Salvation Series : Lesson #7

Words Associated With Salvation (Part 2)

In this lesson we are going to look at two more words associated with salvation. These words are Redemption and Reconciliation. These words are important to salvation because they deal with the price that it cost to pay for our sins and also the ministry that each person has as a result of salvation.

Redemption : (Romans 3:24 ; Colossians 1:14)

We find the word redemption in the word of God many times and it is a word that is often used in the preaching and teaching of God’s word. Therefore as we have done before we will begin by giving a definition of the word.

Redemption – to purchase or to deliver from the power of another.

As a result of Adam’s sin we are under the power of death (Romans 5:12). The result of sin is death (James 1:14-15). The word of God says that the devil was connected with this power of death and that people through fear were subject unto bondage their whole life (Hebrews 2:14-15).

Now this is why the Lord Jesus Christ came and died on the cross to redeem us from sin and the power of the devil. Paul said that the law brings the knowledge of sin (Romans 7:7). So once we realize that we are sinners before God as the word of God says that we are in Romans 3:23, we need to be saved.  This is why in Galatians 3:13 it says that Jesus died to redeem us from the curse of the law. The Law shows us that we are sinners and the penalty for sin is death, this is why it is called the curse of the law. But through redemption in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ we have forgiveness of our sins and eternal redemption (Colossians 1:14 ; Hebrews 9:12)

Let us illustrate redemption with a story. There was little boy who built a toy sailboat and one day was playing with it in a small stream beside his house. The sailboat got away from the little boy and he lost it in the stream. Many months later he was walking through town looking in the shop windows and he saw his toy sailboat in the window for sail. He ran in and immediately asked the shop owner how much he wanted for the sailboat. The shop owner said 5 dollars. The little boy did not have 5 dollars but he worked for weeks earning the money and when he had earned enough money he bought the sailboat. After leaving the store the little boy said about the sailboat, you are mine twice. I made you and I bought you back.

This is exactly what God did he made man and lost him through sin, but with the shed blood of his son Jesus Christ he bought him back (Colossians 1:14 ; 1 Peter 1:18-19)

Reconciliation : (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)

In the passage above we see the word reconciled or reconciliation several times so let us first give a definition of the word .

Reconciliation – the act of restoring something to a former state of peace of harmony.

As a result of sin we are separated and out of fellowship with God. As we have seen in this series we are not even his children until after salvation. Therefore through the blood of Jesus Christ we can be reconciled or restored to the position that Adam had with God before he sinned. That is what happens to us when we are saved and that is why the word of God refers to us as the sons of God after we are saved (John 1:12-13 ; 1 John 3:1).

Most reconciliation process always require a middle man who can get the two parties involved in the dispute back together. In the case of salvation God and man are the two parties that are need of being reconciled and therefore the middle man is the Lord Jesus Christ. God accepts the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ and therefore accepts us on his behalf. And it is only through the Lord Jesus Christ that we can be saved and go to heaven (John 14:6). This is why the Lord Jesus is called the only mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5).

In salvation we are reconciled to God by Jesus Christ but we are also given the ministry of reconciliation (1 Corinthians 5:18). This means that every saved person is to be a witness of the Lord Jesus Christ and to try and win others to the Lord.

Now many saved people never realize that they are in the ministry. They think that only applies to preachers, missionaries, and teachers. But the truth is that every saved person should be involved in spreading the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Note that in verse 20 we are called ambassadors for Christ.

So the question is what are you doing with the ministry of reconciliation that you have been given.

Salvation Series : Lesson #7 Handout

Words Associated with Salvation (Part 2)

1)  What is a good passage for looking at the word Redemption?

2)  What is a good definition for the word Redemption?

3)  What is the price of our Redemption?

4)  What is a good passage for looking at the word Reconciliation?

5)  What is a good definition for the word Reconciliation?

6)  What is the ministry of Reconciliation and to whom is it given?