Seven words which are often misunderstood and misused. What do they mean? Let’s take a “look see” at their meanings or definitions.

In the Bible, grace is defined as the unmerited favor of God towards humanity, meaning it is a gift given freely without any requirement to earn it. It reflects God’s love and kindness, often associated with salvation and spiritual blessings. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.

In the Bible, mercy is defined as the compassionate treatment of those in distress, especially when one has the power to punish or harm them. It reflects God’s loving-kindness and is often associated with forgiveness and compassion towards others, as seen in various scriptures throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Mercy is not getting what you do deserve.

Sanctification in the Bible refers to the process of being made holy or set apart for God’s purpose. It involves a transformation of the believer’s heart and life, enabling them to live according to God’s moral standards and grow in spiritual maturity. Sanctification is being set apart unto God.

Justification in the Bible refers to the act of God declaring a sinner to be righteous based on their faith in Jesus Christ. It is a legal term that signifies acquittal, meaning that a person is considered not guilty and is accepted by God despite their sins. Justification is God’s acceptance of us just as if we had never sinned.

In the Bible, redemption refers to the act of being saved from sin, error, or evil, often involving a price paid to secure the release of a person or thing. It signifies God’s act of freeing His people from bondage, such as slavery or sin, through a costly act of love, ultimately fulfilled in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Redemption is buying back.

Righteousness in the Bible refers to the quality of being morally right or justifiable, often associated with adherence to divine law and ethical conduct. It encompasses purity of heart, conformity to God’s commands, and is seen as a key attribute of God and a standard for human behavior. Righteousness simply means to be right with God.

In the Bible, salvation refers to the deliverance from sin and its consequences, achieved through faith in Jesus Christ. It encompasses concepts like redemption, justification, and the promise of eternal life with God.

I am so thankful that God offers all of these to us. I can’t save myself and neither can you save yourself. We all need what Jesus Christ alone offers to us.

There is a story about a boy who made a toy boat. It was a work of art and he was proud of it. One day he took it out to the pond to sail it. Everything was fine at first. The boat was sailing along nicely and staying close to shore where he could retrieve it. Suddenly the wind picked up and his boat took off across the pond. He chased after it but by the time he got to the other side of the pond his boat was nowhere in sight. It was gone … vanished and he was heartbroken. A few years passed by when he was walking down the street and was passing a pawn shop. As he looked into the storefront window he saw his boat displayed for sale. Now the boat was originally his. He made it, but he lost it. The pawnshop owner had it for sale. Even though it was his he was willing to pay the pawnshop owner his asking price in order to get it back. Consequently he paid for the boat twice. Once when he first made it and again when he bought it back.

Jesus created you and I. We were His, but we took off on our own and left Him. He has been looking for us ever since we wandered off from Him. We are being held captive by our father, the devil. He owns us. Jesus already paid the price to get us back, but most of us ignore His bidding and reject His offer to redeem us … buy us back. I would much rather belong to Jesus than to the devil. The devil has nothing to offer us. He is going to hell and his goal is to take us with him. Jesus has so much to offer us. We have to be insane to stay with the devil when Jesus has made a way for us to be with Him. Jesus paid it all. All to Him we owe.

If you don’t believe the devil owns you then I say to you that he has already accomplished his work in your life and doesn’t need to do anything more. He already has you. He is the god of this world and will continue to be until Jesus dethrones him.