Basics Series. Soteriology, part 8.

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.

remove the penalty of 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.

REDEMPTION = the ransom or PRICE paid by our Lord Jesus Christ for our sins. It is the BONDAGE OF SIN side of the cross.

EXPIATION = CANCELLING the DEBT. To put an end to the guilt. It is the GUILT OF SIN side of the cross.

PROPITIATION = SATISFACTION. The justice of God is completely satisfied with the Person and Work of Christ. It is the GODWARD side of the cross.

RECONCILIATION = the removal of the barrier between God and man. Man is restored to PEACE with God. It is the MAN AS ENEMY side of the cross.

JUSTIFICATION = It is the legal act of God whereby He declares the ungodly believer righteous because He has imputed to the believer His perfect righteousness.
It means VINDICATION.

Redemption (in relation to the bondage of sin): liberation because of a payment made.

Expiation refers to the cancelled penalty by the blood of Christ.

Expiation (in relation to the guilt of sin): the aspect of Christ’s work that canceled guilt and the penalty of sin, which is spiritual death. Blood wipes out guilt.

The guilt of sin is removed. Our sins were imputed or transferred to Christ’s account and judged in Him on the cross.

Expiation is doing what is required to remove the guilt of sin, thereby cancelling any penalty attached to that guilt.

Expiation is related to forgiveness.

Only the blood of Christ can remove the stain, the guilt, the curse of sin, of transgressing the law of God.

JOH 1:29
The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

2CO 5:21
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

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.