Gospel of Jesus Christ

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

by ELLIOTT NESCH

The Meaning of Salvation

A look at the world quickly reveals humankind's sinful condition and the awful outcome in which this fallen condition has left us. It is a condition against which humankind is completely hopeless when left to their own resources.

According to the broadest meaning in the Bible, salvation encompasses the total work of God in which He seeks to rescue us from sin and bestow upon us His grace and love encompassing eternal life and glory.

1 Peter 1:3-5

[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

[4] To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

[5] Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

John 3:16,36

[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

[36] He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

The Unger's Bible Dictionary defines "salvation" as, "a term which stands for several Greek and Hebrew words, the general idea being safety, deliverance, ease, soundness. . . . In the New Testament salvation is regarded almost exclusively as from the power of sin. And of this Jesus Christ is the author. . . . It is freely offered to all men, but is conditioned upon repentance and faith in Christ. . . . Salvation proceeds from the love of God, is based upon the atonement wrought by Christ, is realized in forgiveness, regeneration, sanctification, and culminates in the resurrection and glorification of all true believers.

Why Would God Save Us?

When we look at our own depravity, stubbornness and rebellion, we wonder why God would save sinners. Mainly, the Bible teaches:

Salvation reveals God's love toward us:

1 John 4:9,10

[9] In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

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

Salvation is a manifestation of God's grace, the non-meritorious favor of God toward us:

Ephesians 2:8,9

[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Salvation satisfies God's holiness and love by the person and work of Jesus Christ, so that people can be reconciled to Him in fellowship:

Colossians 1:21,22

[21] And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

[22] In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Romans 5:10,11

[10] 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.

[11] And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Past, Present and Future Tenses of Salvation

First, we are saved from sin by the accomplished work of Jesus, being saved from the power of sin by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, and will be saved in the resurrection if we abide in Jesus.

2 Corinthians 1:10

[10] Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

Ephesians 2:5-7

[5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

[6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

[7] That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Titus 3:5

[5] 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;

2 Corinthians 3:18

[18] 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.

1 John 3:2

[2] 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.

The Necessity of Salvation

Paul spoke of the barrier that exists between God and humankind (Ephesians 2:14-16).

The first barrier that prevents us from having fellowship with our creator is His holiness. Without the work and person of His Son, God cannot have fellowship with humankind, therefore, or anything that falls short of His perfect holiness.

Habakkuk 1:13

[13] Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

Deuteronomy 32:4

[4] He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

God's holiness demands perfect righteousness and perfect justice. This means all that is unrighteous, unjust and sinful must be separated form Him.

Deuteronomy 32:4

[4] He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Job 4:17

[17] Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?

Job 8:3

[3] Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

Psalm 145:17

[17] The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

Proverbs 17:15

[15] He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

Exodus 23:7

[7] Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.

Secondly, our sins prevent us from any fellowship with God apart from His Son Jesus.

Romans 3:23

[23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Isaiah 59:1,2

[1] Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

[2] But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Not only our own sin, but imputed sin from Adam is reckoned to the entire human race because of our relationship to Him. Humankind's position in Adam brings spiritual death, further separating us from God's eternal life.

Romans 5:12-18

[12] 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:

[13] (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

[14] Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

[15] But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

[16] And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

[17] For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

[18] Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Humankind is inherently sinful being born with a sinful nature inherited from parents.

Ephesians 2:1-3

[1] And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

[2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

[3] Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Psalm 51:5

[5] Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Because all people are sinners, the God's perfect righteousness and justice must charge all people guilty before Him. Thus, a third barrier between humankind and God is the penalty of sin, the debt to pay and sentence to serve.

Romans 3:19,20

[19] Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

[20] Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Galatians 3:19,22

[19] Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

[22] But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Whether immoral (Romans 1:18-32) or moral (Romans 2:1-16), all miss the mark and fall short of God's holiness. Thus, salvation is impossible apart from Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:13,14

[13] And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

[14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Reconciliation

The separated and alienated sinner can be reconciled to God and restored to fellowship through that which He has done for us in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Unger's Bible Dictionary explains that "reconciliation" is, "the restoration to friendship and fellowship after estrangement. O.T. [Old Testament] reconciliation contains the idea of atonement. . . . In the N.T. it possesses the idea . . . to change thoroughly from one position to another. . . . Reconciliation, therefore means that someone or something is completely altered to a required standard. . . . By the death of Christ the world is changed in relationship to God. . . . Man is reconciled to God, but God is not said to be reconciled to man. By this change lost humanity is rendered savable. As a result of the changed position of the world through the death of Christ the divine attitude toward the human family can no longer be the same. God is enabled to deal with lost souls in the light of what Christ has accomplished. Although this seems to be a change in God, it is not a reconciliation; it is rather a 'propitiation.' God places full efficacy in the finished work of Christ and accepts it. Through His acceptance of it He remains righteous and the justifier of any sinner who believes in Jesus as his reconciliation. When an individual heart sees and trusts in the value of Christ's atoning death, he becomes reconciled to God, hostility removed, friendship and fellowship eventuate."

Colossians 1:20,21

[20] 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.

[21] And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

Romans 5:10

[10] 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.

Thus, the source of reconciliation is God while humankind is the object of reconciliation. The agent of our reconciliation with God was God in Jesus Christ who personally died for all the world and bore our sin, the cause of alienation, in His body on the cross. The cause of reconciliation is the death of Jesus on the cross because God, "made him to be sin for us . . . that we might be made the righteousness of God."

2 Corinthians 5:18,19,21

[18] And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

[19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

[21] 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.

1 Peter 2:24

[24] Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

The result, therefore, of reconciliation is the removal of those barriers and things which separate us from God such as sin, God's holiness, penalty of sin, spiritual death and unrighteousness.

Ephesians 2:14-18

[14] For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

[15] Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

[16] And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

[17] And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

[18] For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Reconciliation also results in sanctification and a perfect standing before God, even the perfection of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:2

[2] Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

We are also justified (declared legally righteous before God) through reconciliation and Christ's righteousness being imputed to us.

Romans 5:1

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

Propitiation

Leviticus 11:44

[44] For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy:

Revelation 15:4

[4] Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

God is love but more central and epitomizing to God's character is holiness which surpasses all other attributes of God. "Holy" means "separate, set apart." The Scriptures declare He is holy, holy, holy (Isaiah 6:1-3; Revelation 4:8). In Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). The holiness of God becomes a key part in removing the estrangement, alienation or enmity against God.

Propitiation is part of the work of reconciliation which deals with the barrier of God's holiness, His perfect justice and perfect righteousness. Because of God's perfect righteousness (Habakkuk 1:13; Isaiah 59:2) He cannot have fellowship with anything less than His own perfect righteousness and He is offended at the sinfulness of humankind. Because of God's perfect justice, He must condemn, pass judgment and the penalty of death and separation upon the sinner who falls short of His righteousness (Romans 3:9-23).

"Propitiation" defined in Unger's Bible Dictionary is, "the divine side of work of Christ on the cross. Christ's atoning death for the world's sin altered the whole position of the human race in its relationship to God, for God recognizes what Christ accomplished in behalf of the world whether men enter into the blessing of it or not. The cross has rendered God propitious toward the unsaved as well as toward the erring saint (1 John 2:2). The fact that Christ has borne all sin renders God propitious. . . . In this present age since the death of Christ God does not have to be asked to be propitious, because He has become so through the death of Christ. . . . Now the believer can rejoice that God is propitiated. To believe this is to enter into the benefits of it."

Romans 3:23-26

[23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

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

[25] 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;

[26] To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

1 John 2:1,2

[1] My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

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

Thus, propitiation solves the problem of antinomy (the contradiction of opposing laws or attributes): love and grace versus righteousness and justice. God is perfect love and grace and desires to forgive and bless sinners, but God is also perfect holiness and must judge the sinner. All attributes of God must be satisfied. In other words, in His love, God cannot accept the sinner to Himself and bypass His holiness, but neither can God, in His holiness, bypass His love by sending a sinner to the lake of fire without providing a solution. Therefore, in His perfect holiness, wisdom, power, love, grace, righteousness, justice, God provided the person and work of His own Son Jesus Christ.

God's righteousness is satisfied by the person of Jesus Christ who was without sin and lived in perfect harmony with the will of God His Father. Jesus was not only qualified to bear our sins, but He satisfied the holiness and sinless perfection of God.

2 Peter 1:17

[17] For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Hebrews 4:15

[15] For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

God's justice which requires judgment for sin, is likewise satisfied by the death of Jesus Christ as the substitutionary payment for sin. Jesus' death on the cross redeemed humankind from sin and its penalty by His judicial substitutionary death. Jesus, the innocent substitute, bore our penalty for our guilt.

Romans 3:25,26

[25] 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;

[26] To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Redemption

Redemption deals with humankind's enslavement and imprisonment to sin.

Galatians 4:3-5

[3] Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

[4] But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

[5] To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Unger's Bible Dictionary defines "redemption" as "a comprehensive term employed in theology with reference to the special intervention of God for the salvation of mankind. Its meaning centers in the atoning work of Christ as the price paid for human redemption, and on account of which Christ is called the Redeemer. . . . Christ is man's Redeemer; but as such he is divinely appointed. The redemption he wrought manifests not only the love of the Son, but also that of the Father. The Holy Spirit is also active in the administration of redemption. . . . Redemption implies antecedent bondage. THus the word primarily refers to man's subjection to the dominion and curse of sin. Also in a secondary sense to the bondage of Satan as the head of the kingdom of darkness, and to the bondage of death as the penalty of sin. . . . It is universal in the sense that its advantages are freely offered to all. It is limited in the sense that it is effectual only with respect to those who meet the conditions of salvation announced by the Gospel."

In the Bible, redemption consists of liberation because a payment has been made. The payment is the death of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:18-20

[18] 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;

[19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

[20] Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Hebrews 9:14

[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Acts 20:28

[28] Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Ephesians 1:7-14

[7] In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

[8] Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

[9] Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

[10] That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

[11] In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

[12] That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

[13] In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

[14] Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

1 Corinthians 6:20

[20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Colossians 1:13,14

[13] Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

[14] In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Thus, the agent of our redemption, Jesus, purchased our redemption by His sinless person and death on the cross. The instrument and point of redemption is the blood and the cross of Jesus. The results of this redemption are the forgiveness of sins, deliverance from bondage to sin and the law, the imputation of righteousness and justification, and the basis four our adoption as sons of God.

For Whom Did Jesus Die?

The Bible teaches that Jesus' death and His work of redemption was not only sufficient for the entire world, but that He actually died for the sins of all the world, not just the elect.

1 TImothy 4:10

[10] For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

John 1:29

[29] The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

John 3:16

[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Jesus paid the penalty for the sin of all the world and for all time. This does not imply, however, the belief of universal slavation. The one sin for which Jesus did not die is the rejection of Him and His work, the work of the Holy Spirit. For Jesus' death to be effective, an individual must believe in Him. Otherwise, they are judged and condemned, and the gift of God's grace and work of Jesus Christ is ineffective to them because they did not receive it though it was offered to them freely.

John 3:36

[18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

[36] He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Expiation

As redemption was the part of God's work of reconciliation that dealt with the problem of man's sin, so expiation is that part which deals with the penalty of sin that the Law exacts on sinners.

In Unger's, "expiation", "denotes the end accomplished by certain divinely appointed sacrifices in respect to freeing the sinner from the punishment of his sins The sacrifices recognized as expiatory are the sin offerings of the Old Testament dispensation . . . . and, preeminently, the offerings which Christ made of himself for the sins of the world."

Colossians 2:14,15

[13] And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

[14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Thus, the Old Testament Law (which reveals man's sinfulness and was hostile against us) has been taken out of the way and nailed to the cross. Jesus paid our certificate of debt with its penalty and nailed it to His cross, showing forever that it has been paid in full!

Substitution

Substitution is directly related to the penalty required for sins, the penalty of death.

Ezekiel 18:4

[4] Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

By the substitutionary death of Jesus, the innocent Lamb of God suffered the penalty of death and the wrath of God in the place of the sinner, the guilty party. This means Jesus took our place and bore the penalty of sin and God's judgment which we rightly deserve.

Isaiah 53:4-11

[4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

[5] 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.

[6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

[7] He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

[8] He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

[9] And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

[10] Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

[11] He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Romans 5:8

[8] But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Corinthians 15:3

[3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

2 Corinthians 5:21

[21] 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.

Regeneration

In Unger's, "regeneration" is, "the spiritual change wrought in man by the Holy Spirit, by which he becomes the possessor of a new life. It is to be distinguished form justification, because justification is a change in our relationship to God, while regeneration is a change in our moral and spiritual nature. . . . Regeneration is also to be distinguished from sanctification, inasmuch as the latter is the work of God in developing the new life and bringing it to perfection, while the former is the beginning of that life."

Regeneration is specifically revealed as the direct work of the Holy Spirit within the lives of Christians. The Holy Spirit is sent by the Father and the Son as a result of the work of Jesus on the cross.

Titus 3:3-7

[3] For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

[4] But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

[5] 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;

[6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

[7] That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

First, the work of the Holy Spirit's regeneration in the believer requires being born again by the Spirit.

John 3:3-6

[3] 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.

[4] Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

[5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

[6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Regeneration is what God does for a person to give them new life. Regeneration provides spiritual life, eternal life, a new nature and capacity for fellowship with God.

Ephesians 2:1

[1] And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

1 John 5:11

[11] And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

2 Peter 1:3,4

[3] According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

[4] Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Justification

Justification and imputation are the aspects of reconciliation that deal with the barrier of human sins and lack of perfect righteousness. Some simply say that "justified" means "just as if I never sinned." Though it rhymes, this misses the truth about justification. Being acceptable before God involves much more than the removal of our sins. In order to be justified before God, people do not only need the removal of sins, but also the addition of perfect righteousness, the righteousness of God and Jesus. God's solution for this is found in the doctrines of imputation and justification.

Paul speaks of Jesus as the means of propitiation and then shows the death of Jesus demonstrates God's righteousness so the He might remain just and at the same time be the justifier of those who have faith in Jesus.

Romans 3:25,26

[25] 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;

[26] To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Justification is a judicial act of God as the righteous and perfect judge of the all the earth (Genesis 18:25; 2 TImothy 4:8) based on the work of Jesus, which justly declares and treats as righteous the one who believes in Him and stands by imputation in the righteousness of Him.

Romans 3:21-25

[21] But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

[22] Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

[23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

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

[25] 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;

Unger's Bible Dictionary describes "justification" as "a divine act whereby an infinitely Holy God judicially declares a believing sinner to be righteous and acceptable before Him because Christ has borne the sinner's sin on the cross, and 'has been made unto Him righteousness'. . . . In this marvelous operation of God the infinitely Holy Judge judicially declares righteous the one who believes in Jesus (Romans 8:31-34). A justified believer emerges from God's great court room with a consciousness that Another, his Substitute, has borne his guilt, and that he stands without accusation before the bar of God (Romans 8:1,33,34). Justification makes no one righteous, neither is it the bestowment of righteousness as such but rather declares one to be justified whom God sees as perfected once and forever in His beloved Son."

Sanctification

Justification never changes. On the other hand, sanctification may change from day to day. "Sanctify" means to "set apart." We are sanctified by the blood of Jesus, the Word of God, faith in Him and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 13:12

[12] Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

John 17:17

[17] Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Acts 26:18

[18] To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

1 Corinthians 6:11

[11] And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Justification relates to our eternal position in Jesus whereas positional sanctification may look at our experiential condition from day to day. Experiential (progressive) sanctification removes the power of sin over in and over us whereas justification forever removes the guilt and penalty of sin.

Romans 6:1-14

[1] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

[2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

[3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

[5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

[6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

[7] For he that is dead is freed from sin.

[8] Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

[9] Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

[10] For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

[11] Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

[12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

[13] Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

[14] For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

There is also ultimate (complete) sanctification when the work of Jesus is complete in us. To the church as a whole, Paul wrote,

Philippians 1:5,6

[5] For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

[6] Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Imputation

Imputation is the reckoning or "charging to the account" of one what properly belongs to the account of another. Because of the person and work of Jesus, God imputes His perfect righteousness to the believer through faith in Him.

Of the righteousness of God being imputed to the believer, Unger's Bible Dictionary states, "Only this righteousness can find acceptance for salvation and through it alone one may enter heaven. . . . it is very clear that imputed righteousness, the very righteousness of God Himself, is sinful man's only hope of acceptance with the Holy One."

Romans 4:3-8,23-25

[3] For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

[4] Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

[5] But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

[6] Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

[7] Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

[8] Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

[23] Now it was not written for his [Abraham's] sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

[24] But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

[25] Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Unger's Bible Dictionary speaks of the imputation of sin upon Christ: "This involves a judicial imputation inasmuch as the sin was never antecedently Christ's, and when laid upon Him became His in a fearful sense. In this grand fact the truth of the gospel lies. Although the theological term impute is not employed with regard to the laying of the sin of Adam's race upon the Sinbearer, the idea is obviously contained in such expressions as 'laid on Him the iniquity of us all,' 'who bore our sins,' 'made Him to be sin' (Isaiah 53:5,6; 1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21)."

2 Corinthians 5:21

[21] 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.

Therefore, not only was Jesus' righteousness imputed or reckoned to the one who has faith in Him, but our sins were imputed to Jesus on the cross.

The Resurrection

God validated that Jesus was His only begotten Son and that His sayings were true by raising Him from the dead! Since the wages of sin is death, the soul that sins will die. But Jesus was perfect, without sin, so death had no power over Him.

The Apostle Paul cites the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and its subsequent effect upon all mankind as the proof that God exists, that Jesus is His Son, and that the redemption of all those who obey God and His word is assured by His personal triumph over the grave.

1 Corinthians 15:1-7

[1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

[2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

[3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

[4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

[5] And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

[6] After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

[7] After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

Romans 1:4

[4] [Jesus was] declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Romans 6:7-9

[7] For he that is dead is freed from sin.

[8] Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

[9] Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

Hebrews 2:14,15

[14] Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

[15] And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Romans 4:25

[25] Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Revelation 20:6

[6] Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ,

Unger's Bible Dictionary concludes, "The resurrection of our Lord is set before us in the New Testament as the miraculous restoration of his physical life, the reunion of his spirit with his body, and yet in such a way that the material limitations, in which he had previously confined his life were set aside. The resurrection was the beginning of the glorification. . . . The proclamation of the resurrection lies at the basis of apostolic teaching (see Acts 1:22; 4:2,33; 17:18; 23:6; 1 Corinthians 15:14 et al.). It ranks first among the miracles which bear witness to Christ's divine character (Romans 1:4). It is the divine seal of approval upon Christ's atoning work, and thus is in close connection with the justification of sinners (4:25; 5:10; 8:34). It is connected with our spiritual renewal as the new life of believers comes from the risen Christ (Colossians 3:1-3). It is the pledge of the resurrection and glorification of the of the true followers of Christ (Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22; Philippians 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:14).

What Happened at the Cross?

The paradox is this: "He that justifieth the wicked [is an] abomination to the LORD" (Proverbs 17:15), yet the wicked sinner is justified by His grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:24). The greatest problem in all of the Bible is this: How can God be just and, at the same time, the justifier of wicked men? If God is truly just and all men are truly wicked, then God to be just must condemn men.

But God, for His own glory, and for the great love for which He loved us sent forth His Son who walked on this earth as a perfect man. Then, according to the perfect and eternal plan of God, He went to the cross bearing our sin. He, standing as a Substitute in the law for His people and bearing our guilt, became a curse in our place.

Galatians 3:10,13

[10] For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

[13] Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Christ redeemed us from the curse becoming a curse in our place. While being crucified and hanging on the cross, Jesus cried out:

Matthew 27:46

[46] My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

It wasn't because God the Father didn't have the moral fortitude to view His Son suffering under the wounds of the Roman Empire that He turned away and forsook His only begotten Son Jesus. God turned away and forsook His only begotten Son because Jesus became sin. Jesus became an abomination to God by becoming accursed and bearing our sins.

2 Corinthians 5:21

[21] 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.

Before going to the cross, Jesus was exceedingly sorrowful in the Garden of Gethsemane praying.

Luke 22:44

[44] And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

As Jesus prayed before going to the cross, He said,

Matthew 26:39

[39] O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

In the cup was neither the whip, the nails, nor physical suffering under the Romans. The cup was full of God's wrath that had to be poured out upon Jesus. In God's love, Jesus had to die bearing the guilt of God's people, forsaken of God by His justice and crushed under His wrath. For it pleased the God to crush Him.

Isaiah 53:5,6.10

[5] 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.

[6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Jesus was crushed under the justice and wrath of God against sin. Having satisfied divine justice with His own death, God is now just and the justifier of the wicked.

The wrath of divine justice that is deserved of wicked men has now been appeased through the cross of Jesus. By grace, the person who was once an enemy of God can now be at peace with God, even perfectly loved and favored of God as God loved His only begotten Son.

John 3:16-18,36

[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

[17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

[18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

[36] He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Therefore, the person who staggers in unbelief of Jesus, still abides under the wrath of God because they have not been justified by faith.

Romans 5:6-21

[6] For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

[7] For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

[8] But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

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