Romans 3:24 – His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus
This verse is at the heart of all Christianity and the foundation for the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther (1483-1546), who wrote these words, was a priest and a monk, but he struggled with his own sin and guilt. He became convinced that salvation could only be obtained through obedience to God’s law.
Paul’s teaching about salvation is based on three themes: justification, redemption, and propitiation. Each of these themes addresses a different aspect of the problem of sin and rebellion.
Justification solves the problem of man’s guilt before a righteous judge; redemption solves the problem of man’s slavery to sin and its consequences; and propitiation solves the problem of offending God our Creator.
Redemption is the extraordinary gift of God that pays the price for our salvation, making it possible for all those who believe to be justified freely. This means that we are rescued from slavery to sin, and the power of the devil. It also means that we are redeemed from the power of death, which had dominated our lives for so long. It also means that we are freed to live a life of righteousness, which is pleasing to God.
