short answers- ST104
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Dallas Theological Seminary *
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5104
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Philosophy
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Jan 9, 2024
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SHORT ANSWER ASSIGNMENT ___________________ A Paper Presented to Dr. Glenn Kreider Dallas Theological Seminary ___________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Course ST 104 Soteriology ___________________ by Abhishek Neelam May 2023
Short Answer Assignment 1. Describe the way of salvation, the place of faith, and the role of sacrifices under the Old Testament economy. Under the old testament economy, the way of salvation is by faith in God which is similar to the new testament faith. In Gen 15:6, Abraham “believed” God and it was credited to him righteousness. Paul reiterates that again in Gal 3 where he brings the example of Abraham being saved by faith. It was always the way of salvation both in the old and the new testament. Faith in God was always the x-factor and the only factor for salvation throughout the bible. The first sacrifice was in Gen 3:21 which was the start of the sacrificial system. Sacrifices were made as a payment for sins. They covered the sin but did not remove the sin. The sacrifices were a foreshadow of the ultimate sinless sacrifice, the lamb of God who is Jesus Christ.
2. Defend your view of substitutionary
atonement, and provide biblical support. Contrast your view to at least two other substitutionary models of the atonement. The first sacrifice in Gen 3:21 was the first form of substitutionary sacrifice. Adam sacrificed an animal in is place as a payment for his disobedience(sin). In Romans 3:23, all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God followed by Romans 6:23, the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ. So a payment for sin has to be made. That payment is a sacrifice without blemish. Jesus was the perfect, innocent, sinless sacrifice who took the place of fallen humanity(substitution) to be a sacrifice once and for all of time. Isaiah 53 is a beautiful passage that speaks of the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ. Two other types of atonement models are -
Ransom to Satan model- Christ death on the cross was a ransom paid to Satan to free sinners from slavery under Satan. The problem with this model is it shows that God owes something to Satan. A greater can never owe
anything to the lesser and this model makes God’s sacrifice as an obligation to Satan.
Moral influence theory- This theory states that Christ death of the cross was to be a moral lesson of God’s love for humanity. This was propagated by Abelard. The problem with this theory is that its doesn’t recognize the death of Christ as a satisfaction of divine justice but rather cheapens the death of Christ to a mere moral lesson to learn.
3. Discuss your view of the relationship between faith and repentance. Include biblical support for your position. Faith and repentance are both gifts of God (Eph 2:8,9 ,Acts 11:18 ), Faith can be defined as confidence and assurance of what we hoped for and what we cannot see (Heb 11:1). Repentance can be defined as change in one’s change away from sin. God gives us grace and through faith we are saved (Eph 2:8,9). When we are saved, God gives us the deposit of the Holy Spirit which helps us to repent of our sins and turn to Christ. A true faith in Jesus Christ leads a believers to true repentance which leads a sinner to true forgiveness of sins(Luke 24) 4. What is the meaning of justification? Provide biblical support for your position. How does the Protestant understanding of that concept compare with the Roman Catholic model? Justification simply means to be declared righteous by the imputation of the righteousness of Christ (Rom 3). Justification comes by grace alone through faith alone and in Christ alone (Eph 2:8-9). When we are justified and made right with God, he places the Holy Spirit as a deposit in us until our redemption (Eph 1:13-14).
The protestant understanding is that, we are saved only by faith in Christ alone and nothing else. Whereas the catholics believe that Christ death created a possibility for us to be justified by God. The catholics believe that we are justified not only by our faith in Jesus Christ but also by being partakers in the sacraments like baptism,Eucharist etc. For Protestants , there is only one way to be justified by God and that is through faith in Jesus whereas for catholics not only faith in Jesus but the partaking of the sacraments also justifies before God.
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5. How would you describe the relationship between the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of humans in salvation? Compare your view to both the Calvinistic and Arminian models. Be sure to include biblical support for your position. I believe in the absolute sovereignty of God who through his grace(Eph 2:8,9) gives humans the ability to choose him. I believe that God is the first mover in our salvation and he gives us grace to choose him. Without God’s grace, we will never choose God because of our depraved nature(Eph 2:5) which was brought about by sin. Man has the ontological ability to obey God but it is corrupted by sin. When God gives us grace, I believe that God gives humans a choice and in that freedom of choice covered with the grace of God, we choose God. I believe that God first chooses us and then we choose him too. He doesn’t coerce us to choose him but with our human will and responsibility, we also choose God.
Calvinistic view- God is totally responsible for the salvation(Jn 12:32) process as humans are totally deprived. God elected people even before the foundation of the earth (Eph 1:5), Christ sacrifice on the cross was only for the elect, his grace is irresistible and the chosen saints will persevere till the end (Eph 2:8-9).
Arminian View- God has given special grace to fallen humans so we can choose God, he elects his people based on foreknowledge, Christ sacrifice on the cross is for everyone (Jn 3:16), God’s grace is resistible(Rom 10:16) and Salvation can be lost(Js 1:12).
I believe in both the responsibility of God and man in the salvation process , though we need God’s grace to choose him, the sacrifice is for all(Jn 3:16) and God’s grace can be resisted.
6. From your perspective, what are the best arguments for eternal security? Give three arguments and provide biblical support. The best arguments for eternal security are
1. Conditional Election as held by the Arminians- This view states that God elects people based on his foreknowledge. God in his omniscience knows who will eventually put their trust in God and based on that foreknowledge,
God elects people. It is conditional election because man in his own free will chooses God and God doesn’t coerce any man to accept him.(1 Pet 1:1-2, Rom 8:29)
2. Unconditional Election as held by the Calvinists- This view states that God in his sovereign will chooses who he wants to choose and rejects those who wants to reject. It is not conditioned on any human response but on God’d sovereign will alone. The Calvinists call this as unmerited favour. (Eph 1:5,)
3. Double predestination as held by few Calvinists- This view states that some people are created by God with the sole purpose of being sent to hell(Rom 9:22). This is to justify the wrath of God that those who rejected God will face the wrath of God.
7-8. Define pluralism, inclusivism, and exclusivism, and identify at least one biblical argument for each. Refute the arguments for the positions you do not hold, and o
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er Scriptural support for the position you favor. Pluralism- It is the view that every religion has some amount of truth to them and they are all di
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erent ways of reaching God. They believe that every religion has a way or method to reach God implying they are many paths to God.
Inclusivism- Salvation can be found only through the finished work of Jesus Christ but there are other possibilities for being saved without the knowledge of Christ finished work on the cross. Some inclusivists believe that some people can also be saved without any knowledge of the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Exclusivism- The view that salvation is only found in the knowledge of the finished work of Jesus Christ and in other way or means. This view excludes any other view of being saved. It is also called particularism.
I do not believe in Pluralism because of John 14:6 where Jesus says that he is the “only” way to God and there is no other way.
I believe in mild inclusivism, where infants and children who die will have a place in heaven. I understand this from the parable of the good shepherd where Jesus speaks of other sheep who are not of the fold but will be part of the family.
I firmly believe in exclusivism where Peter in Acts 4 speaks of salvation being found in no one else but in Jesus and there is no name under heaven by which we are saved.
9. Tweet the gospel (using 140 characters, explain the gospel to a person who has limited understanding of the biblical story). I am a sinner who needs a saviour. The only way to be saved from my sin is by faith alone in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone.
10. CASE STUDY: You are a member of a Christian community where you have some spiritual oversight or influence over people. You may not be in a leadership position but the members of the community look to you for insight and influence. A member of the community makes the following statement publicly to your community group. And then defends it. (In other words, this is not a misstatement or o
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the cu
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remark; it is part of the prepared “sermon” and is emphasized in the message.) How will you respond?
“God has done 95% of the work for our salvation. He has left 5% for us to do. We must obey.”
God has done 100% of the work for our salvation. We bring nothing to the table but need. In our human depravity, we are unable by ourselves to choose anything Good. God in his infinite mercy, love and sovereignity gives us grace to choose him. Romans 4:5 says that people can never do any work that will make them right with God. We are saved because of God’s grace which enables us to place our faith in his son Jesus Christ. As Eph 2:8-9 says, we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone and in Christ alone.
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