Facets of Salvation (5)

 

Legal/Forensic	Economic/Fina	Relational/Family	Religious/Priestly	Non-Legal Phases
Justification	Redemption	Reconciliation	Sanctification	Born Again
Imputation	Ransom	Atonement	Intercession	Calling
Forgiveness	Bought/Purchased	Propitiation	Mediation	Conversion
Satisfaction		Adoption	Sacrifice	Election
Pardon				Foreknowledge
Acceptation				Quickening
Representation				Predestination
				Regeneration
				Resurrection
				Glorification

 

 

Satisfaction

1. The forensic or legal work to provide sufficient payment to an offended party or judge to make appeasement or restitution for wrongs and bring to a state of contentment.
   1. Satisfaction was not to be accepted for a murderer or a manslayer (Num 35:31-32).
   2. God’s law required thorough restitution for damaged or stolen goods (Pr 6:30-31).
   3. While theft could be satisfied, the context is that adultery cannot be (Prov 6:32-35).
2. We have known persons, and we are each this way by nature, of never being satisfied.
   1. If someone wrongs us, a bitter, malicious grudge is created calling for vengeance.
   2. Offending a brother carries the danger and difficulty of winning him (Prov 18:19).
   3. Jesus had to correct Peter about the extent of forgiveness we owe (Matt 18:21-35).
   4. Implacable, a sin of the N.T., is inability to be appeased or satisfied (Rom 1:31).
   5. Our glorious God, given His nature, and then our rebellion, should be implacable.
3. God the Father saw the travail of Jesus on the cross and was satisfied (Is 53:10-12).
   1. Think how holy, just, terrible God is … how profane, rebellious, wicked we are.
   2. How could He be satisfied, due to the infinite debt and offence (Ex 34:7; Nah 1:3).
   3. How could we satisfy such a debt? It is infinite, and we have nothing at all to pay.
   4. Only an infinite sacrifice by His Son could possibly satisfy His justice and wrath.
4. This component or facet of salvation and its text was taught in detail in 2015 … here.
5. Compare these related legal facets: acceptation, justification, forgiveness, pardon.

Bought, or Purchased

1. The economic or financial work of paying a price for ownership of a person or thing.
   1. The song of Moses includes the declaration the LORD purchased Israel (Ex 15:16).
   2. Jehovah rebuked Israel for not repaying Him for having bought them (Deut 32:6).
   3. Peter rebuked false Jewish prophets that would do the same to God (II Peter 2:1).
   4. God had purchased Israel and gave them the land He purchased (Ps 74:2; 78:54).
2. God bought / purchased His elect to be His property from their debts and liabilities.
   1. The death of Jesus Christ is viewed as the price God paid for us (I Cor 6:20; 7:23).
   2. This purchase was for their salvation and inheritance (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:14).
   3. T. emphasis is on the price paid and its claim on us rather than to whom paid.
   4. We understand the purchase to be from claims of divine justice and Satan’s palace.
   5. We are the property of our God and Father and should live as owned servants/sons.
3. An angle on God buying and purchasing us is the dowry of blood paid for us … here.
4. A full explanation of we being God’s purchased possession was also preached … here.
5. Compare these related facets: redemption, ransom.

Propitiation

1. The relational or mediatorial work to appease an offended party for reconciliation.
   1. The word is used in our King James Bibles three times, so we proceed carefully.
   2. Propitiate. To render propitious or favorably inclined; to appease (one offended).
   3. Propitious. Disposed to be favorable; well-disposed, favorably inclined; gracious.
   4. Propitiation. The action of propitiating; appeasement, conciliation; atonement.
   5. Jacob wisely sent a present to Esau as a propitiation to appease him (Gen 32:20).
2. Propitiate is a mediatorial term for Jesus securing peace for us with an offended God.
   1. Jesus was sacrificed on Calvary’s tree to make peace with God for all the elect.
   2. He is the propitiation for all the sins of all the elect throughout the world (I Jn 2:2).
   3. The greatest love is God’s love of us and His Son as our propitiation (I John 4:10).
   4. God the Father had faith, confidence or trust, in the blood of His Son (Rom 3:25).
3. If God paid such a price for peace with us, we should easily pursue peace with others.
4. For more detail, see the expositional outlines for the above three texts … here, here, here.
5. Compare these related facets: reconciliation, atonement.

Sacrifice

1. The religious or priestly substitution of one thing to forgive the sins of worshipper(s).
   1. Sacrifice. To surrender or give up (something) for the attainment of some higher advantage or dearer object. To permit injury or ruin to the interests of (a person) for the sake of some desired object.
   2. Burnt offering. The gift of whatever animal or substance of value that was wholly burned on the altar with nothing remaining for any personal profit or pleasure.
2. The history of sacrifices was huge from Eden to the cross of Calvary (Bible 281 uses).
   1. From God clothing Adam with skins to Jacob’s offerings to Moses’ law, sacrifice of animals was used for worship, for covenant confirmation, for expiation, at least.
   2. We used a CPA in the past to estimate the nearly incalculable sacrifices of lambs.
   3. Shedding of blood was constant by sacrifice of animal lives for ritual purification.
   4. Hebrews, comparing Jesus to the Law, has 60% of its uses in the N.T. (17/27 uses).
3. Without use of the exact word, God delivered up His Son to save us (Romans 8:32).
   1. The value of God sacrificing His Son was so great that all else will be given freely.
   2. Jesus Christ showed His love for us by being a sacrifice to God for us (Eph 5:1-2).
   3. All other uses of our word here in the N.T. epistles do not pertain to our salvation.
4. Paul in Hebrews for converted Jews has great uses of it (Hebrew 7:27; 9:26; 10:5,12).
5. Be willing to be a sacrifice and to sacrifice (Rom 12:1; Phil 2:17; Hebrews 13:15-16).
6. The concept of sacrifices and God sacrificing His Son for us is good … here, here, here.
7. Compare these related facets: sanctification, intercession, mediation, imputation, etc.

Pardon

1. The forensic or legal work of declaring a guilty party free from their crimes and innocent before the law by an executive decree or order by governmental authority.
   1. Pardon. To remit the penalty of (an offence); to pass over (an offence or offender) without punishment or blame; to forgive. Pardon is a more formal term than forgive, being that used in legal language; also often in theology.
   2. Presidential or gubernatorial pardons are decrees to clear charges or restore rights; the various differences and distinctions of these executive acts is beyond this study.
   3. Our Constitution says, Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons, for much clemency.
   4. Clemency. An act of grace to show gentleness, grace, leniency, mercy, or relief.
   5. Our Justice Department has the Office of the Pardon Attorney for criminals to ask.
   6. In spite of failed court attempts or serious legal charges, a pardon can clear crimes.
   7. This week President Biden commuted 1500 sentences and pardoned 39 of crimes.
   8. There is a great deal more to legal issues and angles of pardons in the U.S. … here.
2. The N.T. does not contain the word pardon, but the concept is obvious by other words.
   1. Many references for forgiveness (Acts 13:38; Eph 1:7; Col 1:14), unblameable and unreprovable (Col 1:22), blotting out ordinances against us (Col 2:13-14), without charge (Rom 8:33), death abolished with life and immortality instead (II Tim 1:8-11), accepted in the Beloved (Eph 1:6), faultless (Jude 1:24), etc.
   2. The O.T. uses pardon in the sense of forgiveness for us to make the connection (Ex 23:21; 34:9; Num 14:19; I Sam 15:25; II Kgs 24:4; II Chr 30:18; Ps 25:11; etc.).
   3. We love Isaiah’s description of God’s pardon or forgiveness past ours (Is 55:6-9).
   4. Jeremiah has several references to God’s pardon, but one may be best (Jer 50:20).
3. We need a pardon, forgiveness of crimes, for we have committed many against God.
   1. We have committed sin by transgressing the law of God, like the Ten (I John 3:4).
   2. The Day of Judgment will shock humanity (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Rom 14:10-12).
   3. You cannot avoid your sentence, no matter what you do (Job 9:30-32; Matt 23:33).
   4. God’s judgment of sin large or small is terrible from the beginning to need pardon.
4. But God cannot pardon, or forgive, by acquitting or clearing (Nah 1:3; Exodus 34:7).
5. God comforted Israel with news of a pardon through Jesus the Christ (Isaiah 40:1-11).
   1. The good news is that Jesus Christ allows God to be just and justifier (Rom 3:26).
   2. No one and no charge can be laid against God’s elect in Christ (Rom 8:1,31-34).
   3. When Nathan rebuked David, he judged death, but God pardoned (II Sam 12:13).
   4. The book of life should be seen as the book of pardons with names (Rev 20:15).
   5. The faithful saying worthy of all acceptation is God granting pardons (I Tim 1:15).
   6. Let the pardon of a stay of execution from the second death thrill your soul forever.
6. God’s pardons, like all else for His glory, get Him a name (Jer 33:8-9; Luke 10:20), and His pardons far transcend earthly pardons as a study of U.S. pardons will prove.
7. For more about pardons and how God pardoned us by Jesus Christ … here, here, here
8.  Compare these related facets: justification, bought/purchased, ransom, forgiveness.

Ransom

1. The economic or financial work to pay for release or freedom of a captive or prisoner.
   1. Ransom. The price paid to free someone from captivity, to remove a penalty or condemnation, or restore a previous condition (Proverbs 6:35; Exodus 30:12).
   2. The most wonderful news, if captive as a condemned prisoner, would be a ransom.
   3. The most wonderful news, if kidnapped by terrorists for cash, would be a ransom.
   4. We often think of a ransom as payment by a parent to a kidnapper to save a child, so the story of Charles Lindbergh is a great illustration but with a terrible outcome.
   5. This crime and intrigue around it became the “Crime of the Century.” A child’s life was at risk, a ransom was demanded, the ransom was paid, but the child was killed.
   6. Moses’ Law allowed paying a ransom in cases to redeem your life (Exodus 21:30).
   7. God paid the price of Egypt and other nations for Israel from bondage (Is 43:3-4).
   8. A ransom is paid by another and not the captive or condemned to have him freed.
2. Jesus was the ransom price from God’s justice and the charges Satan had against us.
   1. If God is angry with sinners, there is no ransom to deliver (Job 36:18; Ps 49:6-9).
   2. Satan held us captive several ways, but the Stronger Man paid a ransom to rescue, and the ransom was paid to God to undo the condemnation Satan enticed us into.
   3. Forget any cooperation on your part, for you loved being in his palace (Eph 2:1-3).
   4. Jesus paid the ransom price by dying for us, as Caiaphas prophesied (Jn 11:49-52); He did not offer Himself to the devil or to sinners, but rather to God (Heb 9:12,14).
   5. The wonderful news to convicted sinners is, “I have found a ransom” (Job 33:24), which should lead us to esteem the beautiful feet of gospel preachers (Rom 10:15); there is nothing else to pay for freedom from any charges of any kind (Rom 8:33).
   6. You must die … but God through Jesus ransomed you from the grave (Hos 13:14).
   7. Jesus came to give His life a ransom for many – all elect (Matt 20:28; I Tim 2:6).
   8. Your life deserves the lake of fire; a book of ransom paid will save (Rev 20:11-15), for it’s full name is the book of life of the Lamb slain (Revelation 13:8 and here).
   9. How should this ransom payment affect you? What will you do for Him that paid?
3. Hear a rare illustration from this preacher/writer about Cyrus the Great and Cagular.                                                        An event that occurred under Cyrus the Persian may direct our attention to where it should be today. The southern border of the Persian Empire had a rebellious tribe under a great chieftain named Cagular, which together had defeated all attempts by military detachments to subdue him. Finally, the Emperor amassed a very large army, marched to this southern extreme of his empire, surrounded Cagular, captured him, and brought him to the capital for execution. On the day of his trial, he and his family were brought before the judgment seat of Cyrus. Cagular, a large and perfect man, with noble and intelligent manner, was magnificent to behold. Cyrus was impressed sufficiently to consider in himself how he might spare this enemy’s life. Cyrus asked Cagular, “What would you do should I spare your life?” Cagular responded, “Your Majesty, if you spared my life, I would return to my home and remain your obedient servant as long as I lived.” Cyrus then asked, “What would you do if I spared the life of your wife?” Cagular responded, “Your Majesty, if you spared the life of my wife, I would die for you.” Cyrus was so moved by the exchange that he freed them both and returned Cagular to his home province to assume the role of governor there. Arriving home to much meaner surroundings than Persepolis, Cagular reminisced about the trip with his wife. “Did you notice,” he said to his wife, “the marble at the entrance of the palace? Did you notice the tapestry on the wall as we went down the corridor into the throne room? And did you see the chair on which the emperor sat? It must have been carved from one lump of pure gold.” His wife could appreciate his excitement and how impressed he was with it all, but she only replied: “I really didn’t notice any of that.” “Well,” said Cagular in amazement, “What did you see?” His wife looked seriously into his eyes and said, “I beheld only the face of the man who said he would die for me.”
4. Forget Cagular! What will you do for Him that ransomed you from eternal torment?
   1. Are you so moved by Jesus dying for you that worldly things do not attract you?
   2. No wonder Jesus marks those that mind earthly things as enemies (Phil 3:18-19).
   3. Paul reasoned he owed Jesus his life for saving him from death (II Cor 5:14-15).
   4. Paul asked Corinth to give liberally by what Jesus gave for them (II Cor 8:8-9).
   5. Though often used at weddings, we can better apply love and jealousy (S.S. 8:6-7).
   6. How sinful are you? Should you love your Ransom less or more (Luke 7:40-48)?
   7. Think dear things – relations past money. Do you love Jesus more (Matt 10:37)?
   8. After Jesus’ death, how would you answer His questions to Peter (John 21:15-17)?
   9. The Ransom’s great love for you, if known, can fill you with God (Eph 3:14-19).
5. For more about the concept of ransom and our Lord’s payment … here, here, here, here.
6. Compare these related facets: bought/purchased, redemption, pardon, satisfaction.

Justification

1. The legal or forensic work to rule and declare a condemned person just or righteous.
   1. Justify. To absolve, acquit, exculpate; spec. in Theol. To declare free from the penalty of sin on the ground of Christ’s righteousness.
   2. Justify can also mean “to show (a person or action) to be just or in the right; to vindicate, as in the case of John’s baptism justifying, or vindicating, God.
   3. Justification is ballyhooed about by many Christians, by Paul’s emphasis of it against Jewish legalism, and a Reformational emphasis on it by Luther and others.
   4. However, it is just one more facet or term for the gift of eternal by Jesus Christ, and it does not reach as high as other facets of a relational or religious category.
   5. For example, the books of Ephesians and Hebrew do not use the word in any form.
2. Justification is a judicial term about a legal act and our standing before God as Judge.
   1. You are going to court. You die first, and after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).
   2. Judges on earth are terrible enough by authority and reach, but this One far greater.
   3. You fear earth’s judges with minor offences, but you will face Him with the worst.
   4. Jesus told a terrifying parable of a man without a wedding garment (Matt 22:8-14).
   5. John wrote about the terrible scene of the lake of fire as the result (Rev 20:11-15).
   6. We are condemned and guilty before God for Adam’s sin and also our own sins.
   7. What can man do to be just before God? Nothing (Job 9:2; 25:4; Ps 130:3; 143:2).
   8. What will we do in the great Day of Judgment when books of works are opened?
   9. God is perfectly just, and He cannot acquit or clear (Ex 34:7; Job 10:14; Nah 1:3).
3. We are justified – declared righteous – by God’s grace through Jesus Christ’s death.
   1. He died for us and lives for us with justification finished by His death (Ro 5:6-11).
   2. We are justified freely by His grace and purpose (Rom 3:24; 5:16,18; Titus 3:7).
   3. And this purpose and grace was given to us in eternity (II Tim 1:9; Rom 8:28-33).
   4. We are justified by Christ’s perfect righteousness being applied to our account, and our sins being negatively paid for by His death, before God as Judge (II Cor 5:21).
   5. Legally, God does not see our sins, He instead sees us in Christ’s righteousness.
   6. It is more than, Just as if I’d never sinned, for it includes His perfect obedience, so it is better as, Just as if I’d never sinned, and just as if I had lived His perfect life.
   7. He punished a Substitute to justify the elect (Isaiah 53:11; Rom 3:24-26; 8:32-34).
   8. Of course, much more has been said and could be said about this wonderful facet.
   9. Your lawyer lives forever, is the Judge’s Son, and satisfied by His life and death.
4. Justification occurs in five phases, if we rightly divide it without many popular errors.
   1. Eternal justification is God’s purpose and grace by covenant in Christ (II Tim 1:9).
   2. Jesus paid the legal price for it, so we are also justified at the cross (Romans 4:25).
   3. We are justified vitally in the sense of a righteous new nature given us (Eph 4:24).
   4. We are justified by faith (true faith requires works) as evidence of righteousness.
   5. We will be justified on Judgment Day by being declared so formally and forever.
5. The relationship of faith to justification is quite simple but perverted by 99% or more.
   1. Faith is the evidence, mark, or proof of righteousness (Gen 15:6; Psalm 106:31).
   2. Faith is not a condition, instrument, or means of legal justification, for it is too late.
   3. God’s choice and predestination of us in Christ in eternity results in accepting us.
   4. Abraham is the Bible’s example of justification, with faith and works as evidence.
   5. Sola fide (faith alone or only in Latin) is a lie for decisional salvation (Jas 2:17,24).
   6. Without works, faith is no more than a devil’s and has no evidence of justification.
   7. Only read Romans 1-5 or Galatians 2-4 with Jewish legalism for the terminology.
   8. We are accused of Antinomian lack of motivation, but faith only is far more such.
   9. We have an extensive document that goes far beyond this to explain faith’s role.
6. For more about justification, especially Abraham’s example … here, here, here, here, here.
7. Compare related facets: acceptation, imputation, mediation, pardon, and satisfaction.

Redemption

1. The economic or financial act to buy a thing or person back from a claim against it.
   1. Redeem. To buy back (a thing formerly possessed); to make payment for (a thing held or claimed by another). To ransom, liberate, free (a person) from bondage, captivity, or punishment; to save (one’s life) by paying a ransom.
   2. Firstborns were God’s, but substituting a lamb could redeem (Ex 13:13; 34:20).
   3. The Law told how men could redeem assets or persons that were sold (Lev 25:25).
   4. God redeemed Israel out of Egypt by price of ruin (Ex 15:16; I Chr 17:21; Is 63:9).
2. Redemption is an economic term for our purchase from the claims of God as Creditor.
   1. God’s perfect righteousness has overwhelming claims against us by our offences.
   2. Heaven has levied a fine of eternal torment against you for frequent, evil crimes.
   3. Jesus redeemed us from His claims against us for sins by His own precious blood.
   4. See Psalm 49:15; Romans 3:24; I Corinthians 1:30; Galatians 3:13; 4:5; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 9:12-15; I Peter 1:18-20; Revelation 5:9.
   5. Jesus entered His presence once and obtained eternal redemption for us (Heb 9:12).
   6. Compare redemption by blood to missionary numbers by money (I Peter 1:18-20).
   7. Jesus could not have taken the book from God without our redemption (Rev 5:9).
3. For more about redemption, see redemption and five phases … here, here, here, here.
4. Compare related facets: ransom, bought/purchased, satisfaction, and sacrifice.

Acceptation

1. The forensic or legal work to make amends for an offended party to accept and approve the offending party.
   1. Accept. To receive (a thing or person) with favor or approval.
   2. We could use the simple word accept, acceptance, or acceptation (I Tim 1:15; 4:9).
   3. A great example is Jacob sending gifts ahead for Esau to accept him (Gen 32:20).
   4. Another is fasting and prayer for Esther to be accepted by Ahasuerus (Esther 4:14).
   5. God would not accept a peace offering for a vow unless it was perfect (Lev 22:21).
   6. Most Christians put far too much emphasis on our acceptance of God or His Son that they overlook the crucial fact far more necessary – has God accepted them.
   7. It is not whether you have accepted God, but whether God has or will accept you.
   8. It is not whether you have accepted Jesus, but if God made you accepted in Jesus.
   9. The Bible clearly divides gifts, offerings, acceptance of salvation … here, here, here.
2. Our God has no respect of persons, no matter their ideas (Romans 2:11; I Peter 1:17).
   1. As rebel enemies of God, He will not accept us (Gal 2:6; Job 34:19; Romans 3:23).
   2. Due to our nature, character, and conduct, God must and would reject us forever.
   3. No person, pleading, or price could ever obtain His acceptance in any way at all.
   4. We know or experienced rejection by our mere equals on earth; this is far different.
   5. The Jews thought themselves special to God, but He measures by electing grace.
   6. Yet, when Peter met Cornelius, he declared him accepted with God (Act 10:34-35), which acceptance we know is the basis of his fear and works, not because of them.
   7. It is not whether you have chosen God, but whether God has chosen you in Jesus.
   8. What did He choose us to? Making us righteousness for acceptance (II Cor 5:21).
3. God made us acceptable to Himself in the Beloved, Jesus Christ our Lord (Eph 1:3-6).
   1. All spiritual blessings, including acceptance with God, are by God in Christ Jesus.
   2. These spiritual blessings are by His choice of us in Christ before the world began.
   3. He predestinated those chosen in Christ before the world began to be His children.
   4. It is by the good pleasure of God’s will and for the praise of His glorious grace.
   5. Our holy God made these arrangements for us to be accepted in His beloved Son.
   6. This is the very opposite of sinners accepting Jesus as Savior to be God’s children.
   7. God can no sooner reject one of His elect than He can reject His own Son. Glory!
   8. This verse reveals the utter folly, heresy, vanity of the modern invitational system.
   9. For much more of the details of this glorious transaction for your salvation … here.
4. Our practical acceptance with God also depends on Jesus Christ and this gospel era.
   1. The gospel era is the acceptable year (Is 49:8; 56:3-8; 61:2; Luke 4:19; II Cor 6:2).
   2. Though sinners, our worship can be acceptable (Heb 12:28; I Peter 2:5; Phil 4:18).
   3. Renewing our minds makes us acceptable (Rom 12:2; 14:18; I Pet 2:20; Eccl 9:7).
   4. Let us follow the example of Paul and his labors for the Lord (II Corinthians 5:9).
5. For much more about our acceptance with God in various ways … here, here, here, here.
6. Compare these related facets: justification, mediation, reconciliation, satisfaction.

Atonement

1. The relational work of making two offended parties united in a peaceful relationship.
   1. Atone. To set at one, bring into concord, reconcile, unite in harmony. To reconcile or restore to friendly relations. To conciliate, propitiate, appease.
   2. A combination of simple words for a short and concise definition is – at one
   3. Man by Adam’s sin and his own sins has offended the most holy God and Creator.
   4. Without reconciliation of putting God and men at one again, He must judge them.
   5. The Day of Atonement was the most special day in Israel to make peace with God for another year – specific meaningful sacrifices, the only fast, a scapegoat, etc.
   6. The details of this meaningful holy day are recorded in scripture for our learning of salvation (Lev 16:1-34; 23;26-32; Numbers 29:7-11; Acts 27:9; Heb 9:1-12,24-28).
   7. For Jews and Gentiles, the real atonement is through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:11).
   8. For more of atonement, see Day of Atonement, today’s Yom Kippur … here, here.
2. God made Jesus Christ the atonement for us; He put God and us back to full peace.
   1. The Holy Spirit chose this word in Romans 5:11 for our consideration of its sense, though this is the only use of it in the New Testament (about 70 uses in the O.T.).
   2. Paul reasoned up from death to justification to reconciliation to intercession and then added atonement also, which has relational value the Jews would understand.
   3. This piling on by the apostle is precious and should put a smile on believers’ faces.
   4. The day of atonement for Israel never produced lasting peace, only until next year.
   5. But this atonement through Jesus Christ stands forever. God has forgotten our sins and is fully reconciled to us through Jesus Christ’s one sacrifice, scapegoat, etc.
   6. Paul’s blast against Jewish legalists earlier culminated in our Lord’s finished work.
   7. Atonement’s value is next – enmity with God by Adam and Moses (Rom 5:12-21).
   8. We have peace with God to enjoy now (Rom 5:1-5; II Cor 5:14-17; Col 1:19-22).
   9. Our Lord took sin out of the way, so the creation will be restored (Rom 8:17-25).
3. What should atonement produce? Joy in God! Joy of salvation (Rom 5:11; Ps 51:12)!
4. For more of atonement, see the Day of Atonement, today’s Yom Kippur … here, here.
5. Compare these related facets: propitiation, reconciliation, intercession, mediation.

Mediation

1. The religious or priestly work to make peace or a settlement between offended parties.
   1. While this facet could be legal/forensic, we put it here for Christ and earlier Moses, for it does not matter the category we assign it, if we can gather its full meaning.
   2. Mediator. Intervenes between two parties, esp. for the purpose of effecting reconciliation; brings about (a peace, a treaty) or settles (a dispute) by mediation; negotiates a settlement to make peace between antagonistic and offended parties.
   3. True mediation works out a settlement that is fully accepted by the offended party.
   4. We use arbitrator, go-between, umpire, referee, intercessor, arbiter, intermediary, broker, middleman, negotiator, moderator, and conciliator among other terms.
   5. Spouses use counselors for mediating marital disagreements; corporations use industry experts for mediating company disputes; nations use ambassadors for mediating national conflicts; athletes use chosen arbitrators to mediate salary disputes; and our courts use public defenders and lawyers to mediate legal matters.
2. Enmity between a holy, righteous God and rebellious, sinful men requires a mediator.
   1. God is infinitely higher than us, and we have a serious conflict with God, our sins.
   2. Many verses describe aspects of the enmity (Ps 5:4-6; 7:11; Hab 1:13; Rom 3:23).
   3. Eli identified the difference to his sons of sins against God Himself (I Sam 2:25).
   4. Job needed a daysman, a mediator to put a hand on God and him (Job 9:32-35).
   5. Isaiah discovered his unacceptable condition in the presence of God (Isaiah 6:1-7).
   6. Peter knew he did not fit in the presence of Jesus Christ the righteous (Luke 5:8).
   7. Acceptation, a facet considered elsewhere, was accomplished only by a Mediator.
3. Jesus Christ is the one, all-sufficient mediator between God and men (I Timothy 2:5).
   1. An intermediary is required to save man from enmity with God. Man cannot save A man – a flesh being related to Adam – is the required intermediary.
   2. Moses was a mediator for Israel, but he did not bring peace with God (Gal 3:19).
   3. The high priest was a mediator on the Day of Atonement, but had to do it annually.
   4. Jesus is God and His Son, so His side is covered; Jesus is a Man committed to us.
   5. Jesus has a more excellent ministry of a covenant with better promises (Heb 8:6).
   6. Jesus sat down after dying, but constantly intercedes (Rom 5:10; 8:34; Heb 7:25).
   7. This is a great soteriological (or theological) doctrine and truth against the RCC, which has pressed their heresy of Mary into the work of salvation as a mediatrix.
   8. We do not need pope or priest; we have a great high priest in heaven (Heb 10:21).
   9. Jesus Christ is our one and only mediator – not Pope Frank or Mahatma Ghandi or Mohammed or Mary or an angel or any saint of your choice from RCC’s brothel.
4. Consider many aspects of Jesus Christ as mediator in a sermon dated May 16, 1999.
5. Our Lord Christ’s work between God and us is very huge and very successful … here.
6. Compare these related facets: intercession, propitiation, reconciliation, atonement.

Imputation

1. The legal act to assign or charge a person with the good or bad actions of another.
   1. Impute. To bring (a fault or the like) into the reckoning against; to lay to the charge of; to attribute or assign as due or owing to. Theologically, To attribute or ascribe (righteousness, guilt, etc.) to a person by vicarious substitution.
   2. It is an English legal word derived from Latin and French to reckon or account.
   3. It is part of the legal phase of our salvation in God’s mind or us positionally, but it is also part of the practical phase when our character or conduct reckons us saved.
   4. The word impute has Bible synonyms like account, count, or reckon used with it.
   5. If you impute an offence to a person, you hold them accountable and guilty for it; if you impute righteousness to a person, you count or reckon them to be righteous.
   6. Bible usage: impute (3 occurrences), imputed (8), imputeth (2), and imputing (2).
2. Due to Christ’s death, God does not impute sin but does impute righteousness to elect.
   1. God does not count, account, or reckon our sins against us but His righteousness.
   2. We view the outcome or result to be justification – just as if I had not sinned, and just as if I had lived perfectly like Christ (Rom 3:24; 5:6-11,13,16,18; II Cor 5:21).
   3. It is an accounting choice by God by His own will for His own praise (Eph 1:3-6).
   4. David and Paul described this great blessing on a man (Psalm 32:1-2; Rom 4:6,8).
   5. Paul explained reconciliation was by God’s act of imputation (II Cor 5:18-19).
   6. The elect are not charged for their sins; they are credited with Jesus’ righteousness.
   7. Knowledge or not of the transaction is irrelevant. You do not need to accept Adam as your personal sin representative to be held accountable and charged for his sin, so that death passed upon all men by the imputation of Adam’s sin guilt to them.
   8. Jacob and Esau in the womb without sin were already elect or not (Rom 9:10-13).
   9. Romans 5 is original sin (legal guilt of Adam’s sin charged to many), not total depravity (vital corruption of our nature from him); do not confuse the two … here.
3. However, there is another sense of imputation we must not confuse with that above.
   1. There is also the imputation, or counting, or accounting, or reckoning, of a person to be righteous by the evidence and proof of justification by their faith and works.
   2. As with justification, so with imputation, there is a legal phase of it and a practical.
   3. Abram believed God, and God imputed it to him for righteousness, meaning God counted, accounted, or reckoned his faith as evidence of justification (Gen 15:6).
   4. Paul used this signal event to prove to Jews that faith was proof of righteousness before God, not the works of the law or circumcision (Romans 4:1-25; Gal 3:6-29).
   5. But without works, Abraham’s faith proved nothing, (Jas 2:14-24; Gen 22:15-18).
   6. James also wrote Rahab was justified by works – shown to be so (James 2:25-26).
   7. David used Abraham’s wording for Phineas proving righteousness (Ps 106:30-31).
   8. For a detailed look at Abraham’s life and the role of his faith in justification … here.
4. For much more about imputation of Adams in scripture, see the detail … here, here, here.
5. Compare these related facets: representation, justification.

What can God count, account, reckon, or impute as proof you are the seed of Abraham!

Intercession

1. The priestly and mediatorial work of pleading the case of a party by an advocate or mediator on behalf of a criminal to the Judge responsible for hearing the case.
   1. Action of interceding or pleading on behalf of another; mediation.
   2. Intercede. To interpose or intervene on behalf of another or for the help of others.
   3. Bible usage: intercession (9 occurrences), intercessions (1), and intercessor (1).
   4. It can be prayer for another person, by pleading to God for them (Jer 7:16; 27:18).
   5. It can be prayer against another person, as Elijah prayed against Israel (Rom 11:2).
   6. Note how Jesus made intercession for His murderers (Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:34).
   7. Note how the Holy Spirit makes intercession to help our prayers (Rom 8:26-27).
2. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man, and He makes intercession for us before God with His precious blood and perpetual life.
   1. There is only one way to heaven and only one name for it (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
   2. He paid an infinite price to justify and redeem us by death (Rom 5:9; Heb 9:12).
   3. He pleads our case as High Priest before God (Rom 5:10; 8:34; Heb 7:25; 9:24).
   4. The Holy Spirit used “much more” and “yea rather” for the superiority of His life over His death in some respect, and we see the guarantee of all needed blessings.
   5. The facet’s value is Jesus’ guarantee to the uttermost – the farthest and most extreme reaches of our need for a Savior – by His perpetual life for us (Heb 7:25).
   6. Forever our high priest and sacrifice assures final salvation (Rom 5:9-10; 8:29-37).
   7. Our intentional emphasis in this study is legal phase, with only reference to other phases of salvation, but our Lord’s practical phase work here should be included.
   8. Consider these passages for it (Heb 2:17-18; 4:15-16; I John 2:1-2; Rom 8:26-27).
3. We classify this as a priestly work of salvation (Number 16:46-48; Heb 2:17; 5:1-5).
4. We might also classify it as the legal work of an advocate or lawyer (I John 2:1-2).
   1. Advocate. One whose profession it is to plead the cause of any one in a court of justice; a counselor. One who pleads, intercedes, or speaks for, or in behalf of, another; a pleader, intercessor, defender.
   2. We use lawyer or attorney for mediator, advocate, counselor, intercessor, etc., etc.
5. For much more about this saving work of Jesus from a legal and forensic angle … here.
6. Compare these related facets: mediation, propitiation.

What is Jesus doing right now? Who is He doing it for? And when will He quit doing it?

Sanctification

1. The religious or priestly work to consecrate or dedicate a thing for holy use of God.
   1. Sanctify. To consecrate; to set apart as holy or sacred. To make holy, to purify or free from sin; to cause to undergo sanctification.
   2. Consecrate. To set apart as sacred to the Deity; to dedicate solemnly to some sacred or religious purpose, and so give the object itself a character of holiness; to make sacred or holy and so fit for a religious use.
   3. Related words or synonyms are cleanse, dedicate, devote, hallow, purify, set apart.
   4. Israel had to take steps to sanctify themselves as holy for God (Ex 13:2; 19:10,22).
   5. Holy. Spiritual perfection or purity. Kept or regarded as inviolate from ordinary use; set apart for religious use or observance; consecrated, dedicated, sacred. God’s infinite and absolute purity, perfection, and freedom of character and nature from all evil acts, motives, or thoughts and His absolute intolerance of such acts, motives, or thoughts in any creature.
   6. Moses could not approach the burning bush without removing his shoes (Ex 3:5), but consecrating Aaron and his sons was very extensive (Leviticus chapters 8-10).
   7. This consecrated, holy state makes persons/angels saints and buildings sanctuaries.
   8. The need caused Hezekiah to beg the good Lord to pardon Judah (II Chr 30:17-20).
   9. Very few pulpits and churches in these perilous times would consider this boring and dry subject, even though it is one of the most emphasized through the Bible.
2. Consider the following uses of sanctification, consecration, and holiness in the Bible.
   1. Sanctify … designated to holy use (Gen 2:3; Exodus 13:2; II Chron 7:16; Jer 1:5).
   2. Sanctify … synonym to consecrate (Ex 28:41; Ex 30:30 cp Ex 40:13; Matt 23:17).
   3. Sanctify … to make holy (Exodus 20:8 cp Deuteronomy 5:12; I Corinthians 7:14).
   4. Sanctify … to show holiness (Numbers 20:12-13; Ezekiel 28:22; 36:23; 38:16,23).
   5. Sanctify … the removal of sin (Joshua 7:13; Ezekiel 36:23; II Timothy 2:21).
3. The God of the Bible, Jehovah, is holy, holy, holy, and His holiness is often stressed.
   1. God is holy and men or angels must be holy to be near Him or accepted by Him.
   2. Angels were cast out of heaven – unclean for their sins (Job 4:18; 15:15; Jude 1:6).
   3. Isaiah thought he was damned and doomed in the presence of God (Isaiah 6:1-5).
   4. Moses and Joshua were told to remove shoes in the holy presence of God’s angel.
   5. Holiness is no light matter. It is God’s beauty and required for worship (Ps 96:9).
   6. Aaron’s mitre had a plate on lace – HOLINESS TO THE LORD (Ex 28:36-38).
   7. God is called the “Holy One” at least thirty times in Isaiah alone (Is 1:4; 5:19,24).
   8. He is praised, Holy, holy, holy; the Spirit the Holy Spirit; the Bible Holy Scripture
4. Our sanctification or holy living is a frequent, strict commandment of both testaments.
   1. Holy demands of our God cannot be overstated (Numbers 15:37-41; Joshua 24:19).
   2. Everyone and everything under Moses had to be sanctified for God (Ex 19:10,22).
   3. Sanctification, or holy living, sexual sins in context, is God’s will (I Thess 4:3-4).
   4. He demands absolute obedience down to details or burns in fury (Lev 10:1-2; here).
5. Salvation must include making us holy or we shall never get near heaven or God.
   1. Holiness is crucial to enter heaven, because nothing defiled will enter (Rev 21:27).
   2. Without holiness, no man shall see God (Heb 12:14). Tremble before this warning!
   3. Jesus perfected us forever in holiness by washing away our sins and making us pure for God’s presence (I Cor 1:30; Eph 1:4; 4:24; 5:26-27; Hebrews 10:10-14).
   4. This mighty work includes the Spirit setting apart to God (II Thess 2:13; I Pet 1:2).
6. We should as a result of this facet, strive for practical sanctification in personal lives.
   1. Living a holy life is a despised idea for this pleasure-addicted, carnal generation.
   2. It is a hard subject, for it demands self-denial and isolation from worldly activities.
   3. The character of today, as Paul wrote, is unholy and hating good (II Tim 3:2-3).
   4. The true fear of the Lord is to hate evil – holiness in action (Prov 8:13; 6:16-19).
   5. We must strive for God’s holiness in every area of life (I Pet 1:15-16; II Pet 3:11).
   6. Women are to strive to be holy in thought, word, and deed (I Tim 2:15; Titus 2:3).
   7. The more care in life you have the more difficult it is to be holy (I Cor 7:32-35).
   8. Does your separation from the world perfect holiness (II Cor 7:1 cp I Cor 15:33)?
   9. Pure religion is being unspotted from the world without friendship (Jas 1:27; 4:4).
7. For more about sanctification in the Bible, see these sermons … here, here, here, here.
8. Compare these related facets: intercession, propitiation, sacrifice, acceptation.

Are you living a sanctified life, meaning you have set yourself apart to be holy for God?

Joshua 3:5  And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.