What the Cross Accomplished for Fallen Man

Let me now summarize, in clear and comprehensive terms, everything that God's provision in Christ accomplished for fallen humanity.

1. Justification: Through the blood of Jesus, every person who believes is declared righteous before God. The guilt of sin is removed. The penalty of sin is paid. The record of sin is erased.

Paul declares:
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." —Romans 5:1

Justification means that God looks at the believer and sees not a sinner but a saint, not an enemy but a child, not guilty but righteous. It is a legal declaration, rendered by the Supreme Judge of the universe, and it cannot be overturned.

2. Redemption: Through the blood of Jesus, every person who believes is purchased out of the slave market of sin. We were sold under sin, held captive by the enemy, unable to free ourselves. But Christ paid the price for our release. His blood was the ransom.

" In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."—Ephesians 1:7

Redemption means that we belong to God now, not to the enemy. Our chains are broken. Our slavery is ended. We are free.

3. Reconciliation: Through the blood of Jesus, every person who believes is brought back into relationship with God. The enmity that sin created has been removed. The wall of partition has been torn down. We who were far off have been brought near.

"For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."—Romans 5:10

Reconciliation means that God is not angry with us anymore. He is not holding our sins against us. He is not distant or aloof. He is our Father, and we are His children.

4. Propitiation: Through the blood of Jesus, the wrath of God against sin has been fully satisfied. This is a difficult word for modern ears, but it is a biblical word, and it is essential.

God is holy. God is just. Sin cannot simply be ignored or overlooked. It must be dealt with. And on the cross, the justice of God was fully satisfied. His wrath was poured out on His Son so that it would not need to be poured out on us.

"In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." —1 John 4:10

Propitiation means that the anger of God has been turned away. Not by our tears or our efforts or our promises, but by the blood of His Son.

5. Adoption: Through the blood of Jesus, every person who believes is received into the family of God as a full son or daughter, with all the rights and privileges that belong to that status. We are not slaves. We are not servants. We are children, God's children.

"But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons."—Galatians 4:4-5

Adoption means that we have an inheritance. We are joint heirs with Christ. Everything the Father has belongs to us as well.

6. Regeneration: Through the blood of Jesus, every person who believes is born again. The spirit that was dead in trespasses and sins is made alive. The nature that was corrupted by the fall is recreated in righteousness and true holiness. The life of God is imparted to the human spirit.

" Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."—1 Peter 1:3

Regeneration is not a metaphor. It is a miracle. It is the creation of something entirely new, something that did not exist before, something that carries the very nature and life of God.