OnlineBibleTalk

The following is excerpted from a book by Alister McGrath. These concepts are pretty important and may be interesting to you:

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Seven Images of Salvation

The New Testament uses a wide
range of images to express the richness of the work of Christ. We may describe
these images as analogies, models or metaphors. Each gives part of the
picture:

Ransom: a price paid to
achieve someone’s freedom. The emphasis falls on the idea of being freed, not
the nature of the price.

Redemption: the basic
idea is "buying back," or for a slave, buying freedom.

Justification: being
put right with God, as if declared by a court to be in the right.

Salvation: the basic
idea is deliverance or rescue from a dangerous situation. The word can also
suggest restoration to wholeness, a healing.

Reconciliation: the
repair of a broken relationship. God reconciles us to him. He acts to restore
a friendship, and we respond to his initiative.

Adoption: making us
legal children of God. Faith brings about a change in our status, from
outsider to family member.

Forgiveness: This can
be seen in two ways. In legal or financial terms, forgiveness is like the
cancellation of a debt. In terms of personal relationship, forgiveness means
the setting aside of personal hurt or injury.

(Adapted from Alister McGrath,
Understanding Jesus, pp. 124-135).