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Stott on Salvation
By jason | March 18, 2008
John Stott, in his chapter on Salvation (as a result of the Cross) points to four profound images that describe what was accomplished on or through the Cross of Christ (propitiation, redemption, justification, reconciliation). Here are a few quotes along the way.
On Justification:
Forgiveness remits our debts and cels our liability to punishment; justification bestows on us a righteous standing before God. (180)
Regeneration is not an aspect of justification, but both are aspects of salvation, and neither can take place without the other. (186)
On Reconciliation:
Quoting Emil Brunner -
Justification means this miracle: that Christ takes our place and we take his. (197)
Summarizing paragraph for the chapter:
So substitution is not a “theory of the atonement.” Nor is it even an additional image to take its place alongside the others. It is rather the essence of each image and the heart of the atonement itself. None of the four images could stand without it. I am not of course saying that it necessary to understand, let alone articulate, a substitutionary atonement before one can be saved. yet the responsibility of Christian teachers, preachers and other witnesses is to seek grace to expound it with clarity and conviction. For the better people understand teh glory of the divine substitution, the easier it will be for them to trust in the Substitute. (199)
