The book of Romans has some very large, legal words in it. Just like the book of Hebrews, Paul is taking us through a Spiritual legislative process to show us what Christ actually accomplished for us on Calvary.
First you must note that there are two words that do not appear in Romans- parole and probation. See their meanings below:
Parole- the release of a prisoner temporarily (for a special purpose) or permanently before the completion of a sentence, on the promise of good behavior.
Probation- the release of an offender from detention, subject to a period of good behavior under supervision.
Both of these words are contingent upon the person's behavior after their release from prison. They may have been temporarily forgiven, but now they must maintain a certain standard to remain that way.
Now let's look at what the Bible says, and the specific words that Scripture uses.
Romans 5:1-2- Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Justified means declared or made righteous in the sight of God. I've heard justified explained this way- it's just as if I'd never done it! As far as God is concerned, a Christian is righteous in his sight.
Why? How did he get justified?
Romans 5:9-11- Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Atonement means reparation for a wrong or injury. It is through Christ's death on Calvary that we receive the atonement. Because of this we are saved from the wrath of God upon our sin.
You see, we didn't get off scot free. There was a price that had to be paid. A Christian is someone who has accepted Christ's payment for their sin and asked God to apply this payment to their personal sin debt.
Romans 8:3-4- For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Christ never came to do away with the law. He came to fulfill the law.
The purpose of the law was to show people that they were sinners, and that there was nothing they could do that could completely eradicate their sin debt.
Galatians 3:24- Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
No one could keep the law perfectly, and in God's sight it only takes one sin to be considered a lawbreaker who is guilty of punishment.
James 2:10- For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Romans 3:19-20-Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
The purpose of the law was so that we could see ourselves as sinners before God.
The only way for anyone to become justified in God's sight was for someone to keep the entire law without messing up a single time, and then that person willingly offering their sinless self as a substitutional sacrifice for all those who could not keep it perfectly.
Romans 3:22-26- Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
There are some big words in there!
Redemption means the action of gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt. We gained possession of forgiveness in exchange for Christ's suffering on the cross.
Propitiation means the action of appeasing a god, spirit, or person. Christ was the only one who could appease the wrath of God. He's the only one who could have traveled from earth, to hell, up to heaven, and then back down to earth. He's the only one who knew the proper protocols required to present the sacrifice before God in heaven. Without Him, there is no hope.
Remission means the fact of being forgiven for breaking laws or rules. Through Christ's sacrifice we are forgiven.
Not only are we forgiven, but our relationship with God is now changed. He no longer looks at us as sinners deserving His wrath.
II Corinthians 5:18,19,21- And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Reconciliation means the act of coming to an understanding and putting an end to hostility. Christ made a deal with God to reconcile sinners. The deal was that He would die in their place, and if they accepted His death as payment for their sin, and requested that God apply that payment to their sin debt, then they would no longer be at enmity with God.
Another word that we don't see in the Bible is pardon, and yet this word accurately describes what has happened to every person who has put their trust in Christ.
Pardon- the action of forgiving or being forgiven for an offense.
In order to obtain a pardon, one must admit guilt and be convicted in a court of law. You are already condemned by God’s law. Can you admit guilt, and beg for God’s forgiveness? Christ had already paid the required price for the offense.
Because I acknowledged my sin, and pleaded for mercy, I received an eternal pardon because of Christ’s actions.
My sins are not just forgiven and waiting to see if I mess up again, they are pardoned, never to be brought up again.
How about you? Would you like to be pardoned by God?
Romans 10:9-10- That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
All it takes is belief in that Christ died, was buried, and rose again the third day just like the Scriptures foretold he would. You have to exercise humility in acknowledging your state as a sinner who will one day face God's wrath for breaking His law. And the call out to Him in faith, believing that He will pardon your sins just like He has promised to do in the Scriptures.
