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The *tion Words Explained: Justification, Regeneration, Reconciliation, Sanctification | RD with DR
What does it truly mean to be justified, regenerated, reconciled, and sanctified? These are not just theological terms -- they are the reality of every believer's life in Christ.
This sermon continues a study of key terms ending in "-tion," focusing on four doctrines central to salvation: justification, regeneration, reconciliation, and sanctification. Drawing from Webster's 1828 Dictionary, the Oxford English Dictionary, and extensive Scripture references, we walk through each term systematically, showing how they are defined by their biblical usage and context. Justification is shown to be God's act of counting the sinner as forgiven and righteous, made possible through grace, faith, and Christ's shed blood. Regeneration is examined as spiritual rebirth, connected to the reality that sin produces death and that the believer must be forgiven of all sins — past, present, and future — to be genuinely made alive. Reconciliation is presented as God's offer of peace to His enemies, made available through the death of Christ, and atonement is shown to be essentially synonymous with reconciliation. Sanctification is defined as being set apart for a sacred purpose, with a distinction drawn between the positional sanctification every believer receives at salvation and the experiential sanctification that reflects personal choices in daily life.
