Just a great selection from a John MacArthur sermon I listened to the other day. He summarized the aspects of salvation in such a unique, concise way:
There are probably five terms that summarize our salvation: justification, redemption, forgiveness, reconciliation and sonship, or adoption, same thing.
All right, let's look at the first one. The first term that's used to summarize our salvation is the term justification. In justification, the sinner stands before God as the accused and is declared righteous.
The second term is redemption. In redemption, the sinner stands before God as a slave and is granted freedom by a ransom.
The third term that summarizes our salvation is forgiveness. In forgiveness, the sinner stands before God as a debtor and the debt, having been paid, is forgotten.
Fourth, is reconciliation. And this is beautiful. In reconciliation the sinner stands before God as an enemy and becomes a friend. Peace with God is made.
Fifthly, the term sonship summarizes our salvation. In sonship, I love this, the sinner stands before God as a stranger and is made a son.
Think of it. We stood before God as the accused and He declared us righteous. We stood before God as a slave and He granted us freedom. We stood before God as a debtor and He forgot our debt. We stood before God as an enemy and He made us a friend. We stood before God as a stranger and He called us a son. That sums up salvation.
