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Upon Your Salvation
The following transactions occurred when by faith alone in Christ alone you became a child of God: Forgiveness, Redemption, Imputation, Expiation, Reconciliation, Regeneration, Propitiation, Justification, Sanctification and Glorification.
Forgiveness
The Bible unequivocally states that Jesus Christ bore in or took upon Himself the sins of the world (1 Peter 2:24; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Hebrews 9:28); in fact, it goes so far as to say that He became this sin so that man could become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21), a condition that is apprehended by faith alone in Christ alone—or in other words, when a person turns from all else and places his genuine confidence/trust in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for his personal salvation.
Jesus Christ did this so that the world (mankind) could be forgiven all sin:
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses [sins]. (Colossians 2:13)
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:14)
In Him [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. (Ephesians 1:7)
(Underlining and brackets by this commentator)
The sin that Jesus Christ bore and became upon the cross of Calvary was all sin committed in the past, the present and the future. If one believes today that Christ died for “his sins,” then that person must realize that when Christ died for “his sins,” they had not even been committed yet, since the person of today had not been born at that time. In Colossians 2:13 it is specifically stated that Christ died so that a person would be forgiven all his sin.
The confusion often lies with the person who cannot understand the difference between his standing in Christ regarding his eternal salvation and his experiential state of sanctification during his lifetime subsequent to his salvation experience. Lewis Sperry Chafer, late President and Professor of Systematic Theology, Dallas Theological Seminary, in his Systematic Theology, Volume Three on Soteriology, put it this way:
At this point a distinction is called for between this abiding judicial forgiveness and the oft-repeated forgiveness within the family of God. The seeming paradox that one is forgiven and yet must be forgiven, is explained on the ground of the truth that there are two wholly and unrelated spheres of relationship between the believer and God.
Regarding his “standing,” which like his Sonship is immutable [unchangeable] since it is secured by his place in Christ, he is not subject to condemnation and will never be unjustified or separated from God.
Regarding his “state,” which like the daily conduct of a son is mutable [changeable] and is wholly within the family relationship, he must be both forgiven and cleansed (1 John 1:9).
The writer to the Hebrews declares that, had the old order of sacrifices been as efficacious as the sacrifice of Christ, those presenting an animal sacrifice for their sin would “have had no more conscience of sins” (10:2). On the other hand, it is the believer’s portion to be free from the sense of the condemnation of sin—he never thinks of himself as a lost soul, if at all instructed in God’s Word; however, this is not to say that the Christian will not be conscious of the sins he commits. Sin, to the believer, is more abhorrent than ever it could have been before he was saved; but, when sinning, he will not have broken the abiding fact of his union with God though he has injured his communion with Him.
Within the family relation—which relation cannot be broken—he may sin as child (without ceasing to be a child) and be forgiven, and restored back into the Father’s fellowship on the basis of his own confession of his sin and the deeper truth that Christ has borne the sin which otherwise would condemn.
None of the believer’s positions before God, when rightly apprehended, is more a blessing to the heart than the fact that all condemnation is removed forever, God for Christ’s sake having forgiven all trespasses.
The fact is that as far as the penalty of sin is concerned, Christ paid it all, which means that all sin (past, present and future) has been forgiven. Upon the apprehension of salvation (by faith alone in Christ alone) all sins of the person relative to eternal condemnation has been forgiven. At the instance of faith in Christ:
· He has no more sin-debt owed to God. Why? Because on the cross God “imputed” to (charged to the account of) Christ his sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), and Christ on the cross paid his sin-debt; therefore, he is redeemed—purchased out of the state of sin (Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:7; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 1:18, 19; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 9:12).
· He has been justified (declared righteous) by God, because his standing is within Christ and His righteousness (Romans 3:24; 5:1, 9; 8:30; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Titus 3:7). This standing, being in Christ, can never change. Why? Because God’s holiness and sense of justice has already—once and for all—been satisfied (propitiated) by the vicarious (substitional) sacrifice of His Son on the cross of Calvary (1 John 2:2; 4:10). Justification removes the verdict of sin’s guilt.
· He has been spiritually reborn (his spirit has been regenerated). Whereas justification removes the verdict of sin’s guilt, regeneration (the new birth) removes the spiritual atrophy (state of death) from him (Titus 3:5; John 1:12, 13; 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 1:3, 23; Ephesians 2:5; Colossians 2:13).
· He has been reconciled to God. Whereas before salvation he was at enmity and spiritually separated from God, he is now in harmony and in union with God. Why? Because on the cross Jesus Christ removed the sin-barrier that stood between God and man. Now man by faith alone in Christ alone may have his fellowship with God restored (Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18; Ephesians 2:16; Colossians 1:20, 21).
· He has been granted (present tense—meaning he has it “right now”) eternal life (John 3:15, 36; 10:28; 20:31; 1 John 5:11, 12), which eternal life can never be taken away or rescinded (John 10:28, 29).
In reviewing these unalterable truths, one comes to appreciate even more the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 5:15-19:
But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.
Although Jesus Christ totally stamped-out (forgave) all sin as it pertains to a believer’s eternal state; because the believer in his temporal state and as a “child of God” still must contend with the sin nature, he still is able to sin and affect his fellowship (but not his relationship or sonship) with the Father. When this is the case, the only remedy for restoration of fellowship is for the believer to “confess” or “own up,” or “take responsibility for” the sin. Upon confession, God immediately forgives the transgression and restores the fellowship between Him and His child, the believer (1 John 1:9).
Redemption
The word, “redeem” means “to buy or to purchase.” Because of Adam’s sin, which resulted in the origin of the “sin nature” that has been passed on genetically to all mankind and results in every person’s spiritual death, everyone is under “bondage” from sin and is subject to pay the price for sin in order to be released from this bondage. The payment price is “eternal damnation and separation from God.” The holiness and justice of God demands this full payment. But due to the grace of God, Christ paid the price in man’s place. Man’s release from the debt was transacted on the cross of Calvary with the blood of Jesus Christ—the payment or ransom price “paid-in-full” so that man by faith alone in Christ alone would never again be responsible for it.
Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28)
In Him [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. (Ephesians 1:7)
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"). (Galatians 3:13) Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct 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)
Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:14)
Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:12)
Imputation
This term means “to reckon, to attribute, to ascribe, or to charge to one’s account.” It explains how Christ was able to pay once-and-for-all the price for sin for every person of the human race. While on the cross of Calvary, God the Father imputed to Christ all the sins of the human race. Because of this and the fact that Christ suffered spiritual death as a result of this imputation, God the Father is free to impute His perfect righteousness to the believer at the moment he places his faith in Christ and His substitution-sacrifice on the cross of Calvary.
For He [God the Father] made Him [God the Son] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference. (Romans 3:22)
Expiation
The term “expiation” is a sister-term to “redemption.” It means the “canceling of a debt,” or “to atone for or to make amends for an offense.” A criminal makes such expiation for his offence by serving a prescribed sentence; upon completion of such is full payment for his “debt to society.” But it is impossible for mankind to meet God’s standard of perfect righteousness and thereby repay the debt to God. Only God’s grace can provide this payment. When Christ paid with His substitution-sacrifice the price “in full” for the sins of mankind on the cross of Calvary, God automatically made available to everyone, on a personal basis and on the appropriation of Jesus Christ by faith, the “cancellation” of sin’s debt. Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (Colossians 2:14)
Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
Reconciliation
Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead . . . having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever. (1 Peter 1:3, 23)
Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). (Ephesians 2:5)
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses. (Colossians 2:13)
But as many as received Him [Jesus Christ], to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12, 13)
Propitiation
This doctrine refers to the God-side of salvation, whereby God’s offended holiness, His justice and righteousness, is satisfied by Jesus Christ’s payment for the sins of mankind on the cross. The Greek word, hilasterion, means “satisfaction,” resulting in the “turning away of God’s wrath.” The holiness of God, His justice and righteousness, results in His wrath toward sin. Without salvation, this is all that man will eternally experience. But once a person accepts by faith alone Christ alone, i.e., His person and substitution work, God’s offended holiness is satisfied and His wrath is forever turned aside. It should also be noted that the atoning work of Christ on the cross applies to all mankind, i.e., those who will believe and those who will not believe.
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. (Romans 3:25)
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (1 John 2:2)
In this 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)
Justification
The Greek word, dikaiosis, translated “justification” is a legal term used in the courts of the day. It did not mean to make upright or holy, but referred to a verdict of vindication and/or acquittal. Based on several of the “harmonious elements” of salvation previously addressed, e.g., redemption, expiation and propitiation, which are all centered on the substitution-sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary, God has pronounced a “verdict of righteousness” for anyone who will appropriate it by faith alone in Christ alone. Once a person accepts by faith the person and work of Jesus Christ for his personal salvation, his sentence of condemnation is forever changed to a sentence of justification (righteousness). And by Him [Jesus Christ] everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the Law of Moses. (Acts 13:39)
Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:24)
For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:17-19)
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