What does it mean to speak of Christ’s atonement for us?
God sent His one and only Son to die for our sins because of His love for us (Jn. 3:16; 1 Jn 4:10). Jesus Christ—God the Son—was a perfect and unblemished sacrifice who had known no sin but became sin for us and died on the cross for our justification (Rom. 4:25). The atonement of Christ on the cross displayed both the wrath of God for sin and the love of God for His people (Rom. 3:21-26; 5:8-10).
What is meant by Christ’s active and passive obedience, and how does his obedience benefit us?
Christ came down to earth ultimately to fulfill the will of the Father (Mt 5:17; Jn 8:29). Christ’s active obedience means that Christ had faithfully submitted to the will of the Father despite being acquainted with grief and other human emotions, learning obedience through suffering (Mt 4:1-11; 26:36-46; Is 53:3-4; Heb 5:7-10). Christ can sympathize with our weaknesses as He was tempted in every way like us but was without sin (Heb 4:15-16).
Christ’s passive obedience means that Christ had voluntarily offered Himself to the Father through His death on the cross to redeem His people from the curse of sin that came through the Torah law by becoming a curse for us (Gal 3:13). The obedience of Christ, then, benefits us in such a way that Christ is our legal substitute, being our righteousness and our salvation (1 Cor 1:30; 1 Pet 3:18).
What is the atoning death of Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ gave Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to the Father and had taken the stead of sinners, bearing their sin and shame. Thus, Christ became alienated and condemned to death, satisfying the demands of the Holy Father so that sinners–namely, those who believe in Christ through faith–may be in right standing, being forgiven and reconciled back to God. It is my belief that Christ bore the sins of the world and was slain as the unblemished lamb, however, such atoning death is only efficacious to God’s elect people (Jn 10:15; Is 53:8, 11-12). With this belief, I would then also assume the Penal Substitution Theory and Definite Atonement positions.
What saving benefits accrue to us because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
When Christ was resurrected, He enabled believers to also experience resurrection through faith in Him as Lord and Savior so that they could receive eternal life (Jn 11:25; Eph 2:8). This eternal life consists of a life that is united in Christ forever (1 Jn 5:11-12). There is victory over sin and death for the believer, as Christ, in His resurrection, conquered the forces of spiritual darkness after three days in the tomb (1 Cor 15:55). Believers get to participate in His ascension to newness of life (Eph 1:15-23; Rom 6:4).
What is the significance of the ascension of Christ for our salvation?
The ascension of Christ signifies that Christ, our great High Priest, now sits on the throne at the right hand of the Father so that we can have access to the Father for mercy and grace (Heb 4:13-14, 16). His ascension also fulfills the promise of our Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to enable us to participate in the resurrection life with Christ, share in His exaltation, and have victory over spiritual darkness (Jn 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; Eph 1:20-21).
What significance does land play in salvation?
Land signifies a locus for a relationship with God. Originally, humans walked with God, living in His presence in the Garden of Eden (Gen 1-2). However, when sin entered the world, both Adam and Eve were banished from the land of the Garden of Eden, ultimately, being cast away from the presence of God (Gen 3:23-24). Salvation through Christ grants a land of redemption where God will gather His people from all lands into one land, making God have His own people and the people having God (Ezek 36:24, 28). It is in the land of God where believers have their inheritance and portion which is the Lord only (Num 18:20). When the new heaven and earth are created, there will be the tree of life in the midst of God’s people in the land of God (Rev 2:7).
To whom does the election of God’s people in Jesus Christ refer?
The election of God’s people in Jesus Christ refers to those who have been chosen by God before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4-5). All of those who are elected in Christ Jesus are drawn to Jesus by the Father, being predestined for God’s ultimate purpose and will of salvation (Jn 6:44; Eph 1:11). The elect, then, refers to those who were given grace and purpose before the foundations of the world through their faith in Christ Jesus by the unsolicited love of God, not being based on works, but rather, on God’s unconditional election (2 Tim 1:9; Eph 2:6; Rom 8:29).
Comments