There is no topic more important than our salvation. Understanding what the Bible teaches about this is crucial to appreciate what God has done and take advantage of His offer of eternal life.
As we have noticed in this series, the Bible uses some “big” words to explain this. This is not meant to hinder our understanding but to convey the concepts being described accurately. Even if these words are not common in our everyday vocabulary, we can understand them if we are willing to take the time to define them, see how they are used in the New Testament, and examine how they fit in the context of the passages in which they are used.
In our study, we have learned the following:
- Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross to make propitiation for us, extending God’s mercy and delaying His wrath in order to give us the opportunity to be saved.
- His death on the cross makes reconciliation possible between man and God. Though we were separated because of our sin, we can now be “at-one” with Him.
- After being reconciled, we experience sanctification in which we are set apart for God’s purpose. We are different from the world, not just because we have been forgiven, but because we now serve a new master.
- We also enjoy justification as God designates us as being right before Him.
- The resurrection of Jesus gives us hope beyond this life. Since He was raised from the dead, we can look forward to eternal life.
Although some “big” words are used to describe these things, we can understand them. Paul wrote, “By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:4).
Not only should we understand these words and the concepts they describe, but we should also develop the ability to explain them to others. The Hebrew writer rebuked his brethren for failing to do this: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food” (Hebrews 5:12). Each of us should be learning how to articulate these truths to others. This includes not just remembering the terms, but being able to explain what they mean so that others can understand them as well.
I hope this series has helped you understand these terms and be better equipped to teach them to others. God has revealed His word in such a way that we can understand it, though some words, phrases, and passages require more work to understand than others (cf. 2 Peter 3:16). Whenever we approach God’s word, let us do so with humility and the assurance that we can understand what God has revealed to us.
