By Rick Combs
April 21, 2021
When we speak of salvation, we mean atonement, propitiation, forgiveness, redemption, reconciliation, justification, sanctification. All this because God through Christ Jesus loves us and gave Himself for us.
In our previous post, we looked at atonement, propitiation, and forgiveness. Now, we will discuss redemption and justification.
3. Redemption – “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Ephesians 1:7
Redemption means to repurchase, deliver, or liberate captives; to make them free and to ransom. Atonement provides the ransom and forgiveness provides the key that makes it possible.
The law required a redeemer to be able to pay the price – Lev 25:26, Ruth 4:4-6. The preaching of the cross is the power of God – 1 Cor 1:18, Rom 1:16. The cross of Jesus Christ provided the means and the power to redeem all from the power of darkness for those who will believe (Col. 1:13). This is a rescue from the clutches of Satan. As we put our trust in Christ, we are saved forever and translated into His glorious kingdom. Because of this redemption, we are also made new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). Our old man is passed away and all things are made new.
Now, we look forward to the power of his resurrection which is our hope. “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” – Romans 8:23
These vile sinful bodies will be changed and fashioned like unto his glorious body, in the twinkling of an eye when the Lord Jesus Christ descends from heaven with a shout, the voice of an archangel and calls us, the body of Christ to Himself (Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Cor. 15:51-52). Oh, what a glorious day that will be! 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 is one of my all-time favorites;
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words”.
4. Justification – “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” – Romans 5:1
Justification means to declare to be right, to judge as righteous. It is more than “just as if I had never sinned” – you yourself actually become a righteous one in Christ. This qualifies us to live on this earth and in heaven as “the righteous”. You are righteous now! Romans 6:23.
Justification is a judicial pronouncement and is the opposite of condemnation. No longer do we become righteous through obedience to the law, for no one can keep the law. We are fundamentally made righteous in our new spiritual DNA; in our identity. We have become righteous, in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21).
We are justified freely by his grace – Romans 3:20-26
We are justified by faith (only) and without works – Rom 3:28, 4:2,5, 25
We are justified by his blood – Romans 5:9
In our next post, we complete this series with reconciliation and sanctification.
Grace and peace unto you.
Amen!