Church of the Good Shepherd Equip Class 

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) 

Church of the Good Shepherd Equip Class

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, 

Church of the Good Shepherd Equip Class

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