The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. Psalm 19:1-4
Paul was a man that was not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ because “it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes”. Paul knew that it has the power to change everyone, and his passion is that all people would believe in the gospel and be saved. The book of Romans, written by Paul, is carefully laid out as to why both greeks and jews need salvation and how salvation comes about. Then there are the theological terms that communicate these truths. Today, I would like to focus on sin and death, faith and salvation, righteousness, and unrighteousness. We need to know how to explain how faith produces righteousness. Knowing how to explain the gospel isn’t enough! We must be able to see our role in God’s plan of salvation for the lost. Guess What! God has written us into his enormous plan. Are you eager to share the Good News? Do you believe that all people need salvation?
Let’s learn some terms:
Justification – is a legal matter. God puts the righteousness of Christ on our record in the place of our own sinfulness. Justification is an act, not a process, and no one can change it.
Reconciliation – means change or exchange. Reconciliation involves a change in the relationship between God and man or man and man. IT assumes there has been a breakdown in the relationship, but now there has been a change from a state of enmity and fragmentation to one of harmony and fellowship.
Sanctification – is the process whereby God makes the believer more and more like Christ. Sanctification is not a one-time act but a continual process that may change from day to day process.
Redemption – Finding its context in the social, legal, ad religious customs of the ancient world, the metaphor of redemption includes the ideas of loosing from a bond, setting free from captivity or slavery, buying back something lost or sold, exchanging something in on one’s possession for something possessed by another, and ransoming.
Salvation – is a broad concept. It includes the forgiveness of sins but involves much more because its basic meaning is soundness or wholeness. It unites justification, reconciliation, sanctification, and redemption together.
Yesterday, we learn about the progression of the exchange. Read Romans reread Romans 1:21-25, and let’s look at verse 24. God handed them over to their own sinful desires. The Greek verb, paradidomi, is in verses 26 and 28, it means “to give into the hands (of another) or to give over into (one’s) power or use. Different Bible versions translate it.
In the ESV, KJV, NKJV it is translated “gave them up”; NASB, NIV it is “gave them over”; NLT versions are “abandoned them”. Why is this important to understand? Well, go back and reread verses 5-6,8 of chapter 1. Paul is addressing all believers of Jesus Christ. Verse 21 says that they knew God. Paul called them saints and the beloved of God. The believers exchanged the truth for a lie. God offered His Son as a payment for the sin of the world. He did this so we could have a relationship with him. This is the extravagant exchange. God exchanged His Son to redeem us.
We need to be alert on a few things. First of all, God loves us, even when we mess up and disobey. When we choose this exchange of lies, God will let us have the consequences of that sin. Read Isaiah 57:15, Proverbs 8:13, 2 Corinthian 7:1, and 1 Thessalonians 4:7. We need to be alert and not forget how God feels about sin. If we constantly rebel against God He allows us to go down that course even though He sent His word, prophets, and His own Son to show us a better way. Sin is serious, not to be taken lightly. Soften your heart and mind towards God, and let him search you as King David allowed Him to do.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that we will be alert of sin. I pray that we will stay humble before you and choose you. I pray that we will not exchange the truth, your truth for the lies. God, help us to understand your word and to live by your word.
In Jesus Name
Amen
