Salvation in Christ, Fall 2026

Class 8: Regeneration / New Birth

I. Recap: Redemption Accomplished and Applied

II. Regeneration / New Birth 

   A. Definition

   B. The Necessity – John 3:1-8; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ezekiel 37:1-3

   C. The Reality – John 3:1-8; Ezekiel 36:22-28; 37:3-6; John 1:12-13; Titus 3:5; 2 Corinthians 4:6

   D. The Trinitarian Work by the Word – Ephesians 2:4-5; 1 Peter 1:3; Titus 3:4-6; James 1:18; 1 Peter 2:22-25

   E. New Birth -> New Way of Life – 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18

Salvation in Christ, Fall 2026 

Class 7: Effectual Calling

I. The Universal Call

Key texts: Isaiah 45:22; Isaiah 55:1-7; Matthew 11:28-30; 22:14; Acts 17:30-31

II. The Effectual Call

Key texts: John 6:44; Romans 8:28-30; 1 Corinthians 1:9, 23-24; 2 Peter 1:10; 2 Tim. 1:8-9; Jude 1b

• The Author of the Call

• The Nature of the Call

III. Implications

• For our view of God and ourselves

• For evangelism

• For prayer

• For preaching

• For parenting

Salvation in Christ, Fall 2026 

Class 6: Election & Predestination

I. Prefatory Remarks: Principles for Thinking Biblically 

1) We are dealing with the infinite Creator, therefore we must come to grips with the fact that many things will be mysterious and paradoxical to us (Ps. 145:3; Isa. 40:28; Rom. 11:33; 1 Tim. 6:16; Job 38:1-2; 42:1-2; Ps. 131:1; Num. 23:19). 

2) Scripture clearly teaches the absolute sovereignty of God and the responsibility and freedom of the creature (Matt. 11:24-27; John 6:37; Isa. 10:5-7). 

3) Scripture clearly teaches God is sovereign even over sin, yet that does not make God the author of sin (Eph. 1:11; Isa. 45:7; Amos 3:6; Job 2:10; 1 John 1:5; James 1:13-15, 17). 

4) God has not revealed everything that we would like to know, so we must say what the Scriptures say — nothing more, and nothing less (Deut. 29:29). 

5) The doctrine of election and predestination are presented to us in Scripture as the ground of our comfort and assurance of our redemption and God’s unconditional and everlasting love for us (Rom. 8:28-39; 9; Eph. 1:3-6; 1 Thess. 1:4-5; 2 Pet. 1:10; 1 John 5:13). 

II. God’s Decree and the Plan of Salvation 

God’s Decree (Gen. 50:20; Job 38-42; Ps. 33:11; 115:3; 135:6; Prov. 16:33; Isa. 37:26; 46:9-10; Matt. 10:29-30; Acts 2:23; 4:27-28; 17:26; Rom. 11:36; Eph. 1:11) 

The Plan of Salvation (Acts 2:23; 4:27-28; Titus 1:1-2) 

III. Election & Predestination 

The Works of God (Acts 15:18; 2 Tim. 1:8, 9; Titus 1:1-2; Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 1:3-6) Rom. 8:29-30 

Eph. 1:3-6 

Election: The elect are spoke of in the Scriptures as individuals and a group: thye are described as ‘the elect’ (Matt. 24:22, 24, 31; Mark 13:20, 22, 27; Luke 18:7; Rom. 8:33; 9:11; 11:7; 11:28; 1 Tim. 5:21; 2 Tim. 2:10; Titus 1:1; 1 Pet. 1:1; 2 Pet. 1:10; 2 John 1:1, 13), ‘elect exiles’ (1 Pet. 1:1), ‘chosen ones’ (1 Chr. 16:13; Ps. 105:6, 43; 106:5; Col. 3:12), ‘chosen’ (1 Cor. 1:26-29; James 2:5), those who are ‘called according to [God’s] purposed’ (Rom. 8:28) ‘a people for God’s possession’ (Titus 2:14; Ezek. 37:23; Ex. 19:5; Deut. 7:6; 14:2; 26:18; Ps. 135:4; Mal. 3:17; 1 Pet 2:5, 9), those ‘who are His’ (2 Tim. 2:19; Num. 16:5; Nah. 1:7), those ‘known by God’ (Gal. 4:9; 1 Cor. 8:3; Ps. 139:1), those ‘appointed to eternal life’ (Acts 13:48), those ‘whose names are written in the Book of Life’ (Luke 10:20; Heb. 12:23; Phil. 4:3; Rev. 3:5; 13:8; 20:12; 21:27; 22:19), Christ’s ‘sheep’ (Ps. 23; 95:7; 100:3; John 10), those ‘given’ to the Son by the Father (John 17:1, 6, 9, 24; 6:37, 39; 10:29; 18:9; Heb. 2:13), those who are ‘of God’ (8:47). 

Predestination: (Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29, 30; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:5, 11). 

The Arminian Position: Conditional Election 

The Reformed Position: Unconditional Election (Rom. 9) 

IV. Devotional and Practical Implications 

1) The doctrine of unconditional election means that God’s love for me is true and free. 2) The doctrine of unconditional election means that God will never change His mind about me. 3) The doctrine of election and predestination is the ground of my assurance of salvation. 4) The doctrine of unconditional election is the ground of my holiness. 

5) The doctrine of unconditional election and predestination give me the utmost confidence that my evangelism will be successful. 

Salvation in Christ, Fall 2026 

Class 5: Definite Atonement

I   Meaning of Universal vs Definite Atonement:

    A Two main views:

    B Take-Away of the Views: 

II   Terms, Tenses, & Texts Suggesting Definite Atonement:

 A   Terms: 

1. Redemption: 
2. Ransom:
3. Propitiation’ 
4. Reconciliation 

 B  Tenses:  

1. Ro.8:29.  
2. Eph.5:25-27, 
3. Heb.9:12 

 C  Texts:  

1. Suffering Servant - Isa.53:3-5 
   • Personal Pronouns: 
   • Effectiveness 

2. My Sheep - Jn.10:11-15 
3. The Drawn/Given - Jn.6:37,44, 65: 
4. The Church - Ac.20​:28 & Eph.5:25: 
5. For Me - Gal.2:20: 
6. For Us/We: Ro.5:8;  Gal.3:13; Eph.1:4; Eph.5:2; 1Thes.5:9-10, 
7. Union w/Xst:  Rev.13:8 & 17:8 

III   Texts Seemingly Suggesting Universal Atonement – So-called Problem Texts: 

 A  Jn.1:​29 & 3:16:  

 B  Col.1:20:  

 C  1Tim.2:1-7:  

 D  Titus 2:11 

 E  2Pe.2:1: 

 F  2Pe.3:9: Summary: 2 Possible Resolutions: 1/ Two Wills of God – Will of Decree & Will of Desire/Command.. Cf. Ezk.18:​32 for latter.  By one God decrees who will believe; by the other He desires/commands all to believe. 2/ ‘You’ in ‘Patient toward you’, could refer to Christians under the influence of false teachers moving away from sound teaching. Cf. Rev.2:4

 G  Heb.2:9: ‘On behalf of everyone’ in v.10 is qualified by ‘many sons’ v.10, ‘those who are sanctified v.11, and ‘the children whom God has given Me’ v.13.

IV   Shortcomings of the Universalistic View: Summary (not covered)

 A   Enslavement to Sin:  Ro.3:10-18 & 8:7:Atonement is out of reach to unaided human choice or desire

 B   Impossible Apart From God’s Will:  Under God’s sovereignty, in what sense is something possible if He did not decree it? In what sense is salvation of anyone possible if from the foundation of the world God determined who would be saved?

 C   Denies The Mission of Christ: Shepherd; King; Master; Head; Seal & Pledge; Priest; Reconciler; Propitiator; Bridegroom; New & Last Adam;  Firstborn.

 D   Ineffectual & Graceless:  God’s power and grace come to nothing if an available Atonement is not effectual and human-dependent. If Paul said no one seek, all are hostile enemies, how could trusting Atonement to human choice ever succeed?

 E   Infinite Futility:  Giving the Eternal Son as a Sacrifice for sin is an incomprehensible mystery, but it would be an infinitely futile waste to present such a costly gift tied to the uncertainty anyone would receive it.

 F  Unbelief is Also Sin (John Owen):  The Achilles Heel of UA was noted by J. Owen. He asked if the sins of all people are covered by Christ’s sacrifice, why are not all people saved? The usual answer is because of unbelief. To which Owen asked, “is not unbelief sin? If it is, why should they be punished for it if Christ died for all their sins?”

V  Glory of the Definite View: 

Salvation in Christ, Fall 2026 

Class 4: Reconciliation and Redemption

I. Reconciliation

Key Texts: Rom. 5:10-11; 2 Cor. 5:18-21; Eph. 2:11-22; Col. 1:19-23

II. Redemption

Key Texts: Matt. 20:28; Gal. 3:13, 4:4-5; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:13-14; Titus 2:14; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Rev. 5:9-10

III. Reflections on the Nature of the Atonement

Salvation in Christ, Fall 2026 

Class 3:  The Nature of the Atonement: Sacrifice and Propitiation 

I. Atonement: Christ’s Perfect Obedience & Satisfaction as Mediator The Obedience of Christ (Jn. 6:38; Heb. 5:8-9; see also Matt. 3:15; 20:28; 26:42; John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; Rom. 5:19; Gal. 4:4; Phil. 2:7-8; 10:5-10; etc.) 

Vicarious Satisfaction 

● The demands of God are fulfilled and met (cf. Gen. 2:15-17; Matt. 22:37-40; Mark 12:33) 

● After the fall, the demands remain, but punishment for sin is now required (Rom. 5:12; 1 Cor. 15:22; Rom. 3:9, 10, 23; 6:23; Gal. 3:10) 

● Christ makes satisfaction on our behalf (Rom. 5:18-19; Gal. 3:10-14; 4:4-5, etc.) 

Christ’s Obedience as the Mediator & Surety of the New Covenant 

● One Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5) appointed by God (Heb. 7:22) 

● The Priestly work of Christ (Heb. 5:1; 2:17; 9:11-28, esp. 12-14) 

II. The Sacrifice of Christ: Substitutionary, Propitiatory, and Expiatory The Old Testament 

● Cf. Genesis 22; Exodus 12; Exodus 24; Leviticus 1–7; Leviticus 16; Numbers 21:4–9; Psalm 22; Psalm 40; Psalm 110; Isaiah 52:13–53:12 

The New Testament 

● Most significant passages: Romans 3:25; Eph. 5:2; Gal. 1:4; Heb. 9:14; 1 John 2:2; 4:10
● Christ as offering (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:7; Ephesians 5:2; Hebrews 7:27; 9:14, 23–28; 10:5–14; 13:10–12) 

● Christ’s blood for atonement (cf. Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; Acts 20:28; Romans 3:25; 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; 2:13; Colossians 1:20; Hebrews 9:11–14; 10:19, 29; 13:12, 20; 1 Peter 1:18–19; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; 5:9; 7:14; 12:11). 

● Christ as the Lamb (cf. John 1:29, 36; Acts 8:32–35; 1 Peter 1:18–19; Revelation 5:6–14; 7:9–17; 13:8; 14:1–5; 17:14; 19:6–9; 21:22–27; 22:1–5) 

1

Christ’s Sacrifice as Vicarious/Substitutionary 

● Isaiah 53; Heb. 9 

Christ’s Sacrifice as Expiratory and Propitiatory 

● Rom. 3:21-26; Heb. 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 4:10; Heb. 9:22 

III. Devotional and Practical Implications and Applications 

1. This truth causes us to reckon with the fact that we cannot save ourselves, but we need Christ to save us (Gal. 3:10-14) 

2. The Lord wants us to feel in our bones that in Christ our sins are fully and finally taken care of (Rom. 8:1-4, 31-34; 1 John 1:9; 2:1-2; Jer. 31:31-34) 

3. The Lord wants us to know that the cross is the ultimate proof of His love, not the cause of it (1 Jn. 4:10; John 15:13; Rom. 5:8; Rev. 1:5b) 

Salvation in Christ, Fall 2026

Class 2: Human Sin, Divine Justice, and the Necessity of the Atonement

Introduction:  Some background to Atonement, and the state of all humanity.

 Eph.2:8; Titus 2:11; Ro.5:12-21; 1Cor.15:45f; Lev.1:3-5; Ro.3:23; Eph.2:1; Heb.10:27; Ro.5:6;  Ro.3,5 & 8; Hab.1:13; Ps.5:4-5; Ps.34:16; 1Sam.2:2; Ro.4:8  

I   Human Sin – How did this state of affairs come about?

 Gen.1, 2, 3; Gen.2:15-17; Ro.5:12ff; 

II   Why would God want such a pitiful people?  Inexplicable Triune Love!

 1Jn.4:10; Ro.2:9,11; Ac.10:34; 1Cor.1:30; Ro.3:26; 2Cor.13:14; Ro.5:5; Ro.8:39

III   What would it take to make such a people pure before God?  Always and only ever one way – Jesus, “I am the Way.” 

 2Tim.2:13; Jn.14:6; Lk.24:25-26; Gal.2:21; Mt.26:39; Ro.6:23; Heb.10:4; Heb.10:4-7; Ps.40:7-8; Lk.22:42; Heb.2:14; Heb.4:15; Heb.7:26; 

IV   Penal Substitution: What is wrong in the human court is divine justice in God’s court.

 Isa.53:5ff; Mk.10:45; 2Cor.5:21; Gal.3:13; Ro.6:3-4, 

Salvation in Christ, Fall 2026

Class 1. The Sovereignty of God in Salvation

I. God ordains all that comes to pass.

Key texts: Job 38-41; Ps. 115:3; Ps. 135:6; Prov. 16:33; Is. 37:26; Matt. 10:29-30; Acts 2:23; 4:27-28; 17:26; Rom. 11:36; Eph. 1:11

II. God works all things together to accomplish his sovereign purposes.

Key texts: Gen. 50:20; Is. 14:24; 46:9-10; Dan. 4:35; Rom. 8:28; Eph. 3:10-11; 2 Tim. 1:9

III. God’s ultimate purpose in all things is to magnify His glory.

Key texts: Is. 49:3; Ez. 36:22-23; Hab. 2:14; Jn. 12:27-28; 14:13; 16:14; Rom. 9:17; 11:36; 1 Cor. 10:31

IV. God is sovereign in every facet of our salvation.

Key texts: Jn. 1:12-13; 3:3-8; 6:37-41, 44-45; Acts 13:48; Acts 16:14; Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 1:4-6; 2:1-10; 2 Tim. 1:9 

V. The goal of our salvation is ultimately the enjoyment of the glory of God.

Key texts: Is. 43:6-7; Is. 43:25; Jn. 17:24; Eph. 1:4-6, 12, 14; 2 Thess. 1:9-12; Rev. 5:6-14; 21:23

Church of the Good Shepherd Equip Class

Salvation in Christ, Fall 2026

Class Schedule

Class 1. The Sovereignty of God in Salvation (8/30)

Class 2. Human Sin, Divine Justice, and the Necessity of the Atonement (9/6)

Class 3. The Nature of the Atonement Part 1 – Sacrifice and Propitiation (9/13)

Class 4. The Nature of the Atonement Part 2 – Redemption and Reconciliation (9/20)

Class 5. The Extent of the Atonement (9/27)

Class 6. Election/Predestination (10/4)

Class 7. Effectual Calling (10/11)

Class 8. Regeneration and New Birth (10/18)

Class 9. Union with Christ (10/25)

Class 10. Faith and Repentance (11/1)

Class 11. Justification (11/8)

Class 12. Adoption (11/15)

Class 13. Sanctification (11/22)

Class 14. Perseverance (11/29)

Class 15. Glorification (12/6)

Class 16. *Flex week*/Ask Anything

Note: We will take off equip class on 12/20 and 12/27