourLord.


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Union with Christ:


In union with Christ, we have been born again,made alive with Christ

1 Pet 1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord

Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy hascaused us to be born again to a living hope throughthe resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Eph 2:5-6: even when we were dead in ourtransgressions, made us alive together with Christ (bygrace you have been saved), and raised us up withHim, and seated us with Him in the heavenly placesin Christ Jesus.


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Union with Christ:


Our faith and repentance are secured bythe in Christ relationship.

Acts 13:48: When the Gentiles heard this,

they began rejoicing and glorifying the word ofthe Lord; and as many as had been appointedto eternal life believed.

Phil 1:29: For to you it has been granted forChrist's sake, not only to believe in Him, butalso to suffer for His sake.


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Union with Christ:

Christ Our Representative Our faith and repentance are secured by the in

Christ relationship. 2 Tim 2:24-25: The Lord's bond-servant must not be

quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient

when wronged, with gentleness correcting those whoare in opposition, if perhaps God may grant themrepentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, andthey may come to their senses and escape from thesnare of the devil, having been held captive by him todo his will.

Being in Christ before the foundation of the worldensures that we will make our way into Christ afterthe foundation of the world.


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Union with Christ:


Moreover, faith and repentance are the meansby which we experience our union with Christ intime.

Eph 1:13: In Him, you also, after listening to themessage of truth, the gospel of your salvationhaving also believed, you were sealed in Him with theHoly Spirit of promise.

Rom 16:7: Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmenand my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding amongthe apostles, who also were in Christ before me.


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Union with Christ

The Benefits of Our Union


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Union with Christ: Its Benefits

Justification, adoption, sanctification, andglorification are not in the first place the resultsof our repentance from sin and faith in the LordJesus Christ;

Rather, they are the blessings of union withChrist, which is received by faith.

Indeed, the reason we are justified, adopted,sanctified, and glorified is that Christ has already

been justified, adopted, sanctified, and glorified. Sound strange? Consider the followingverses


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Christ was justified that we might be justified in unionwith him 1 Tim 3:16: By common confession, great is the mystery of

godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated inthe Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations,

Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory. Gal 2:16, 20: nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified

by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, evenwe have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified byfaith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the

works of the Law no flesh will be justified.20

I have beencrucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ livesin me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith inthe Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.


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Christ was adopted in order that we might beadopted in union with him

Rom 1:4: who was declared the Son of God with

power by the resurrection from the dead, according tothe Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gal 4:4-5: But when the fullness of the time came,God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born underthe Law, so that He might redeem those who wereunder the Law, that we might receive the adoption assons.


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Christ was sanctified in order that wemight be sanctified in union with him

1 Cor 1:30: But by His doing you are in Christ

Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God,and righteousness and sanctification, andredemption.

John 17:19: For their sakes I sanctify Myself,that they themselves also may be sanctified intruth.


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Christ was glorified in order that we mightbe glorified in union with him

Rom 8:17: and if children, heirs also, heirs

of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeedwe suffer with Him so that we may also beglorified with Him.


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Union with Christ

The Central and Organizing Motif

of the Ordo Salutis


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Union with Christ

Union with Christ is thus the central and organizing motiffor all of the elements of the ordo salutis.

Without the in Christ relationship, we would not be... Chosen

Predestined Called

Regenerated

Granted faith and repentance

Justified

Adopted Sanctified

Or glorified!


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Union with Christ

Time and Chronology:

Past, Present, Future


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Union with Christ:

Past, Present, Future Union with Christ also helps to explain more fully the

relationships between the different aspects of the ordosalutis;

It allows us to see the ordo salutisas logical rather than

strictly chronological. All three temporal aspects are ours in union with Christ.

We were in Christ before time began (eternity past)

We were in Christ during his earthly life (historical past)

We are in Christ as believers during our own lives (present)

And we will be in Christ forever and ever (future)


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Union with Christ:


We were in Christ before time began.

Eph 1:4, 10-11: just as He chose us in Him beforethe foundation of the world, that we would be holy andblameless before Him.10with a view to anadministration suitable to the fullness of the times,that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things inthe heavens and things on the earth. In Him also wehave obtained an inheritance, having been

predestined according to His purpose who works allthings after the counsel of His will.


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Union with Christ:


We were in Christ during his entire earthlylife.

Since Jesus perfectly obeyed the Father, God

thought of us as having obeyed. Rom 5:19: For as through the one man's

disobedience the many were made sinners, evenso through the obedience of the One the many will

be made righteous.


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Union with Christ:



When Christ died, God thought of us as

having died Rom 6:6-8: knowing this, that our old self was

crucified with Him, in order that our body of sinmight be done away with, so that we would no

longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died isfreed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, webelieve that we shall also live with Him.


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Union with Christ:

Past, Present, Future We were in Christ during his entire earthly life

Since Christ was buried, raised from the dead, and taken up toheaven in glory, God thought of us as having done the same.

Rom 6:4-11: Therefore we have been buried with Him throughbaptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the deadthrough the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of

life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of Hisdeath, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order thatour body of sin might be done away with, so that we would nolonger be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Now ifwe have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live withHim, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is

never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For thedeath that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that Helives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead tosin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.


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Union with Christ: Past, Present,

Future


When Christ returned to heaven, all the

blessings of salvation were earned for us.God thought of these blessings as beingrightfully ours, just as if we had earned themourselves.


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Union with Christ

We are in Christ as believers during ourown lives.

2 Cor 5:17: Therefore if anyone is in Christ,

he is a new creature; the old things passedaway; behold, new things have come.

Rom 16:7: Greet Andronicus and Junias, my

kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who areoutstanding among the apostles, who alsowere in Christ before me.


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Union with Christ:


We will be united with Christ forever and ever.

The blessings of Christs work for us have been

stored up in heaven waiting to be applied to uspersonally.

1 Pet 1:3-5: Blessed be the God and Father of our LordJesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has causedus to be born again to a living hope through the resurrectionof Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance whichis imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away,

reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the powerof God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed inthe last time.


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Union with Christ

Christ in Us


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Union with Christ: Christ in Us

Our union with Christ is also understoodfrom the perspective of Christ in thebeliever

Not only is the believer in Christ,

But Christ is in the believer.

The union is mutual.


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John 14:20: In that day you will know thatI am in My Father, and you in Me, and I inyou.

John 14:23: Jesus answered and said tohim, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My

word; and My Father will love him, and We

will come to him and make Our abode withhim.


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Col 1:27: to whom God willed to makeknown what is the riches of the glory ofthis mystery among the Gentiles, which is

Christ in you, the hope of glory. 2 Cor 13:5: Test yourselves to see if you

are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or doyou not recognize this about yourselves,that Jesus Christ is in youunless indeedyou fail the test?


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Union with Christ

Conclusion and Significance

U i ith Ch i t


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Union with Christ:


Union with Christ as the central and organizingmotif for the application of redemption.

Without a vital union to Jesus Christ none of the

aspects of redemption may be enjoyed by any ofus.

They will forever remain outside of us until webecome one with the pioneer and perfecter of

our faith and he becomes one with us.

U i ith Ch i t


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Union with Christ:


Union with Christ reminds us that the variousaspects of the ordo salutisare not like divinedominoes that the Lord flicks with his finger,

setting them in motion for our salvation. Instead, we see that each element of the ordo

finds its meaning in the person and ministry ofJesus Christ, never divorcing the benefitsof

salvation from the benefactorof salvation.

U i ith Ch i t


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Union with Christ:


It reminds us that our salvation is to aperson; salvation is not a mechanism.

Our preaching is not the preaching of an

element or aspect of the ordo salutis, butthe preaching of Jesus Christ himself.

U i ith Ch i t


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Union with Christ:


Finally, union with Christ reminds us thatsalvation is something that is accomplishedcompletely outside ourselves; it is objective.

Therefore it can militate against what hasbecome an all too common and all too morbidintrospection with respect to our salvation.

When Satan tempts me to despair

And tells me of the guilt within

Upward I look and see him there

Who made an end to all my sin.

condensed theology lecture 27

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