06.16. The Language of the Sword

The Language of the Saved 2 Corinthians 9:15

Have you ever had an experience of seeing or feeling something that you could not put into words. Words just seemed to not be adequate to describe your feelings or the sight before you eyes. Paul says that God’s gift to us is indescribable. Words cannot convey the ideas of His grace. In our attempts to understand and describe salvation we use many terms and works to describe our salvation that to the world is strange. At times the reason our message is rejected is because of confusion of our terminology. Many of the false religions of the world have picked up on using our "Christian" terms and while they sound Christian they applying different meanings to the word. We will seek to come away from this doctrine study with a better understanding of the language of Salvation and a better appreciation of Messiah. We will look at a total of ten words in the vocabulary of Salvation. I ask you take time later to put into your own words a definition of each word.

I- Conversion:

We begin our look at the language of the saved or of Salvation with the word conversion. David in Psalms 51:13 says that when God restored the joy of his salvation he would, "...teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." Conversion has a two fold meaning. It first means repentance or a turning from. We need to understand that repentance is not turning over a new leaf. Neither is it remorse or regret. It is not penitence or trying to make up for the wrong. Repentance is a voluntary and sincere change in the mind of a sinner causing him to turn from his sin. In terms of initial salvation this is the sin of rejection Christ. The second meaning of conversion is a turning to something. We call this faith. Faith is not a blind leap in the dark. It is not speculation nor opinion. Faith is a sincere and voluntary change in the mind of a sinner causing him to turn to Christ.

II- Substitution:

We speak often of the substitute of Christ. We talk of Him taking our place on the cross. 1 Peter 3:18 gives us this teaching. "...Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit..." Old Testament substitution was temporary in scope because it had to be redone constantly. Hebrews 10:4 says, "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins." The substitution of Christ for us in permanent because it was a one time for all substitute. John 10:11 records Christ saying, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." We have the Shepherd dying for the sheep. Hebrews 10:12 says Christ afterwards, "sat down on the right hand of God."

III- Reconciliation:

2 Corinthians 5:19 says, "...God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself..." We here this word used when two married people who have separated get back together. The OT word in the Hebrew is "kaphar." It means to cover. It is translated: "atonement" 26 times and "reconciliation" 7. This is the word used when it says that Noah put a coat or covering on the ark. The NT Greek word is "allasso" which means a change from that of being an enemy to being a friend. Zephaniah 2:15-16 says, "...Having abolished in his flesh the enmity...that he might reconcile both (meaning both Jews and Gentiles) unto God in one body..." Reconciliation is a two-phase plan in relationship to salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 shows us that God reconciled the world to Himself by Christ. We also see that we have been given the ministry of reconciliation.

IV- Propitiation:

1 John 2:2 states that Christ is "the propitiation for our sins: and not our’s only, but the sins of the whole world." Propitiation means, "to render favorable, to satisfy, to appease." We know that we can never be good enough for God to be satisfied with our righteousness. Romans 3:25 says that God has set forth Christ to be, "a propitiation through faith in his blood..." Propitiation is necessary because the wrath of God abides on sinners. (See John 3:36 ). We know that the place we were rendered favorable and God was satisfied and appeased was at Calvary. The results of the propitiation of Christ is that God is justified in forgiving sin. After all it has been paid for. The second result is that God is justified in bestowing righteousness. (see Romans 3:25-26 ).

V- Redemption:

    Redemption was longed for by Israel. Luke 1:68 records the words of Zacharias when he said, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people." Redemption carries a three-fold meaning. First, it is to pay a ransom price for something or someone. (see Hebrews 9:12 ) It also means to remove from a slave market. (see Galatians 3:13 ). In addition it means to effect a full release. (see Romans 8:22-23 ). The price of redemption was a great price. "...ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by traditions of your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." 1 Peter 2:18-19.

VI- Regeneration:

    Regeneration is the process whereby God through a second birth imparts to believers a new nature. 1 Corinthians 5:17 is the summation of regeneration. "Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things become new." The effects of regeneration is you love the things you hated and hate the things you loves.

VII- Justification:

    Job asked the question, How can a man be justified with God. Romans 5:1 says we are, "justified by faith." Justification does not mean we are acquitted after we have successfully defended ourselves. It does not mean we received a pardon or simply a second chance after being found guilty. It doesn’t mean a parole under restrictions. Justification is a legal act whereby mans status before God is changed for good. As if we had never sinned. A clean slate. Just as if I never sinned. The results of Justification is that sins’ penalty is removed and diving favor is restored.

VIII- Sanctification:

    Sanctification is an important doctrine in the Word of God. Sanctification occurs over 100 times in the Bible. We might ask the question, "Who are the Saints?" The Catholic Church bestows sainthood on only a few people after their death. The Bible however teaches that all believers are saints. We have the false notion today that to be a saint there must be total eradication of all sin. Some also teach that it is a second blessing or the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Sanctification however is simply setting aside for service. We as God’s children are set aside for His service. 1 Corinthians 1:2 "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints," Sanctification is the ongoing part of our salvation. Some have called it the reforming of our character.

IX- Glorification:

Justification is in the past for believers, Sanctification is ongoing and glorification is yet future. We know that it is secure however because in the mind of God it has already happened. Romans 8:30 says, "whom he justified, them he also glorified." We know that Glorification is the ultimate and absolute perfection of all believers. Romans 8:22-23 states, "...we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of the saints."