As we read through Romans, we find several words that equate to the salvation received when one obeys the gospel of Christ. Each word has its own unique significance to help describe the completeness of salvation in Christ.
Justification
“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:21-24). To be justified is to be acquitted of guilt; to be pronounced just or righteous. Justification takes care of our problem of our guilt of sin before God. When one obeys the gospel, God justifies him, pronouncing him not guilty of all his past sins because they have been forgiven.
Redemption
In the text above, verse 24 reads, “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” To redeem is to purchase out of slavery and make free. Redemption solves the problem of our slavery to sin and the world. When one obeys the gospel, he is redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ the Redeemer and becomes His purchased possession.
Propitiation
Continuing with the Scripture quoted above, “whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (vv. 25-26). To propitiate is to appease or render favorable. Propitiation solves the problem of our offense toward God because of our sin. When one obeys the gospel, Jesus’ blood is the means by which God’s righteous wrath is appeased.
Reconciliation
“For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Rom 5:10).
To reconcile is to change from enemies to friends. Reconciliation takes care of the problem of our enmity against God because of our having lived in wicked works. When one obeys the gospel, Jesus’ blood is the means by which God reconciles us to Himself.
Sanctification
“I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness unto sanctification” (Rom 6:19). In this context, the fruit of obedience to the gospel in baptism is sanctification. To be sanctified is to be separated or set apart from profane things and dedicated to God’s service. Sanctification takes care of the problem of belonging to Satan in the service of unholiness. “By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). The blood of Jesus sanctifies (Hebrews 10:29). When one obeys the gospel, he is sanctified by the blood of Jesus.
This is only a bird’s eye view of these weighty words describing salvation in Christ Jesus. Take some time to contemplate what these words say about who and what and where we were before obeying the gospel, and then consider what they say about how we ought to be living in Christ.
-Larry Jones