Two fundamental and interrelated concepts in Paul’s message of salvation are justification and reconciliation. When the apostle speaks of salvation in terms of vicarious sacrifice and redemption, he is describing salvation as a purely objective salvation-occurrence. The saving sacrifice has already been made. The redemptive deed has already been done. The victory over the forces of evil has already been won. Justification and reconciliation, on the other hand, show how what Christ has done can become for us the ground for a changed relationship to God, how we can appropriate for ourselves the fruits of Christ’s victory.

It would be wrong, however, to regard either justification or reconciliation as merely subjective. To speak of justification by faith is misleading if our faith is conside…