Salvation is the big category of a multifaceted act of God. It includes redemption, reconciliation, the atonement, grace, the gospel, repentance and faith, forgiveness, justification, imputation, and regeneration. But all these important components are rooted and centered on Christ. He is their foundation. This post briefly defines each one. Good for a quick review.
Each point has a link, where you can find many Scriptures.
Let’s begin.
I.. Salvation
A.. Description
Christ is the foundation of salvation. His grace woos people to him. Then they respond to his grace by repentance and faith in him. His grace comes first, their response second. He who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. He forgives their sins and saves them. Apart from works of the law, believers are forensically or legally declared righteous as a free gift. God imputes or credits his Son’s righteousness to them. This declared or forensic righteousness is called justification. He restores them to right relationship with him.
B. God initiates; we respond.
God lays out his offer of redemption, reconciliation, the atonement, grace, the gospel, repentance and faith, forgiveness, justification, imputation, and regeneration. Then we respond, by his grace, with repentance and faith.
C. How to be saved
To be saved: just call on his name. Believe in Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God. Profess your saving faith out loud. Declare him to be Lord, with your mouth. Believe in your heart that God resurrected him. And then you shall be saved and born of God. Simple. Even a child can do this with his childlike faith.
Sec. 8, 1 Soteriology, Doctrine of Salvation: The Basics
II. Redemption
A. Definition
Redemption means God purchased us or bought us out of our enslavement to sin, and the price he paid is the blood of Christ. God himself presented Christ as an atoning sacrifice to pay the just penalty of our sins, since we could never pay for them. A poor man can never buy a huge mansion. But what if the owner gave it to him? God offers us redemption freely. It is free to us, but it cost the Son his life and blood on the cross. We can have redemption through faith and trust in Jesus Christ, who is the only Redeemer.
B. Step-by-step explanation
1.. God’s justice demands absolute sinless perfection.
2. To fall short of sinless perfection brings death. We cannot achieve sinless perfection.
3. So we have to pay the penalty for our sins: death. Paying the penalty for us, God sent his Son to die in our place.
4. God himself through his Son paid the penalty.
5. Therefore, God paid his own demands for justice. God paid into his own justice system.
6. He himself through his Son accomplished our redemption.
III. Reconciliation
A. Definition.
God was reconciling the world to himself through Christ. Now we can have peace with God.
B. Old Testament background
God went a long way to descend to earth to reconcile humankind to himself. He sent his Son to shed his blood on the cross, as a sacrifice for their sins.
Christ fulfilled the Old Testament sacrificial system, which required blood and sacrifice to die in the place of the ancient Israelite who offered the animal. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Then the Old Testament system said that after the sacrifice was done, the man’s sins were atoned for. He was reconciled to God.
C. A deeper look
Christ is now our once-and-for all sacrifice. And through him we too have forgiveness of our sins and reconciliation to God, when we put our faith and trust in his Son.
In reconciliation, God did not move (morally speaking). We did. We rebelled, and now he is on a long search to bring humanity back to himself. However, the sins of humanity have to be atoned for, because God’s justice demands payment for our wrongs, much like a criminal has to pay for his wrongs. After he does, then he can be reconciled back into society. However, Christ stepped in and paid the penalty by going through his sacrifice in our place. Now we are reconciled to God through him.
Reconciliation reveals God’s love. He loves us, and he wants us to be reconciled to him. When we are reconciled, we are no longer enemies. We have peace with God.
IV. The Atonement
A. Brief description
God presented Christ as a substitutionary sacrifice on the cross. And through the shedding of his blood, Christ provided the expiation of our sin and guilt and the propitiation of God and his divine justice. The atonement is intended for all but applies only to those who place their trust and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
B. Explanation
Christ on the cross is the perfect picture of the atonement. (Atonement is derived from :”at-one-ment” or reconciled with God.) Since everyone sins, Christ died on the cross to take away the penalty of their sin, which is death. He was their substitute, dying in their place.
God is the just judge and has to punish sin. However, because of the substitutionary sacrifice of his Son on the cross, God was propitiated, that is, satisfied or appeased. Also, our sin and guilt were expiated, that is, removed or wiped away or covered with his blood.
The atonement is intended for all people, but it applies only to those who repent and place their faith and trust in Christ.
C. Summary of Christ our substitute
The atonement of Christ on the cross on which he shed his blood is eternal, not yearly or daily. So now it is clear where the doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement comes from. Perfectly righteous Jesus stood in place of perfectly unrighteous humanity, and paid the penalty for our sins, as our substitute on the cross. We should have been on the cross, not him, but thankfully he is our substitute who took our place. And now it is clear why his blood must be shed. It is for the remission of sins.
The atonement is best captured by this image by Rembrandt:
Église Saint-Vincent, 1631
If anyone asks what atonement means, tell them, “It’s Christ on the cross.”
V. Grace
A. Quick definition
Grace is God’s favor, goodness, and mercy flowing towards undeserving people.
B. Multifaceted
Biblical grace always comes from God and is multifaceted.
First, there is saving grace. It draws us to become saved in the first place, to enter God’s kingdom for the first time. We do not get saved by our good works, but only by God’s grace.
The second aspect of grace empowers us to live righteously, after the initial entry into salvation. By his sanctifying grace we can be holy and devoted to him and live right and enjoy a vibrant, living relationship with God. This grace reassures our hearts that we are his forever. It enables us to come back to him when we fail. Grace has everything we need for daily living for God’s Son and in his kingdom.
Third, we believe in the ordinary means of grace. The grace for living righteously and deepening our relationship with God comes by the ordinary means. When we are rooted in the spiritual disciplines, like regular communion, prayer, private devotions, fellowship, and worship, and Bible reading, God will give us the grace to live holy and righteous lives, pleasing to him.
Fourth, we believe in extraordinary means of grace, by which he works miracles and divine intervention. Our God works wonders.
Fifth, we believe in common grace, which is spread to all humankind, so they can function well in society.
VI. The Gospel
A. Quick definition
The gospel is the good news, the wonderful announcement about the kingdom of God, repentance from sin, his forgiveness, and our faith in Jesus the Messiah, the Lord, and the Son of God, whom God raised from the dead.
B. Multifaceted
It is multifaceted, but at its essence it proclaims the kingdom of God. This is his realm or dominion over which he rules and reigns as king. The Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Messiah came to earth to proclaim it. Jesus’s Messiahship, Sonship, and Lordship and his bodily resurrection from the dead form the bedrock truth of the four Gospels. Everything flows from this truth.
The gospel teaches people that they are sinners in need of God’s grace. It instructs them that they must repent of their sins. It tells them God forgives those who repent. They must put their faith and trust in God’s Son, the Lord, and the Messiah. They can have eternal life right now. They can receive the Holy Spirit. They can become the children of God. And then only by God’s grace and his Spirit’s empowerment can they live transformed lives.
The gospel is the best love story ever told.
VII. Repentance and Faith
A. Quick definition
People need to repent of their sins and put their faith in Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. Conversion must demonstrate that the old life has passed away and new life in Christ has come.
B. Repentance
The basic meaning of repentance is a change of mind, but it goes deeper than this. It is also a radical and profound change of course and direction away from sin and self-rule and towards God. People were going in one direction, but now they turn from their old path of sin and self-rule and follow Jesus. The whole person, body (behavior), soul and spirit, must go through this change that only God grants and can work in them. Then they will experience his forgiveness. Their guilty conscience is clean.
Repentant people must produce the fruit or behavior that demonstrates their repentance. They must not go back to their old ways and sins.
C. Faith
Here is a time-tested acronym to explain faith:
F-A-I-T-H = Forsaking All, I Trust Him.
People have to abandon their self-lordship and sometimes even their own families, and trust in Christ. It is a total commitment to him.
Repentance and faith should happen at the same time. As they place their trust in the Son of God, they repent. And as they repent, they place their faith in him.
Repentance and faith is called conversion.
VIII. Forgiveness
A. Quick definition
Based on Greek lexicons, forgiveness is when God lets go, dismisses, releases, sends away, cancels, pardons, and forgives our sins. His work is full and final. Don’t go backwards or dwell on it.
B.. Forgiveness is a gift of God.
He offers it to you on your repentance. When you acknowledge and confess your sins and believe in Christ, the Son of God, the Lord, at the same time, your sins are instantly forgiven. You are converted. Now you begin a new journey with God through Christ.
IX. Justification
A. Quick definition
God forgives those who repent and put their faith in Christ. He legally declares them righteous and imputes Christ’s righteousness to them.
B. Longer definition:
Justification is defined as God’s declaration of his righteousness over us when we have repented of our sins and placed our faith and trust in Christ. Being justified also means declaring us not guilty, and acceptable in God’s sight. We receive this marvelous gift of righteousness by faith in Christ.
C. Forensic and ethical justification
It is vital to distinguish forensic or legal justification and ethical or moral justification. The distinction is more logical than temporal. God’s salvation brings all sorts of blessings at the same time, like these: new birth, forgiveness, conversion, adoption, new creation, the two kinds of justification, cleansing, washing, sanctification, and so on.
To be clear, however, forensic justification logically precedes ethical justification.
In this way Christianity is unique among other religions. If there is confusion between the two kinds of justification, then Christianity becomes like numerous other religions which mix faith and works together. You work your way up to God by being righteous enough, by doing enough righteous deeds.
Imputation means that God has reckoned or credited Christ’s righteousness to our account. We now have a new legal status that the just requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us. This is different from infused righteousness, which happens in the sanctification process. Once again, the sequence is more logical than chronological.
But as the more concise statement says, God’s legal declaration of righteousness over those who have repented and put their faith in Christ distinguishes Christianity from all other world religions. After God’s legal declaration, then and only then do we work out our salvation by doing good works. This doing good works is called ethical justification or sanctification.
D. Quick equations
The arrow signifies “leads to”:
Right
Forensic or Legal Justification → Ethical Justification
Wrong
Ethical Justification → Forensic or Legal Justification
X. Regeneration or Rebirth
A. Quick definition
The Holy Spirit brings about new birth or regeneration in those who have placed their trust and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
B. Elements leading up to regeneration
He does this for repentant, forgiven people who have put their faith and trust in God’s Son. They can be born again and start over. Then by the power of the indwelling Spirit, they grow in holiness.
Based primarily on Titus 3:4-8 and also a few other verses, here is the fuller sequence of salvation:
Grace and mercy and kindness and love of God → repentance → trust or faith in God → Holy Spirit is poured out in our hearts → rebirth and washing and renewal → justification (= declared or imputed righteousness) → hope for eternal life
All you got to do is believe. That is your only “work.” Faith is not mental assent or a belief in a set of doctrine, though those things are important. Rather, faith means totally trusting God and his Word. He said you must be born again. And this happens by believing in him.
C. God causes your rebirth.
Once you receive faith in your heart from the Holy Spirit and the hearing of the word about Christ, then God causes regeneration or rebirth in you. Now you are born again. You have new life in Christ. It may take a while for the change to show; you may have to go to a Christ-centered small group that heals you of addictions. But the word planted in you and the gift of the Holy Spirit will help you to change. Just hang in there, and don’t allow the devil to tell you that your regeneration did not work. No. Don’t listen to him.
XI. Reflections
A.. The most important verses
They tell how to receive salvation. The verses are Romans 10:9-13, which read:
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9-13)
We need to confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead. What happens then? We are saved. We call on his name, which stands in for his person and character and status.
B. Simplicity of salvation
Let’s build on an earlier section (VI.C).
To be saved, all you have to do is to obey the truths in these verses:
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31)
15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. (1 John 4:15)
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father [God] loves his child [the Son of God] as well. (1 John 5:1)
11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:11-13)
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. […] 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9-10, 13)
Allow me to combine these verses from different chapters in Acts:
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, […] 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” (Acts 3:19, 16:31)
Here are two verses from John’s Gospel that speak of regeneration or being born again. The Spirit must do it.
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. […] 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:3, 8)
Peter says in Acts:
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes on him receives forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43)
And so to be saved: Just call on his name, and with saving faith believe in Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God. Repent of your sins and turn back to God. Profess your saving faith out loud. Declare him Lord, with your mouth. Believe in your heart that God resurrected him (= vindicated his Son’s entire life, ministry, and death). The Spirit causes you to be born again. And then you shall be saved and born of God. Simple. Even a child can do this with his childlike faith.
C. Prayer
If you want salvation by grace alone and faith alone and in Christ alone, pray these words from the heart:
“Father in heaven, I confess my sins to you. I renounce them. I turn from them. I renounce all ties to Satan and his dark kingdom. I put my full faith and trust in Jesus Christ. I declare with my mouth “Jesus is Lord.” I believe in my heart that you raised your Son from the dead. Send your Holy Spirit into my heart and cause me to be born again. Fill me to overflowing. Wash me in the inside. In Jesus’s name I pray, amen.”
Please join a good, Spirit-filled church. Get to know them. Study Scripture. Pray regularly. Share your conversion story. Then, when you are ready, God will send you out into his mission field which is right for you (Acts 13:1-4).
However, if you are a girl living in a Muslim family, be careful. Someone may harm or kill you. Stay safe and find an underground church. And if your father makes you go to the mosque, then pray silently to the Father in Jesus’s name.
D.. What happens when you experience salvation?
You have experienced salvation. You can rest in Christ that he will never take it from you. Even when you sin, he works with you and draws you back to the paths of righteousness. Salvation depends on his grace. All you have to do is believe in him.
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 