Words, Words, Words…

The Scriptures tell us that:

...by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption (1 Cor 1:30)

Do you understand what these words mean? What exactly has He now made you, if you are in Him? The following are commonly misunderstood Biblical words or concepts, in alphabetical order.

Atonement
Literally, at-one-ment, i.e. the only way to be reunited and reconciled with God. Jesus' death 2,000 years ago made atonement for our sins by paying for everything we need to be right with God.

For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood (Rom 3:25)

 

Baptism
A symbolic burial in water which portrays our dying to sin to live a new life that pleases God.

We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life (Rom 6:4)

 

Holy
Literally, set apart as special. Often confused with 'righteous' (see below), it means 'different, uncommon, unique'.

As obedient children, don't submit to the desires you used to have before you knew better but, like the Holy One who called you, be holy in everything you do. As He says, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Pet 1:14-16)

You shall be different for I am different.
You shall be uncommon for I am uncommon.
You shall be unique for I am unique.

We are called to live according to God's standards. This is attainable because we have His Holy Spirit living with us causing us "to know Him from the least of them to the greatest" (Jer 31:34). Jesus is the perfect example to us of a human choosing to be submitted to God and living by His Holy Spirits power (John 4:30).

 

Justification
We are declared innocent of our sin because Jesus took the blame. He was declared sinful and so we could be called sinless because we believe in His good work!

He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.[a] 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Saviour. 7 Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. Titus 3:5-7

 

Propitiation
Christ is the sacrifice. He offered the lamb of God. Himself. God judged Him for our sins instead of us.  So Christ is the sacrifice to appease God’s requirement for not judging us for our sin. The difference between atonement and propitiation is atonement covers sin, whereas propitiation also includes the turning away of God’s anger.

“He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”
1 John 2:2

 

 Redemption
This is the process of redeeming us, which is buying us back from slavery, or liberating us. In the christians case, it is salvation form an eternity away from God to being brought into His family, the kingdom of God.

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14

 

Righteousness
Behaving rightly. 'being in the right', from an Old English word 'right-wise' = everything to do with 'being in the right' (rather than 'in the wrong'). This wording still used today, as in "How are you doing health-wise?".

“Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” Titus 2:12.

 

 Sanctification
This is the means of making us holy, from 'to sanctify', to make holy. Holy = separate. Paul uses it to describe how we separate crystal glasses for our special occasions with guests from ordinary kitchen glasses for everyday use: 

Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honour and some to dishonour. 

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honour, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. (2Tim 2:20-21)

‘Sanctified' means set apart 'for honour', or special occasions. So when we love and obey Christ we are set apart for Him. We will live out our life doing good works that he planned for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)