The -Tions of Salvation: The Eight Works of the Cross

Romans 3:23-25 / 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

Soteriology: the area of Christian theology focused on the saving work of Christ including atonement, grace, human nature, sin, and resurrection. The term derives from the Greek word meaning salvation.

My sin has broken me spiritually.

My sin has enslaved me.

My sin has been judged by God.

My sin has made me an enemy of God.

The wrath of God abides on those in their sin.

Death is not a natural event, but a penal event. It is God’s punishment for sin.

Jesus’ death was substitutionary and vicarious.

He bore my pain.

He became my sin.

He bore my penalty.

He died in my place.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.Isaiah 53:5

Propitiation: The Temple

Propitiation is the turning away of God’s wrath.

The reason a propitiation is necessary is that sin arouses the wrath of God.

God is not indifferent to sin. He is a holy God and His justice demands that sin be punished.

The Day of Atonement First, the high priest removed his official garments, made for beauty and glory, and clothed himself in white linen as a symbol of repentance as he went about the duties of the day. Next, he offered a bull calf as a sin offering for the priests and himself. That done, he entered the Holy of Holies with a censer of live coals from the altar of incense, filling the area with incense.

He sprinkled the bullock’s blood on the mercy seat (PROPITIATION) and on the floor before the ark of the covenant.

Then he cast lots over two live goats brought by the people. He killed one of the goats as a sin offering for the nation, taking the blood inside the veil and sprinkling it as before, thus atoning even for the Holy Place.

He confessed the sins of the nation over the live goat as he placed his hands on its head. Finally he sent the live goat, called the scapegoat (KJV, i.e., the escape goat), into the wilderness.

Symbolically, the scapegoat carried away the sins of the people (EXPIATION).

Then the high priest clothed himself in his usual apparel and offered a burnt offering for himself and one for the people with the fat of the sin offering. Outside the camp the flesh of the bull calf and goat was burned.

Propitiation appeases God’s wrath.

Expiation removes our sin and guilt.

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:Romans 3:24

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.1 John 2:2

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.1 John 4:10

Result: Because of propitiation, God is no longer your Judge. He is your Father.

Redemption: The Marketplace

Redemption is deliverance by payment of a price.

Propitiation addresses God’s side of the problem, His wrath. Redemption addresses our side, our bondage. We were slaves, owned by sin with no means of escape.

The Greek word behind redeem and redemption comes from a ransom price used to free a slave. Every time Scripture speaks of redemption, it calls our attention to the costly ransom paid to free us from the slave market of sin.

Redemption refers to ‘a process involving release by payment of a ransom price’, often very costly. Some Bible translations have replaced the word with ‘deliverance’ which dilutes its meaning into a vague and even cheap deliverance. We have been ‘ransomed’ by Christ, not merely ‘delivered’ by him.

Our plight: slaves to sin.
Our price: the blood of Christ.

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.Mark 10:45

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.1 Timothy 2:5-6

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.Galatians 4:4-5

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:1 Peter 1:18-19

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;Revelation 5:9

Result: Because of redemption, you are no longer a slave; you have been bought and now belong to Christ.

Justification: The Courtroom

Justification is God’s legal declaration that the believing sinner is righteous in Christ.

Redemption releases us from the slave market. Justification acquits us in the courtroom. God is a righteous Judge who cannot ignore sin, so He must deal with it legally.

A legal term related to the idea of guilt vs. innocence. Justification refers to the divine act whereby God makes humans, who are sinful, guilty and therefore worthy of condemnation, acceptable before a God who is holy and righteous. More appropriately described as “justification by grace through faith.” Justification is the opposite of condemnation.

Justification is not God making us good. It is God declaring us righteous. It is a verdict, not a process. The moment you place faith in Christ, God the Judge brings down the gavel and says, Not guilty.

We are justified by grace. We are justified by faith.

We are justified by Jesus’ blood.

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:Romans 3:24

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:Romans 5:1

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.Romans 5:9

Result: Because of justification, God does not hold your sin against you; the case is closed.

Reconciliation: The Home

Reconciliation is God bringing sinners from enmity into fellowship with Himself.

You have been acquitted in the courtroom; now you need to be welcomed home. Justification changes your legal standing. Reconciliation changes your relationship.

Before Christ, you were not just a lawbreaker, you were an enemy. God Himself took the initiative to restore fellowship, making peace through the blood of His Son. Reconciliation is the opposite of alienation; it is the restoration of friendship, the renewal of family.

Reconciliation to God is atonement, at-one-ment, you and God brought together.

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;2 Corinthians 5:18

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.Romans 5:10

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.Colossians 1:20

Result: Because of reconciliation, you are no longer an outsider; you have been brought home.

Imputation: The Ledger

Imputation is God crediting our sin to Christ and Christ’s righteousness to our account.

Imputation is an accounting term. It speaks of something being reckoned or charged to someone’s account. In salvation, it moves in three directions.

First, Adam’s sin is imputed to all humanity; we are treated as guilty in him. Second, our sins are imputed to Christ; He assumes our law-place, bearing the demands of justice in our stead. Third, Christ’s righteousness is imputed to believers; His obedience is counted as ours before God.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:Romans 5:12

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.2 Corinthians 5:21

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.Romans 5:19

Result: Because of imputation, you do not just have your sins forgiven; you stand clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

Regeneration: The Delivery Room

Regeneration is the new birth, God imparting spiritual life to the sinner.

The earlier terms deal largely with your standing before God, legal and relational. Regeneration deals with your nature. You were spiritually dead; you did not need a fresh start, you needed new life.

Regeneration is not reformation, it’s a new creation. God does not merely patch up the old man; He makes you new in Christ.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.John 3:3

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;Titus 3:5

Result: Because of regeneration, you are not a reformed sinner, you are a new creature in Christ.

Sanctification: The Workshop

Sanctification is God’s ongoing work to set believers apart from sin unto holiness.

If regeneration is the new birth, sanctification is the growth that follows. At salvation you are set apart to God positionally, and throughout your Christian life you are being made holy practically by the Spirit through the Word.

Sanctification has a past, present, and future aspect: you have been sanctified, you are being sanctified, and you will be perfectly sanctified in glory. This is where the daily fight against sin and the pursuit of Christlikeness takes place.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.1 Thessalonians 5:23

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.2 Corinthians 3:18

Result: Because of sanctification, salvation is not just a destination, it’s a direction of life toward holiness.

Glorification: The Finish Line

Glorification is the final transformation of believers into Christ’s likeness in glory.

Glorification is the completion of God’s saving work. Every trace of sin removed, every effect of the fall reversed, the body redeemed, and the believer made perfectly like Christ, body and soul, forever.

It is the future certainty that flows from justification, reconciliation, imputation, regeneration, and sanctification. What God began at the cross and started in you at the new birth will be finished when you see Christ.

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.Romans 8:30

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.1 John 3:2

Result: Because of glorification, this life is not as good as it gets, but the best is yet to come.

Propitiation: God’s wrath, satisfied.

Redemption: your bondage, ended.

Justification: your guilt, erased.

Reconciliation: your relationship, restored.

Imputation: His righteousness, credited.

Regeneration: your nature, renewed.

Sanctification: your life, transformed.

Glorification: your future, secured.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;Romans 3:23-25