Basics Series. Soteriology, part 11.

The Doctrine of Soteriology
(Salvation)

Salvation is
God’s complete work by which He
rescues man
from eternal ruin,
and bestows on him
the riches of His grace.

pay the penalty for sin.

remove the guilt of sin.

satisfy the justice of God.

end the enmity and restore peace.

The blood of Christ - His substitutionary spiritual death on the cross - provided redemption, expiation, propitiation, and reconciliation for every man.

Propitiation (in relation to God): means “satisfaction”. God the Father is completely satisfied with the work of Christ on the cross.

Propitiation reveals the ultimate reason why Christ went to the cross: to vindicate the character of His Father.

1. Propitiation is the God-ward side of the work of Christ in salvation.

The substitutionary spiritual death of Jesus Christ on the cross satisfied the righteous demands of the holy God that the sins of the entire world be judged.

2. Propitiation is the aspect of the work of Christ on the cross that deals with the integrity of God.

The integrity of God is the harmonious operation of three divine attributes: His righteousness, His justice, and His love.

3. Propitiation means that our Lord satisfied the Father.

In propitiation, the justice of God judges our sins and the integrity of God is satisfied with that judgment.

The holiness of God equals
His righteousness
plus
His justice.

PSA 89:14

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
Lovingkindness and truth go before You.

Holiness is that perfection in God’s nature that totally separates Him from all that is evil or sinful.

God can have nothing to do with sin.

HAB 1:13

Your eyes are too pure to approve evil,
And You can not look on wickedness with favor.

4. Christ’s death was necessary, and it was made so by the character of God.

But now, at the cross, God’s righteousness is shown publicly.

Jesus Christ offered Himself as the sacrifice in front of human and angelic eyes.

We are shown the indisputable evidence that God is just, righteous - HOLY - and loving and gracious.

Jesus Christ in His resurrected humanity entered heaven through His blood - His propitious death on the cross!

How dare any sinner think he may enter on any other basis.

All access to the Holy of Holies is based on the work of Christ on the cross.

JOH 3:36
"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey [refuses to place His trust in] the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."