By Stewart Topping
Redemption is a term used in the Bible to refer to the special intervention of God for the salvation of mankind. This use of the word deals with the work of Jesus Christ on the cross in which He paid the price to purchase human beings and set them free from their slavery to sin. On account of Christ’s substitutionary atonement, He is called the redeemer.
“Warren Doud”
Does a Christian have to deal with all the following terms in Christendom?
How do you really know that you are?
- Washed by His Blood
- Sanctified by His spirit
- Justified by His death
- Bought with a price
- Have Forgiveness of the original sin
- Have Forgiveness of our personal sins
If you are to become a new creator in Christ, do you have to do something for each of these topics separately?
- Has the Theologian complicated the process in how we make peace with God?
- How do we really enter into a relationship with Him? Is it simple or complex?
- Why have Christians made it so difficult to understand what God is doing?
- What do we really believe? And has it made a difference in our lives?
- Do we just believe what others have told us, or are we really searching for the truth?
Redemption is the answer to all the topics listed above. All topics are complete in redemption. For 3 weeks we have detailed the Plan of redemption that God set in motion in the Garden. Most people think that God requires something in return for us to be right with Him (righteous). He made it clear that works will not be accepted from us as any payment.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Eph 2:8-10 (KJV)
What is the gift … Redemption … God would provide the means and methods without any help from mankind. God would pay what is required to buy us out of slavery? Remember we are in bondage to the original sin that happened in the garden! With the plan of redemption came a set of conditions requires to free us from bondage to sin. Redemption is Grace and it is free.
The Old Testament is a book with prophecies of how and what will meet the conditions of redemption. The gospels in the New Testament are the completion of that redemption! The Apostle Paul’s epistles are the understanding of redemption and God’s plan.
How it started ….
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shall bruise his heel. Gen 3:15 (KJV)
From the beginning it was the seed of the woman. The woman is Mary and the seed is Jesus. The Old Testament shows us how redemption will work, seen through the eyes of the Nation of Israel. We see the protection and prophecy of the seed. The nation of Israel will follow the law to let them know that the sin of Adam has continued in them and there is a plan of redemption.
A very good example would be in the book of Ruth showing us how redemption works.
Even though the Law is not the answer to salvation it will bring understanding to sin and the need for redemption. We know that we cannot help or save our self.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. Gal 3:24-25 (KJV)
What is hard for many to understand is that the law was a teaching tool provided by God. After faith has come, our faith in Jesus, there is no more need of the Law. We might say we passed the test with an A and we are free of school. (The Law)
When we read the four gospels we see Jesus emerge as the savior of the world. We see the completion of the prophecy of the seed. The perfect sacrifice and the one who God has chosen to pay the price for Adams sin.
45 And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 1 Cor 15:45-47 (KJV)
We must understand that redemption must come from above not on earth and in order to be right with God we need the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit is dwelling in us we have to be sanctified, washed and cleansed, forgiven, bought and righteous. We have to be in right standing with God, to even receive the Holy Spirit. He did it all and we only have to do is believe.
We must be all these things because God can not dwell in an unholy place. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit.All of this happens when we are redeemed. Not because we are sanctified, washed and cleansed, forgiven, bought and righteous. All we have to do is by faith, believe the death and shed blood of Jesus, the burial and resurrection of Jesus to complete the plan of redemption.
The final test is for us to accept Jesus as our savior and receive His free gift of the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit we can live a victorious life on earth.