The Vocabulary of Salvation

“How Great a Salvation”

Doctrine of Salvation, Part 4

Romans 10:8-13 (NKJV)

Introduction: In 2020, we have been declaring that “We’re Built for This!”

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Romans 10:8–13 NKJV

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

The “word of faith” (Rom. 10:8) is the necessary nugget that is needed for the Gospel to reach and to save someone.

It all hinges on the right word.

So I want us to look at the Vocabulary of Salvation.

As we study the doctrine of salvation, notice that we use lots of different words, synonyms, to describe someone coming to faith in Christ.

What is interesting is how many of these words relating to God’s work with us start with the prefix of “re-”: redeemed, restore, repent, rebirth, renew, reward, etc.

“Re-” indicates something is happening over again, or going back to an original state.

Though the words are often related, they are not fully synonyms, for each of these words indicates all that God, through Christ, has made available to us in His provision of salvation.

REDEMPTION

A. Definition - “to take an ugly & make it pretty” ; transactional word; 2 Gk words: agoridzo, lutrow

B. “Redeem” deals with a CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP

1) We were bought out of SLAVERY (Gal. 4:4-5)

2) We were bought at a PRICE (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

C. “RANSOM” emphasizes that from which we were bought (i.e., sin & death)

1) A ransom paid for someone KIDNAPPED (1 Pet. 1:18-19)

2) PRISONERS OF WAR freed (Mark 10:45)

3) A PAWNED item bought out of hock (Tit. 2:14)

2. REGENERATED

A. We were born DEAD but made ALIVE (Eph. 2:1,5; Col. 1:23)

B. BORN AGAIN (John 3:3,7)

C. REBIRTH (1 Pet. 1:23)

3. REPENTED

Most times when we use this term, what we’re usually referring to is

A. CONVERSION (Matt. 18:3; Acts 3:19; Psa. 51:13; 2 Cor. 4:2)

1) To undergo a transformation or a change of position or action; to turn, to turn toward

2) To back to a previous state or way of life; revert, return, turn back

B. Technically, repentance is for the UNSAVED AND the SAVED

1)Mark 2:17; Heb. 6:1; 2 Peter 3:9; 2 Tim. 2:25 (?); Rom. 2:4 (?)

2) Matt. 3:8; Rom. 2:4; 2 Cor. 7:10;

3) Heb. 6:6 - Problem passage

4) Order of Salvation:

Calling/Election

Repentance/Conversion

Sanctification/Perseverance

Ongoing repentance

Assurance/Eternal Security

Preservation

Glorification

4. RECONCILED

A. Peace with God (Rom. 5:1)

B. Restored RELATIONSHIP with God (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Conclusion:

Remember, salvation is a work of God, by God, and for God.

But the benefits for those who put their trust in the finished work of Christ includes a lot of “re-’s”.

All the things in God related to our salvation (and sanctification) are “re-’s” because, all that sin robbed from us, all that the devil intends to do to us, all that death wants to end for us, has been made available again to us.

Our salvation is great because of the greatness of what is provided for us by our great God!