Bible Doctrine III Exam 2 - Soteriology

Ordo Salutis

The order / process of salvation

Grudem’s Order of Salvation

Election

The Gospel Call

Regeneration

Conversion

Justification

Adoption

Sanctification

Perseverance

Death

Glorification

Election

God’s choice of people to be saved

The Gospel Call

Proclaiming the message of the gospel.

Regeneration

Being born again

Conversion

Faith and repentence

Justification

Right legal standing

Adoption

Membership in God’s family

Sanctification

Right conduct in life

Perseverance

Remaining a Christian

Death

Going to be with the Lord

Glorification

Receiving a resurrected body

Caution Regarding Election

Ryrie – “No human mind will ever harmonize sovereignty and free will but ignoring or downplaying one or the other in the interests of a supposed harmony will solve nothing.”

McCune – “Election is both simple and complex. Therefore, there is need for both faith and humility: faith to believe the clear teaching of Scripture and intellectual humility not to go beyond what is written. There are mysteries to the doctrine that cannot be explained logically and rationally, due to finitude or lack of revelation. Nevertheless, these mysteries can be believed.”

Election

An act of God Before creation in which he chooses some people to be saved, not on account of any foreseen merit in them, but only because of his sovereign good pleasure.

Corporate View of Election

God elects as a group (like the church)

Not an individual decision, but a group

Romans 8:29-30

Elect-in-Christ View of Election

When you get saved you are put into the body of Christ.

The body of Christ is elect.

“Christ’s election”

Isaiah 42:1

Matthew 12:18

Luke 9:35

When Christ is elected, he is elected to be the Messiah. Our election is to salvation.

Elect-to-Sanctification View of Election

Ephesians 1:4

We are elected for sanctification

Adoption – Ephesians 1:5

Son placement

Good works – Ephesians 2:10 

Election-based-on-Foreseen View of Election

Foreknowledge View

God chooses the person for salvation because God sees ahead of time that that person will accept Christ.

This is the Arminian position on election.

Struggle

This makes God reactive versus God being proactive

Agnosticism View of Election

Leave it in the realm of ignorance

Personal Election View of Election

God chooses individuals

He chose them in eternity past

Unconditional Election

Typically the Calvinistic view

Dr. Cole thinks this is the correct view

This is where the debate is.

The Prescience View (Foreknowledge View)

This view is that God’s election is based on His foreknowledge of what happens before it actually does.

The Personal View

God’s foreknowledge is based on His personal choice of mankind.

Foreknowledge carries the idea of personal choice.

Special care for.

Intimate knowledge.

Proverbs 27:23

Supports the Personal View

Knowledge involves a personal care or choice of the individual.

“Look well to“

Set one’s mind to

Give heed

Pay attention

Set your heart to

Give careful attention

Direct your heart

Romans 9:6-13 Support of Election

Isaac over Ishmael (vv. 6-9)

Jacob over Esau (vv. 10-13)

Isaac over Ishmael

God’s choice

Choice of the individual for salvation

God’s plan has not failed

Ishmael was not chosen to be Abraham’s heir

Jacob over Esau

Choice from before birth (eliminates works)

Argues against foreknowledge view

Jacob = loved

Esau = hated

either / all; all or nothing

Romans 9:14-18 - who determines who will receive God’s mercy?

God chooses who He will.

Paul’s response to the question of God’s fairness

“By no means”

“God forbid”

“May it not come to pass”

Answer to The Question of God’s Fairness

Who are you to talk back to God?

Potter and the clay

The Significance of the Middle Voice in Ephesians 1:4

“In the middle voice, ‘the subject acts on itself or in its own behalf, or the stress is placed in the subject’… Here he translates the key phrase as ‘God chose (for Himself).”

It is not all about us. It’s all about God

T = Total Depravity

As a result of the fall, the entire human race is affected; all humanity is dead in trespasses and sin. Man is unable to save himself.

U = Unconditional Election

Because man is dead in sin, he is unable to initiate response to god; therefore in eternity past god elected certain people to salvation. Election and predestination are unconditional; they are not based on man’s response

L = Limited Atonement

Because God determined that certain ones should be saved as a result of God’s unconditional election, He determined that Christ should die for the elect. All whom God has elected shall come to Him.

I = Irresistible Grace

Those whom God elected and Chrits died for, God draws to Himself through irresistible grace. God makes man willing to come to Him. When God calls, man responds.

P = Perseverance of the Saints

The precise ones God has elected and drawn to Himself through the Holy Spirit will persevere in faith, None whom God has elected will be lost; they are eternally secure.

Clarification on Limited Atonement

Everyone who God elected and died for will be saved; God only died for the elect

Not Paul Enns view but his description.

Not Dr. Cole’s view

Disagree with it and accept Unlimited Atonement

Clarification on Election

Election is taught within the context of the offer of salvation and the decision either for or against it.

Man is held accountable for his own condemnation to hell.

One must always keep in mind the balance between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility.

Election is presented with the purpose of its moral and spiritual results.

Election is a comfort to believers

Election is also a reason for thankfulness and praise to God.