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COLLECTIONS
Commentaries, Word
Studies, Devotionals, Sermons, Illustrations
Old and New Testament. |
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GOD'S
ROMANCE OF REDEMPTION
PREFIGURED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
and
FULFILLED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT |
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Why Need a
Kinsman Redeemer |
How does the Goel
accomplish redemption? |
Who is the Kinsman
Redeemer? |
When does the Kinsman
Redeemer Act? |
What Are the Results of
Redemption? |
What is the Response to the
Redeemer? |
What New
Relationship to the Redeemer? |
Old Testament Shadows of
Messiah
in Ruth and the Passover |
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Book of
Ruth |
Naomi - Land
Ru 4:3
Ruth - Name
Ru 4:10
(See Dt 25:5, 6) |
Redemption
Price
Paid in Full
Ru 4:4,6, 9
Motive?
Love |
Boaz
(See requirements of the Goel) |
Ruth = Asked
Ru 3:9
Boaz = Acted
Ru 3:11, 4:1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Boaz affirmed with an oath
Ru 3:13 |
Restore life
Sustain life
Ru 4:15 |
Praise
"Bless the LORD =
Jehovah"
Ru 4:14
Contrast: Ru 1:19, 14,15, 16
Empty vs Full
Joy |
Ruth Becomes Bride of Boaz
Ru 4:10, 13 |
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The
Passover |
In Bondage:
Slavery
Ex 6:5, 6 |
I will
redeem them Ex 6:6 Blood of Lamb
Ex 12:5, 6, 7, 13, 14
Motive?
Love
Dt 7:8 |
Jehovah
Covenant Keeping God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
Ex 6:2, 4, Dt 7:7, 8, 9
The land (Ge 12:1, 2, 3,4) |
Ex 6:5
Groaning
of sons of Israel
(cp Ex 2:23)
God's Timing
Ge 15:13, 16 |
Delivered from bondage
Ex 6:6
Redeemed from the house of slavery
Dt 7:8 |
Grumbling
Ex 15:24 |
Israel
becomes Wife of Jehovah
Je 31:31, 32, Is 54:5, Ho 2:2 (Note)
When?
Ezek 16:8 |
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Click for OT Redemption
by the Passover Lamb
fulfilled in the NT in Christ |
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OT Shadows Fulfilled
in the NT Substance of Christ
(Col 2:17-note,
Heb 10:1-note) |
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The
Problem |
The
Price |
The
Person |
The
Way |
The
Results |
The
Response |
The
Relationship |
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NEW
TESTAMENT
Redeemer
Redemption |
Slaves to...
Jn 8:34
Pr 5:22-note
2Pe 2:19NLT-note
Ro 6:16-note
Ro 5:12-note
Gal 4:4,5
Heb 2:15NLT-note
Ep 2:2NLT-note
1Jn 3:7, 8, 9, 10 (Every use of practice = as one's
lifestyle =
present tense)
Spurgeon: “The grace that does not change my life will not save my soul.”
Acts 26:18
Ep 2:2-note
1Jn 5:19,
Ro 12:2-note,
Ga 1:4KJV
Basic Problem?
Man cannot redeem his soul
Ps 49:7, 8
Ps 49:8NIV
(5)
Law
Gal 4:4-5
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The Price Paid...
Blood Required
He 9:22-note
Lev 17:11
Not Blood of Animals
Heb 9:11, 12-note
He 10:1, 2, 3, 4-note
Christ's Blood
Eph
1:7-note
cp Mt 26:28
Ac 20:28
Justified as a gift of grace thru redemption
Ro 3:24-note
, Ro 3:25-note
(See
note below)
Paid In Full
(See
note on tetelestai)
Jn 19:30
cp Col 2:14-note
Ransom Paid to Whom?
Not to Satan
Scripture silent but implied it is paid to God (cp Ro 6:23)
Motive?
Love
Jn 15:13
1Jn 3:16
Ro 5:8-note
There is a Redeemer - Keith
Green |
Jesus fulfilled
requirements of the Goel
He 2:14, 15-note
Php 2:6, 7, 8-note
Jn 1:1, 14
Born of a Human Mother
Lk 1:29, 31, 35
Fully God
Fully Man
1Pe 1:18, 19-note
2Co 8:9
Lk 22:42
Jn 10:18
(It was His purpose)
Mk 10:45
1Ti 2:6
My Redeemer - by Nicole Mullen |
God
Draws
John 6:44
Men
Must Ask
Ro 10:13-note
Ro 10:9, 10-note
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Set free from...
Ro 6:6-note
Enslaved to God
Ro 6:22-note
Jn 8:36
(free =
eleutheroo -mouse over)
Released from our sins
Rev 1:5-note
From every lawless deed
Titus 2:14-note
Freed from curse of
Law
Ga 3:13-note
Gal 4:4,5
1Co 15:55, 56
From fear
of death
Heb 2:15-note
Transferred from
Kingdom of Darkness (Satan) to Light (Jesus)
Col 1:13-note
Acts 26:18
1Jn 5:18NLT
1Jn 4:4
2Ti 2:25, 26-note
MIGHTY TO SAVE
Change of Masters:
Not our own =
Bought with a price
1Co 6:19, 20-note
1Pe 2:9-note
Titus 2:14-note
Rev 5:9-note
"I" Crucified to the world
& world to "I"
Gal 6:14-note
Jn 16:33
1Jn 5:4, 5
cp Mk 8:34, 35, 36, 37
Dead to...
lusts of the flesh, eyes, pride
1Jn 2:16-note
Forgiveness
Eph 1:7-note
Col 1:14-note
Mt 26:28
Eternal Redemption
He 9:11,12-note
Adopted as
Sons-note
Gal 4:5
Justified
Ro 3:24-note
,
Ro 3:25-note
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Continue
Considering
(pres
imp)
Yourself Dead to
Sin
Ro 6:11-note
Stop
(pres
imp)
presenting your body to
Sin
Ro 6:12-note
Decisively
(aor
imp)
Present your body to God
Ro 6:13-note
Remember
Redemption
1Co 11:24, 25
Proclaim His death
until He comes
1Co 11:26
Walk in Light
Ep 5:8NLT
Lay aside deeds of
darkness
Ro 13:12, 13,
Put on Jesus
Stop making provision to sin
Ro 13:14
Be sober
1Th 5:5-note
1Th 5:8-note
Glorify God
1Cor 6:20-note
Mt 5:16-note
Do Not Love
or
Be Conformed
to World
1Jn 2:15-note
Ro 12:2-note
Jas 4:4-note
Be
Zealous for good deeds
Titus 2:14-note
Look forward to our
future redemption
Eph 1:14-note
Eph 4:30-note
Lk 21:28
Ro 8:23-note
(eagerly await =
apekdechomai- study - mouseover)
cp 1Jn 3:3-note
God's redemptive love on
the Cross should constrain us
2Co 5:15
Come Now is the Time to Worship |
Bride
of Christ
2Co 11:2, 3
Ep 5:25, 26, 27-note
Re 19:7, 8, 9-note
Blessed Be Your Name - Awesome
Video |
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Explanatory Notes on Chart:
The goal of this chart is to show how the OT shadow of the Goel or
Kinsman-Redeemer is perfectly fulfilled in the substance of Christ
(Col
2:17-note,
cp "the very form of things" in Heb 10:1-note)
and to summarize the results of His redemption which has wrought
for us "so great a salvation" (Heb 2:3-note),
God's truth
which should motivate us to walk worthy of the calling to which we have been
called in Christ, our Kinsman-Redeemer (Eph 4:1, 2, 3-note,
Col 1:9-note,
Col 1:10-note,
1Th 2:10, 11, 12-note,
cp the "ultimate worthy walk" in Rev 3:4-note) .
The Problem -
Because of Adam's sin ("the man" = Ge 2:16, 17, 3:6, Ro 5:12-note,
Ps 51:5, Job 14:4, 1Ki 8:46, Ec 7:20, Ps 130:3-note,
Ps 143:2-note,
Pr 20:9),
everyone ever born was born into a state of servitude or slavery to
Sin
(Jn 8:34, Pr 5:22-note,
Ro 6:6-note,
Ro 6:12-note,
Ro 6:16-note,
Ro 6:19, 20-note),
Statutes (Ro 3:19-note,
Gal 4:4, 5, 3:13, Gal 5:18-note),
Satan (cp
diabolos)
(Ep 2:2NLT-note,
Ep 6:12-note,
Lk 4:6, Jn 8:44 = speaking to unbelieving Jews but applicable to all
unbelievers, Jn 12:31, 1Jn 5:19, Acts 26:18, Re 12:9-note)
and Stablishment (The World System [see
kosmos]
- Gal 1:4, 1Jn 2:15-note,
1Jn 2:16-note,
1Jn 2:17-note,
Jas 4:4-note), and as slaves to these harsh task masters, men and women
needed a radical redemption that would pay the price to set the slaves
free. Every religion other than Christianity (which is more of a
relationship than a religion) seeks in one way or another to do "good works" in order to pay off
the the debt (to merit or earn freedom) that resulted in enslavement. But all human efforts fall
short for "No man can by any means redeem his brother, or give to God a
ransom for him--for the redemption of his soul is costly, And he should
cease trying forever" (Ps 49:7,8-note,
Isa 64:6)
The Price -
As summarized in this column above, the price of redemption is blood and
only the blood of a perfect sacrifice was acceptable to effect redemption.
The Person -
Christ came to earth in order that He might be our Goel or Kinsman
Redeemer, the OT type He fulfilled perfectly by (1) becoming our
"Kinsman", (2) possessing the means or price of redemption and (3)
manifesting a willingness to redeem.
The Results -
The results of Christ's radical redemption liberate sinful men from each
of the harsh task masters -
Sin, Statutes (Death), Satan, and
Stablishment (the World System).
Of special note is
the association of Christ's redemption with forgiveness of
sins (Mt 26:28, Eph 1:7-note,
Col 1:14-note),
which has radical implications on our responsibility and ability to forgive
others. See the following resources for discussion of the liberating truth
regarding
forgiveness...
List of links related to
forgiveness/unforgiveness
Multiple illustrations and quotes
related to forgiveness/unforgiveness
Exposition of "Forgiveness" in
Ephesians 4:32
Exposition of "Forgiveness" in
Colossians 3:13
Exposition of "Forgiveness" in Matthew
6:12
and
Matthew 6:14-15
Jesus said "this is My
blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of
sins."
Now the God of peace, who
brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the
blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every
good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His
sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
See the related resources
on Covenant listed below - you may have studied, taught or preached on
the Biblical covenants, but the notes below will take you through God's
major covenants from a perspective you may not have considered and one
which is as liberating as it is challenging.
Jehovah - Covenant Keeping God
Covenant: Solemn and Binding
Covenant: A Walk Into Death
Covenant: The Oneness of Covenant
Covenant: Oneness Notes
Covenant: Withholding Nothing from God
Covenant: Abrahamic versus Mosaic
Covenant: New Covenant in the Old
Testament
Covenant: Why the New is Better
Covenant: Abrahamic vs Old vs New
The Response - This column deals
with our new responsibility (and power) to live as those who have been
liberated by Christ's full payment of the redemption price.
Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It!
Fanny Crosby
Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child and forever I am.
Refrain
Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.
Redeemed, and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence
With me doth continually dwell.
Refrain
I think of my blessèd Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long:
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.
Refrain
I know I shall see in His beauty
The King in whose law I delight;
Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,
And giveth me songs in the night.
Refrain
I know there’s a crown that is waiting,
In yonder bright mansion for me,
And soon, with the spirits made perfect,
At home with the Lord I shall be.
Refrain
The Relationship - This column
summarizes the passages that relate to every believer's new relationship
as the Bride of their Kinsman Redeemer, our Bridegroom, much as Ruth
became the bride of Boaz, the OT type of the Goel or Kinsman Redeemer.
Every believer's new identity as Christ's bride, calls for a commitment to
live in purity until that day when He returns to "sweep us off our feet"
(cp 1Th 4:13, 14, 15, 16, 17). |
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Redemption by
the Lamb of God
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The Question in
the Old Testament was...
Where is
the Lamb? |
The Answer in
the New Testament is...
Behold
the Lamb! |
The Cry throughout eternity is...
Worthy
is the Lamb! |
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The ram in
the
thicket |
The
Passover
Lamb |
The Lamb
of
God |
Christ our
Passover |
The Lamb
that was slain |
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Ge
22:1, 2, 7, 8
Jehovah Jireh: The LORD Will
Provide |
Ex 12:5, 6, 7, 13, 14
430 yr in
Egypt, 30 yr free,
400 in bondage
cp Ex 12:40 (430)
with Acts 7:6 (400) |
Jn 1:29, 36
Jn 19:31, 32, 33, 36,
Ps 34:19, 20
(See
study of Jehovah Roi - The LORD is my Shepherd) |
1Cor 5:7
Isa 53:7
Acts 8:32, 33, 34, 35 |
Jn 20:20, 27
Rev 5:6-note
Re 5:12-note
Re 19:7, 9-note
Re 21:22, 23-note
Re 22:1-note
Re 22:3-note |
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Come Let Us Worship
Here I Am to Worship
We Bow Down |
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Click and take a few moments out of your
busy schedule,
listen to, watch and worship the Lamb |
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The Requirements
of the Goel or Kinsman Redeemer |
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(1) A near relative or kinsman
(2) One who had the means to bring
about the redemption
(3) One who had the desire to
accomplish redemption |
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Boaz
Fulfills the Requirements
of the Goel or Kinsman Redeemer
(1) A near relative or kinsman
A kinsman - Related to Naomi's husband
Elimelech - Ru 2:1, 20, 3:9,
(2) One who had the means to
bring about the redemption
A wealthy man - Ru 2:1, Ru 2:4
(servants)
(3) One who had the desire to
accomplish redemption
A willing man - Ru 3:11, 13, 18 |
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Jesus
Christ Fulfills the Requirements
of the Goel or Kinsman Redeemer
Play - There is a Redeemer -
Keith Green
(1) A near relative or kinsman
Christ took on human flesh to fulfill
this requirement to be our Goel. His incarnation fulfilled this
requirement. - Heb 2:14, 15, 17, cp Php 2:6, 7, 8, Jn 1:1, 14
Note that Jesus calls Himself the
Son of Man in Mk 10:45 and associates this name with His role as our
Redeemer.
(2) One who had the means to bring
about the redemption
His perfect, precious blood - 1Pe 1:18,
19
Not the blood of animals - Heb 9:11,
12-note
He 9:22-note
(3) One who had the desire to
accomplish redemption
Jesus laid down His life on His own
initiative John 10:18
Jesus said "Not My will but Thine be
done" Lk 22:42 |
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There Is a Fountain Filled
with Blood
by William Cowper
There is a fountain filled with blood
drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
E’er since, by faith, I saw
the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave;
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Lord, I believe Thou hast prepared, unworthy though I be,
For me a blood bought free reward, a golden harp for me!
’Tis strung and tuned for endless years, and formed by power divine,
To sound in God the Father’s ears no other name but Thine.
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Word Studies on
Redeem, Redemption
Agorazo [see word study]- to buy in the slave
market (1Cor. 6:20, 7:23, 2Pe 2:1) = Christ bought us in this slave market
of sin by His own blood; believers are His bondslaves
Exagorazo [see word study]- to purchase,
especially to buy out of the
slave market with a view to his freedom (Gal. 3:13, 4:5 - referring
especially to Jewish believers who are delivered from the Law and its
curse). Exagorazo conveys the sense that the slave who is thus redeemed
is never to be put up for sale in any slave market, that the one thus
purchased might never return there again! (Dear believer, you might want
to read that statement again...and then shout "Hallelujah! Thank You
LORD!"). Idea of buying up an opportunity (Ep 5:16, Col 4:5)
Boice adds: This is a
particularly blessed thought for Christians because it has to do with the
effective and permanent nature of redemption. When we are speaking in
spiritual terms the redemption we have in mind is from sin, and the
promise of this word is that we might never be sold under the power of sin
again. In secular terms, we can imagine a case where a well-meaning,
merciful person might purchase a slave to work in his or her household but
then tire of the slave’s performance or abilities and thus sell him again.
In ancient times that must have happened repeatedly, so that a slave’s
position was never really secure. Not so with Christ! Jesus purchased
us so that we might be taken out of the marketplace and never have to
return. “Once saved, always saved” is the way some put it. Having
been purchased at the infinite cost of the blood of God’s own Son, there
is no one who can possibly top the price and thus purchase us away from
him. (Boice,
J. M. Ephesians: An Expositional Commentary) (Bolding added)
Lutroo [see word study]- to set free by paying a
price (Titus 2:14, 1Pe 1:18) = the believer is set free from sin and free
to live a life pleasing to God in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Boice adds: "this word group
(luo, lutroo, lutron, lutrosis, apolutroo, apolutrosis) means “to loose,
set free or deliver”—by the payment of a price. Here too is a beautiful
and encouraging thought for Christians. For it is not merely that we are
bought out of the marketplace of sin, never to be returned there. A person
could be bought on the slave block, never be sold on the block again but
nevertheless continue for the remainder of his life as a slave. This is
not what Jesus Christ does for us. He buys us from sin to set us free.
This is what enabled Charles Wesley to write:
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth and followed thee.
So long as we know that the death of
the Lord Jesus Christ has accomplished that for us, we will continue to
love him and serve him as our “dear Redeemer.” (Boice,
J. M. Ephesians: An Expositional Commentary) (Bolding added)
Redemption
(629)
apolutrosis
Redemption
(3085)
lutrosis
How to do Greek
Word Study using tools on the Web - apolutrosis = the example
Blow Ye the
Trumpet, Blow!
Ye slaves of sin and
hell,
Your liberty receive;
Redemption through His blood
Throughout the world proclaim.
O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood!
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus forgiveness receives. |
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NOTES ON
REDEMPTION |
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Marriage is one of poignant figures God uses to
picture His relationship with mankind in both the Old and New
Testaments. Marriage is a picture that speaks of love, intimacy,
privilege and
responsibility.
The Marriage of
Israel to Jehovah - (Je 31:31, 32, Is 54:5, Ho 2:2) In the OT,
under the Old Covenant, Israel formally became
Jehovah's "Wife" at the "ceremony" of the at the foot of Mt.
Sinai (Ex 16:8) when God gave Moses the Law and Israel said "Yes" to the
vows, the solemn, binding nature of their entrance into this covenant
being marked by blood (Ex 24:3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). Israel was unfaithful and was disowned by Jehovah but will she will
one day in the future repent and be restored (Is 62:4, 5 - to be fulfilled
in the Messianic Age - see
[a] Events Leading up to the Millennium;
[b] OT Promises of God to Israel
which will finally be fulfilled in the Millennium).
The Marriage of
Believers to Christ - In the NT, under the New Covenant, believers comprising the
Church become the Bride of Christ (2Co 11:1, 2, Re 19:6, 7,8) when they
enter the New Covenant in His blood by grace through faith. |
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ILLUSTRATIONS RELATED TO
REDEMPTION
REMOVING YOU HEAD
FROM THE COLLAR!
- A missionary in West Africa was trying to convey the
meaning of the word redeem in the Bambara language. So he asked his
African assistant to express it in his native tongue. "We say," the
assistant replied, "that God took our heads out." "But how does that
explain redemption?" the perplexed missionary asked. The man told him that
many years ago some of his ancestors had been captured by slave-traders,
chained together, and driven to the seacoast. Each of the prisoners had a
heavy iron collar around his neck. As the slaves passed through a village,
a chief might notice a friend of his among the captives and offer to pay
the slave-traders in gold, ivory, silver, or brass. The prisoner would be
redeemed by the payment. His head then would be taken out of his iron
collar. What an unusual and graphic illustration of the word redeem!
Ephesians 1:7 states, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Jesus died on
the cross to purchase our freedom from the bondage of sin. Have you put
your trust in Jesus as your Redeemer? Let Him take your head out of the
enslaving collar of sin and set you free. —Vernon C Grounds
(Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
Redeemed--how I love
to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy--
His child, and forever I am. --Crosby
(Play
this great old hymn!)
Redeemed, and with the price of blood,
Which Thou hast shed for me,
I stand, a monument of grace,
A witness, Lord, for Thee.
(Play
this great old hymn!)
Christ was lifted up on the cross
that we might be lifted out of our sin.
Charles Wesley's
great hymn
And Can It Be That I Should Gain (play
hymn) parallels the
preceding illustration...
Long my imprisoned
spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night.
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray:
I woke the dungeon flamed with Light!
My chains fell off, my heart
was free
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
Amazing Love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
><>><>><>
Redemption is a
Gift of God but it Must Be Received - ILLUSTRATION:
The year was 1829. A man by the name of George Wilson had been arrested,
tried and convicted of murder and theft through the mail. Because his
family was well known, when he was sent to prison, his family made appeal
after appeal. Eventually the appeals reached the desk of the President
Andrew Jackson. After he reviewed the files and because he knew the family
and their background, and for their account he offered not just clemency,
but a pardon to George Wilson. They took the news into the prison. George
Wilson refused the pardon. He said he didn’t want it because he was guilty
and deserved to die. They told him he couldn’t say no to it because it was
a presidential pardon. But he said he could and was saying no to it. This
is a true story. He refused the pardon. That set forth a tremendous legal
battle because that question had never been raised in American history.
Eventually it worked its way up to the Supreme Court and the decision came
down from Chief Justice John Marshall, who said,
A pardon is of no effect
until it is accepted by the one for whom it is intended. Though it is
almost inconceivable that a condemned criminal would refuse a pardon, if
he does refuse it, the pardon is of no effect. George Wilson must die.
And die he did
because he would not accept the pardon that had been offered.
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CURSE OF THE LAW - Galatians 3:13
Christ redeemed us from the curse of
the Law, having become a curse for us-- for it is written, "CURSED IS
EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"--in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing
of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the
promise of the Spirit through faith. (Gal 3:13, 14)
The word redeemed (exagorazo
[word study]) in Galatians
3:13 means to purchase a slave for the purpose of setting him free.
Galatians 5:1 "It was for freedom (eleutheria
[word study]) that Christ set us free;
therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of
slavery."
Eleutheria
means freedom, independence or liberty but freedom is
not a license to sin but in fact true liberty is living as we should not
as we please (Ga 5:13; 1Pe 2:16). Freedom is presented as a signal
blessing of the economy of grace, which, in contrast with the OT economy
of Law (although clearly there were OT saints who partook of God's
plenteous grace),
is represented as including independence from religious regulations and
legal restrictions (1Co 10:29; 2Co 3:17; Gal 2:4; 2Pe 2:19) and freedom
from the yoke of the Mosaic Law (Gal 5:1, 13) and from the yoke of
observances in general (1Pe 2:16). Freedom includes release from dominion
or power or rule of our old "Adamic" sinful appetites and passions (Jas
1:25, 2:12). Some turn this "freedom" into licentiousness (Jude 1:4), but
they are in grave error, for the freedom that our Goel purchased for us is
not freedom to live now as we please (Gal 5:13), but the power to live
life as we should, to be pleasing to our Master, to Whom we now belong by
right of His paying the purchase price on the Cross (1Co 6:19, 1Co 6:20).
Redeemed (exagorazo)
has the idea of “buying back” or “purchasing out of.” The idea is not just
that of a rescue (as in the Biblical idea of salvation), but of paying a
price in order to bring about the "great escape" or rescue from bondage to
the power
Sin, the dominion (exousia = the right and the might over
sinners) of Satan, from the fear of Death (and the curse of the law which
was death!) and from the strong pull to be conformed to this evil world
system. Jesus paid the perfect, infinitely costly price with His precious
blood to purchase sinners out from under the curse of the law.
Glory! Hallelujah! Thank you Father,
Son and Holy Spirit!
MacDonald...
Christ redeemed men by dying in their
place, enduring the dreadful wrath of God against sins. The curse of God
fell on Him as man’s Substitute. He did not become sinful in Himself, but
man’s sins were placed upon Him. Christ did not redeem men from the
curse of the law by keeping the Ten Commandments perfectly during His
lifetime. Scripture does not teach that His perfect obedience to the law
is reckoned to us. Rather He delivered men from the law by bearing its
dreadful curse in death. Apart from His death there could be no salvation.
|
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HOW THEN SHALL WE LIVE?
John Piper commenting on the
world exhorts believers declaring that...
We must cultivate the mindset of
exiles. What this does mainly is sober us up and wake us up so that we
don't drift with the world and take for granted that the way the world
thinks and acts is the best way. We don't assume that what is on TV is
helpful to the soul; we don't assume that the priorities of advertisers is
helpful to the soul; we don't assume that the strategies and values of
business and industry are helpful to the soul. We don't assume that any of
this glorifies God. We stop and we think and we consult the Wisdom of our
own country, heaven, and we don't assume that the conventional wisdom of
this age is God's wisdom. We get our bearings from God in his word. When
you see yourself as an alien and an exile with your citizenship in heaven,
and God as your only Sovereign, you stop drifting with the current of the
day. You ponder what is good for the soul and what honors God in
everything: food, cars, videos, bathing suits, birth control, driving
speeds, bed times, financial savings, education for the children,
unreached peoples, famine, refugee camps, sports, death, and everything
else. Aliens get their cue from God and not the world." (Read the full
sermon
The War Against the Soul and the Glory
of God) |
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IT
IS FINISHED!
= PAID IN FULL!
THE PRICE OF REDEMPTION
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He
said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head, and gave up His
spirit.
It is finished
(5055)
(tetelestai) is a
single Greek verb
teleo (see word study).
and means that something is brought to an end, is fully accomplished, has
achieved its destined goal or is brought to perfection. Indeed, all of
these senses apply to Jesus' death on the Cross, but one sense of
tetelestai presents a powerful picture of Jesus' finished work on the
Cross, the grand work of redemption about which He Himself had
"prophesied"...
For even the Son of Man did not come to
be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. (Mark
10:45)
Tetelestai
was used in several ways in Jesus' day. A servant would use tetelestai
when reporting to his or her master, “I have completed the work assigned
to me” (cp Jesus words on His "work" in Jn 4:34,17:4) Jesus had brought to
completion all the Father had desired for Him to accomplish as the God
Man. When a priest examined an animal sacrifice and found it faultless, it
was described as tetelestai. Jesus, of course, is the perfect Lamb
of God, without spot or blemish (1Pe 1:18, 19-note).
When an artist completed a picture, or a writer a manuscript, they might
say, “It is finished!” The death of Jesus on the cross “completes
the picture” that God had been painting of "redemption" which God had
painted from eternity past (cp 2Ti 1:9NIV-note,
Ep 3:11-note,
Titus 1:2-note,
1Peter 1:20-note).
Perhaps the meaning
that Jesus had foremost in His mind when He uttered the word tetelestai
was related to its secular use in the context of payment of debts. When
someone had a debt in ancient times and it was paid off, they would write
"tetelestai" on the certificate signifying "Paid in Full".
When He gave Himself on the cross, Jesus fully met the righteous demands
of a holy law; He paid our debt in full. None of the Old Testament
sacrifices could take away sins. Their blood only covered sin. But the
Lamb of God shed His blood, (for the redemption of the transgressions that
were committed under the first covenant, Heb 9:15) and that blood (and
only that blood) can take away the sins of the world (Jn 1:29; Heb 9:24,
25, 26, 27, 28).
There is another
sense in which tetelestai was used in the ancient world. When a Roman
citizen was convicted of a crime, the law of that day slammed him in
prison. They prepared a "Certificate of Debt" that listed all the crimes
he was convicted of on it, and nailed it to his cell door for all to see.
It remained nailed there so all would be assured that he served his full
sentence, and "paid in full" the penalty ("debt owed") for his
crimes. When Jesus shouted "Tetelestai" from the cross, it was a
very familiar phrase to those within the sound of His voice. It was the
same word that would be stamped across the Certificate of Debt after a
criminal completed his prison term. It would literally mean "Paid in Full"
for all your crimes. Then the criminal was given the certificate. He would
be able to produce it to show that his crimes were "paid in full." He
could never become a victim of "double jeopardy." Or paying for the same
crime twice. This is a beautiful picture of what Christ did on the Cross,
Paul recording (quoting the original version of the NLT) that...
(God the Father) canceled the record
(Greek verb = wiped it away, completely obliterating the evidence) that
contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing
it to Christ's cross. (Col 2:14-note)
Finally, there is one other truth about
tetelestai that is notable - it is in the
perfect tense,
a tense which is identifies a past completed action (or event) with
continuing effects or results. In context the perfect tense clearly speaks
of the past, historical reality of the Crucifixion of Christ, and the fact
that His death on the Cross has permanent effects which ultimately will
last throughout eternity! All that truth with one Greek tense! Beloved our
Kinsman-Redeemer's ransom payment is sufficient for this life and the life
to come! Let us live in the power of the Cross (1Co 1:18 where "being
saved" is in the
present tense
indicating that believers are continually being saved every day of their
life (also implying that in one sense we need His saving power to live the
"victorious Christian life" day by day, even moment by moment! cp Mt
26:41, Gal 5:16-note,
Gal 5:17-note).
We have been saved [justification]. We are being saved [sanctification],
We will be saved [glorification] - see discussion of
Three Tenses of Salvation)
Leonard Ravenhill said of
John 19:30
The Greatest Words Ever Uttered - By
the Greatest Man That Ever Lived.... In these three words I see the
consummation of all the Old Testament truth and the germination of all New
Testament truth.
The
evangelist Alexander Wooten was approached by a young man who asked,
What must I do to be saved?
Wooten replied
It’s too late!
The young man became alarmed asking.
Do you mean that it’s too late for
me to be saved? Is there nothing I can do?”
Wooten replied
Too late! It’s already been done!
The only thing you can do is believe.
><>><>><>
PAID IN FULL (Colossians 2:14) - The newspaper article reported that a
Utah businessman had filed for bankruptcy and declared his debts to be
$613 billion. It seemed ridiculous! What's more, the man claimed assets of
only $7,310. In other words, if all debts were honored, his creditors
would receive about one-millionth of a cent on the dollar. There was no
way he could begin to pay his debts.
Sometimes I feel that's how I stand with God. Why should I even try to pay
the debt of love that I owe Him? The situation seems hopeless. When I
consider His demand of perfect righteousness, I feel totally bankrupt and
helpless.
But then I remember that my debt has been taken care of. Jesus the Son of
God shed His precious blood to pay the infinite price for my countless
sins. Now I'm free to pursue a relationship with God that is motivated by
gratitude and energized by the power of the Holy Spirit.
This is what Colossians 2 is all about (cp Jn 19:30). The law of God has
declared us spiritually bankrupt. But our great debt has been completely
removed. It has been paid in full by Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary.
We are free. The only thing we owe now is an eternal debt of thanks and
praise to our wonderful Lord. — Mart De Haan
(Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
'Tis all that I can do! --Watts
Our salvation is free
because Christ paid an enormous price. |
|
Psalm 49:7, 8 (cp Job 14:4, 25:4, Isa 64:6KJV)
The New and the Old Testament both draw
a clear distinction between the ransom and the redemption.
No man can by any means redeem
(Hebrew padah [06299] conveys sense of the achieving of the transfer of
ownership from one to another through the payment of a price. Lxx =
lutroo) his brother, nor give to God a
ransom (Hebrew kopher/koper, a cover, a redemption-price paid; Lxx =
Hexilasma = ransom, propitiatory offering, make atonement) for him: for
the redemption (Heb. pidyom, a redeeming deliverance) of their soul is
precious (costly), and must be let alone forever” (Ps. 49:7, 8)
ESV = Psalm 49:7, 8 Truly no man
can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the
ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice,
NET = Psalm 49:7, 8 Certainly a
man cannot rescue his brother; he cannot pay God an adequate ransom price.
(the ransom price for a human life is too high, and people go to their
final destiny),
NIV Psalm 49:7, 8 No man can
redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him--the ransom for
a life is costly, no payment is ever enough--
NJB = Psalm 49:7, 8 But no one
can ever redeem himself or pay his own ransom to God, the price for
himself is too high; it can never be
Spurgeon comments
(Ps 49:7) With all their riches, the
whole of them put together could not rescue a comrade from the chill grasp
of death. They boast of what they will do with us, let them see to
themselves. Let them weigh their gold in the scales of death, and see how
much they can buy therewith from the worm and the grave. The poor are
their equals in this respect; let them love their friend ever so dearly,
they cannot give to God a ransom for him. A king's ransom would be of no
avail, a Monte Rosa of rubies, an America of silver, a world of gold, a
sun of diamonds, would all be utterly contemned. O ye boasters, think not
to terrify us with your worthless wealth, go ye and intimidate death
before ye threaten men in whom is immortality and life.
(Ps 49:8) For the redemption of their
soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever. Too great is the price, the
purchase is hopeless. For ever must the attempt to redeem a soul with
money remain a failure. Death comes and wealth cannot bribe him; hell
follows and no golden key can unlock its dungeon. Vain, then, are your
threatenings, ye possessors of the yellow clay; your childish toys are
despised by men who estimate the value of possessions by the shekel of the
sanctuary. |
Spurgeon commenting on 1John 3:7, 8, 9, 10 said...
Well, labor under no mistake, sir. 'He
that commits (present
tense = as
one's lifestyle) sin is of the devil.' (1Jn 3:8) It is no use making
excuses and apologies; if you are a lover of sin, you shall go where
sinners go. If you, who live after this fashion, say that you have
believed in the precious blood of Christ, I do not believe you, sir. If
you had a true faith in that precious blood, you would hate sin. If you
dare to say you are trusting in the atonement while you live in sin, you
lie, sir (1Jn 1:6, 4:20); you do not trust in the atonement; for where there is a real
faith in the atoning sacrifice, it purifies the man (Titus 2:14-note), and makes him hate
the sin which shed the Redeemer’s blood. |
|
Results of Redemption
Redemption has both a present and
future fulfillment (Ro 8:23, Eph 4:30, Ep 1:14, Luke 21:28)
1) Forgiveness
- see these
related resources...
List of links related to
forgiveness/unforgiveness
Multiple illustrations and quotes
related to forgiveness/unforgiveness
Exposition of "Forgiveness" in
Ephesians 4:32
Exposition of "Forgiveness" in
Colossians 3:13
Exposition of "Forgiveness" in Matthew
6:12
and
Matthew 6:14-15
Redemption requires
payment of a price and that price is the blood of Christ, in the OT
this price was foreshadowed in many ways and surely one of the most
dramatic being the shedding of the blood of countless sacrificial animals.
This is My blood of
the covenant, which is to be shed on behalf of many for forgiveness of
sins. (Mt 26:28)
As a result of
redemption the believer has complete forgiveness of all sins, past,
present and future. An understanding of the infinite cost to procure this
forgiveness, far from giving one license to sin, causes one to be
overwhelmed with love for the Redeemer, which motivates godly, holy
behavior.
Redemption brings
forgiveness, because “without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness”
(Heb. 9:22).
Colossians 1:13 For
He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the
kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the
forgiveness of sins.
Our responsibility
(our privilege and our power) as new creatures is to be...
bearing with one
another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against
anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. (Col
3:13)
This great
liberating truth (unforgiveness will "eat you alive") is so important it
was a major component of our Lord's teaching on how disciples are to
pray...
And forgive
us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors
Read Jesus' words on
prayer again. Like me you've probably recited these words so many times
they have lost their true meaning. Do you see what Jesus is saying? This
prayer begs several questions. "How do I forgive others?" "Does my
forgiveness have an "asterisk" so to speak...I'll forgive you if...?" "Do
I harbor unforgiveness in my heart?" If your answer is "yes", then this is
how you are asking the Father to forgive you - just "as we also have
forgiven" others! And because forgiveness is so important Jesus repeats
His teaching to drive home the point that forgiveness is not optional for
a believer...
For (introduces His
explanation of Mt 6:12) if you forgive men for their transgressions, your
heavenly Father will also forgive you. But (presents a dramatic contrast)
if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your
transgressions. (Mt 6:14, 15)
The Greek verb for
“forgive" is
aphiemi (word study) and the word for
forgiveness” is
aphesis (word study)
which in essence pictures that which is sent away never to return.
It was used as a legal term, meaning to repay a debt, to cancel a debt or
to grant a pardon.
John Piper
adds these thoughts on Jesus' words in Matthew 6...
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our
debtors” does not mean that we are lost if the old unforgiving spirit
raises its head just once. It means: No one who cherishes a grudge against
someone dare approach God in search of mercy. God treats us in accordance
with the belief of our heart: if we believe it is good and beautiful to
harbor resentments and tabulate wrongs done against us, then God will
recognize that our plea for forgiveness is sheer hypocrisy—for we will be
asking him to do what we believe to be bad. It is a dreadful thing to try
to make God your patsy by asking him to act in a way that you, as your
action shows, esteem very lowly.
Forgiveness is not a work by which we
earn God’s forgiveness. It flows from a heart satisfied with the mercy of
God and rejoicing in the cancellation of our own ten million dollar debt
(Matthew 18:24). With man it is impossible, but not with God. “Every tree
that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire”
(Matthew 7:19). But the plant which endures does so because it is planted
by God (Matthew 15:13). No one can boast in his self-wrought merit before
God (Luke 17:10); and it is not the rigorous following of rules but a poor
spirit and a total reliance on God’s mercy which attains a standing before
God (Luke 18:9-14; Matthew 5:3).
But one thing is certain: the person who has, through mercy, been born
from above cannot be the same any more. He cannot go on sinning as before
since “the seed of God” is in him (1 John 3:9). He walks not according to
the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:4), for he is led by the
Spirit (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:18). God is at work in him to will and to
do his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). When we “forgive from the heart,”
it is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). We have been crucified
with Christ; it is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us
(Galatians 5:20). We are a new creation (Galatians 6:15); and the mark of
our newness is not yet perfection, but a persistent inclination to
forgive, a hasty repair of our failure to do so and a steady petition for
God to disregard the sin that we are abandoning. (Forgive
Us Our Debts as We Forgive Our Debtors)
|
|
THE GOEL AS
OUR BLOOD
AVENGER
(The Avenger of Blood)
(Hebrew = goel haddam) |
|
As outlined in the
table above (click),
Jesus Christ is the NT fulfillment of the OT shadow of the
Kinsman Redeemer as portrayed by Boaz in the book of Ruth. In the NT
we learn that our Kinsman Redeemer will redeem and restore all that man
lost when Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden and will avenge Adam's
"murder" at that time, as described below.
What happened as a result of man's fall in the
Garden?
When Adam and Eve
sinned in that garden they became slaves to the power of
Sin.
(Ro 6:16-note)
What else
happened in the Garden?
Adam and Eve were
"'murdered''! You may never have thought of their "death" in the Garden as
"murder", but God called it that in the NT. They were alive but when they
sinned they died spiritually and from that time on they were dead in their
trespasses and sins (Ge 2:17, Ro 5:12-note,
Eph 2:1-note).
In John 8:43 we learn that Jesus turns to the Jewish religious leaders and
asks them...
Why do you not understand what I am
saying? (And before they can answer Jesus explains that...) It is because
you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the Devil, and you want to
do the desires of your father. He was a MURDERER FROM THE BEGINNING,
and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar,
and the father of lies."
So Jesus calls Satan
a murderer and the time phrase "in the beginning" carries us back to
Genesis 3. God's promise of death was fulfilled to the letter (as it
always is - both the positive and negative promises) when Adam and Eve
sinned (Ge 2:17).
What was God's original intention for Adam and Eve
in regard to the earth?
CREATED TO BE
KINGS!
The writer of
Hebrews confirms God's original plan for man writing...
"THOU
HAST MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; THOU HAST CROWNED
HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAST APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF THY
HANDS; THOU HAST PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET (dominion
over all -Ge1:26,28)." For in subjecting all things to him, He left
nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things
subjected to him. (He 2:7- note,
He 2:8-note)
Comment:
While some interpret this passage as referring to Jesus, the
context favors this as a reference to man (notice that He 2:9- note
opens with a contrast "but we..." and clearly refers to Jesus. Note
also the context of the original source -- Ps 8:4, 5, 6, especially verse
4). The writer of Hebrews points out that man is not, as evolutionists
foolishly reason, "a little higher than the apes," but rather "a little
lower than the angels." The Psalmist refers to God's purpose in creating
man with his original destiny being to reign as master over all nature.
The verb
stephanoo [word study]
means to crown with honor
and indeed when God created Adam and Eve sinless, pure and innocent, He
bestowed on them honor and glory. When they sinned they lost their regal
rule. Someday, this honor and the right to rule over the earth will be
restored but not until Jesus our Kinsman Redeemer completes His work of
redemption and restoration of creation.
KJV Bible
Commentary: This Psalm (Heb 2:7, 8 quotes Psalm 8:5, 6) does not
speak both of man and Christ; it is not messianic. The son of
man is not to be distinguished from man. The phrases are merely an example
of the common synonymous parallelism in Hebrew poetry. “Hence this passage
was not regarded as a messianic prediction by Jewish teachers, but as a
description of what God intended man to be” (Kent, p. 53). God made man a
little lower than the angels.
(Dobson,
E G, Charles Feinberg, E Hindson, Woodrow Kroll, H L. Wilmington: KJV
Bible Commentary: Nelson
or
Logos)
Believer's
Bible Commentary: (1) Ps 8:5 refers to man's unfallen state; (2) Heb
2:7 pictures man's fallen state; (3) Heb 2:9 denotes Christ's human and
unglorified state (cf. Heb 2:7-9).
(MacDonald,
W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson or
Logos)
Kenneth
Wuest commenting on Hebrews 2:7-8: Adam was therefore made for a
little time lower than the angels. In his position as the federal head of
the race, in his unfallen state, God crowned him with glory and honor.
This is a picture of Adam in the paradise of Eden, before he sinned...The
position of Adam as the federal head of the human race, his control of the
animal kingdom through love, all spoke of his exalted position. And he was
given honor and glory in view of it....
(He 2:8) God
put all things in subjection to Adam. He was the head of the human race,
the lord of the earth. Even the animal kingdom was in subjection to him.
But now comes a sad note. The words, “But now we see not yet all things
put under him,” point to the fact that Adam through his fall into sin,
lost the dominion he had before enjoyed. He was no longer master of
himself. He had become a fallen creature, with a totally depraved nature.
He was a slave to sin. The animal kingdom was subservient to him not now
through affection but fear. The ground, instead of yielding only good
things, now produced also thorns, weeds, and other harmful things.
Extremes of heat and cold, poisonous reptiles, earthquakes, typhoons,
hurricanes, all conspired to make his life a constant battle to survive.
He had lost the dominion over all these things. But now, in the midst of
this dark picture of man’s lost dominion, the writer (in He 2:9) calls our
attention to a bright beam of light that pierces the surrounding gloom. It
is Jesus.
(Wuest,
K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans
or
Logos)
John
MacArthur: Did you know that God's original design destiny for man was
that man is to be the king of the earth? And that everything in existence
was to be in subjection to man...God originally intended that man in
innocence was king over the undefiled earth. It also tells us here that he
was created a little lower than the angels, so the chain of command is
God, angels, man, and earth...It was not that man was lower than angels in
the sense of importance to God. It was only that man was lower than angels
in the sense that He was physical and angels were spiritual. (See his full
discussion of
The Rediscovery of Man's Lost Destiny)
Richard
Phillips commenting on He 2:8 writes: the author points out how
thorough mankind's dominion was: "Now in putting everything in subjection
to him, he left nothing outside his control." Such was the lordship man
was given over all the creation. Yet, the writer points out, this is not
the situation we currently enjoy: "At present, we do not yet see
everything in subjection to him." Here is a statement of the problem of
our race—the problem of dominion lost. What God intended for man in
creation is not what we see at present. What an understatement! As we look
around, the Bible says, it certainly doesn't appear as if man has
everything under control!...
Thus
man—created by God as his image-bearer, crowned with glory and honor and
dominion—became subject to God's curse even to the point of death. That
curse marks mankind even now, with all its frustration and futility. Far
from reigning over the creation, each and every one of us instead will
return to the dust from which we came. This is the problem of mankind:
Paradise lost, and with it the dominion and blessing offered by God. This
is the problem of history—the basic problem set forth at the beginning of
the Bible—the answer to which is unfolded in all the rest of Scripture.
God's creation of mankind, recorded in Genesis 1:26 and poetically
celebrated in Psalm 8, has been spoiled by Adam's sin and the resulting
curse of death...When we see that man's fall into sin and death is the
great problem of history, it is easier to see the focus of God's
redemptive work in the achievement of Jesus Christ....
On one hand
there is man, captured in the darkness of his Paradise lost. Then onto the
stage God sends his own Son (He 2:9), the New Man and Second Adam. He is
the answer both to man's problem and to the problem of history. He is the
great, the last, the only hope of a dying race; in him is the fulfillment
not only of man's promised destiny but of God's plan as set forth in Psalm
8. History has become his story. Jesus is the new Adam of the new
creation; what Adam lost he has regained. All who are found in him through
faith will partake of the new humanity's reclaimed glory and honor and
dominion. "We see Jesus." This is the aim of the book of Hebrews from
start to finish, to show us Jesus as the Answer, the One who reclaims what
mankind was created to be and to do. (Reformed Expository Commentary –
Hebrews)
And so we observe that Adam and Eve
lost their crown and their right to rule over the earth, which had been
God's original intention before sin entered the world...
Then God
said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let
them rule (have dominion, subdue, prevail) over the fish of the sea
and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth,
and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." And God created
man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female
He created them. And God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful
and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule (have
dominion, subdue, prevail) over the fish of the sea and over the birds
of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (Genesis
1:26, 27, 28)
MURDER IN
THE
GARDEN!
And thus before the
Fall of man,
the earth was under the dominion of Adam and Eve, but Satan crept in the
perfect environment and
craftily deceived them, tempting them to commit sin, and in effect (to use
Jesus' words) "murdered" them "in the beginning". (Ge 3:1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6). Having accomplished his goal, Satan, the great usurper, became the ruler, the
prince over the world (Eph 2:2-note)
In the temptation of
Christ we read...
And he (Devil) led Him (Jesus) up and
showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the
devil said to Him, "I will give You all this domain (exousia
= the right and the might) and its glory; for it has been handed over
to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. (Luke 4:5,6)
Comment: Notice that Jesus does
not dispute Satan's claim as ruler over all the kingdoms of the earth. As
discussed below Satan's rule is temporary and will terminated by
our Kinsman Redeemer, who fulfills His obligation as the Avenger of Blood.
Other passages refer
to Satan's present dominion over the whole world...
We know that we are of God, and the
whole world lies in the power ("the power" not in the
original Greek but implied by the context) of the evil one (implying
Satan, cp 2Co 4:4). (1Jn 5:19)
(Paul was given the gospel to take to
the Gentiles) to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to
light and from the dominion (exousia
= the right and the might) of Satan (Satan has been given temporary
rule over fallen man and the entire world) to God, in order that they may
receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been
sanctified by faith in Me.' (Acts 26:18)
SIN AFFECTED
ALL CREATION
Paul explains the
effect of Adam's sin on the whole of creation noting that...
the creation was subjected to futility,
not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the
creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into
the freedom of the glory of the children of God (describing the believer's
future glorified state that follows the time of the
Rapture
and the believer's change in the
twinkling of an eye). For we know that the whole creation groans
and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now (birth pains speak
of a "delivery", in context this is the time when Creation will be
redeemed by the Kinsman Redeemer) And not only this, but also we
ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan
within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the
redemption (apolutrosis
[word study]) of our body. (Ro 8:20, 21-note,
Ro 8:22, 23-note)
Comment: We who have been
redeemed by the blood of Jesus, our Kinsman Redeemer, are awaiting a
future redemption which culminates when we receive our glorified bodies
(glorification) an event sometimes referred to as future tense
salvation (see
Three Tenses of Salvation) (See similar
truth taught in 1Pe1:5-note,
1Pe 1:13-note,
Ro 8:30-note).
At the time of this "future redemption" believers will finally be freed
even from the presence of
Sin .
The divine curse on the ground (Ge
3:17) extends through the entire created cosmos, not just the earth
inhabited by man. And so we find that the creation is now travailing like
a woman about to deliver a child. The "ETA" or delivery date of a glorious
new age is intimately linked with the revealing of the redeemed children
of God in glory.
And so creation is
groaning and suffering, awaiting the glorious day when
man receives back his crown and his right to rule!
Let's review -- What did man
lose when Adam sinned?
The answer can be
summarized as....
(1) The land and the right to rule the
land.
(2) His life -- He died and was
in murdered by Satan (Jn 8:44, Ge 2:16, 17)!
(3) His freedom -- Men became
enslaved to sin and Satan and in so doing lost their freedom.
Jesus by becoming our Kinsman Redeemer
(Goel) effectively and forever "reverses" every one of these losses!
Review - How did
Jesus become our Kinsman Redeemer?
As outlined in the
table above (click),
Jesus became our Kinsman by emptying "Himself, taking the form of a
bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men and being found in
appearance as a man." (Phil 2:7-note,
Php 2:8-note)
As the perfect God-Man He was now able to relate to men, meeting the
qualifications (becoming a "kinsman") to provide the payment for our
redemption. He had the desire to redeem us (Ro 5:8-note).
He had the adequate means to pay for the redemption price (1Pe 1:18, 19-note),
a payment He accomplished on Calvary His death on Calvary, in which
He gave "Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless
deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for
good deeds." (Titus 2:14-note)
His precious blood also paid the price to bring about the redemption of
Creation including the land (the earth) over which sinful man had
forfeited rule.
We see Jesus
beginning His redemption of the land in Revelation first taking the
"book" or scroll from God the Father. This is described in more detail
below.
What is the
relationship of the Kinsman-Redeemer to the Avenger of Blood?
In the OT, the
Kinsman-Redeemer would also function as the Avenger of Blood
(Blood Avenger) under certain circumstances, Moses recording that...
The blood
avenger himself shall put the murderer to death; he shall put him to death
when he meets him. (Nu 35:19, see Nu 35:20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27).
Under this law, when someone
intentionally put another person to death, the slain person's kinsman
would have the right to put the murderer to death. Note that the Avenger
of Blood is not also committing an act of murder, but an act of capital
punishment which God, a principle God had established before the Law was
given (Ge 9:6), and which Moses reaffirmed under the Law (Ex 21:12). What
is forbidden in Exodus 20:13 is the crime of murder, and what is permitted
in Numbers 35:19ff is the responsibility of of the Avenger of Blood to
carry out capital punishment.
We allude to the
"crime against man"
earlier, but who murdered Adam and Eve (and in so doing the entire human
race)?
The Serpent of
Old, Satan, for as Jesus explained...
the
devil...was a murderer from the beginning (beginning of time
= the Garden of Eden), and does not stand in the truth (implying that the
"weapon" he used to "murder" us was "the lie" - see below) (Jn 8:44)
What was the lie ?
Indeed,
has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'? (Placing
Doubt about God's Word in her mind)...And the serpent said to the woman,
"You surely shall not die! (Directly contradicting God's Word) For God
knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you
will be like God, knowing good and evil (Brought God's goodness into
question)." (Ge 3:1, 4, 5)
So in the book of
beginnings, we can see that the Devil became our murderer and also the
usurper, who took man's ordained role to rule over the earth. In a sense
Satan became a "temporary squatter" for although he was given the right
and the might over the whole earth, this dominion was to be temporary and
he did not receive the "title deed" (see below) of the earth. As we
discover in Revelation 5 Jesus functioning as our Kinsman Redeemer
receives the "title deed" of the earth and as our Blood Avenger, He
avenges our murder by Satan in Revelation 20.
What is the
Scroll (biblion) in Revelation 5 and what role does it play in the
redemption and restoration of the world?
Although there is
not uniform agreement regarding the meaning of the scroll, most
conservative literal interpreters of the Revelation (e.g., John MacArthur,
Warren Wiersbe, Henry Morris - The Revelation Record) hold that the
scroll represents the the "Title Deed" to the earth.
Revelation 5 records what John saw...
And I saw
in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book (scroll)
written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. 2 And I saw a
strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the
book (scroll) and to break its seals?" 3 And no one in heaven,
or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book (scroll),
or to look into it. 4 And I began to weep greatly, because no one was
found worthy (axios
[word study]) to open the book (scroll), or to
look into it; 5 and one of the elders said to me, "Stop weeping; behold,
the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has
overcome (nikao
[word study] in the
perfect tense = ) so as to
open the book (scroll) and its seven seals." 6 And I
saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a
Lamb standing, as if slain (perfect
tense = past completed action [The Crucifixion]
with continuing results/effect, speaks of the permanence of His past
slaying, and it testified to by His scars, His marks of the new covenant,
an unbreakable, eternal covenant), having seven horns and seven eyes,
which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. 7 And He
came, and He took it out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
The description of Jesus' "as if slain" needs to be
further examined because of the beautiful picture it paints of the
Passover Lamb, our Kinsman Redeemer....
In Isaiah the Lion of the tribe of Judah
declares...
"Behold,
I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands..." (Isaiah 49:16)
Dave Guzik writes (and I agree) that...
This has
obvious and beautiful fulfillment in the nail-scarred hands of Jesus.
John records this description of the
resurrection body of Jesus...
So when
it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors
were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and
stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” And when
He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The
disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. (Jn 20:19-20)
Compare the response of "doubting" Thomas...
But
Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus
came. 25 The other disciples therefore were saying to him , "We have seen
the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I shall see in His hands the
imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails,
and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." 26 And after eight
days again His disciples were inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came,
the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst, and said, "Peace be
with you." 27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach here your finger, and see My
hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not
unbelieving, but believing." 28 Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord
and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you
believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed." (Jn 10:25,
26, 27, 28, 29).
My name
from the palms of His hands
Eternity will not erase;
Imprest on His heart it remains
In marks of indelible grace.
—Augustus Toplady
What transpires
when our "worthy" Kinsman Redeemer breaks the seal and opens the Seven
Sealed Scroll?
As the Lamb broke
the first seal of the Seven Sealed Scroll, He set in motion the sequential
events through the seven seals, the seven trumpets and the seven bowl
judgments, which culminate in the kingdom of this world becoming the
kingdom of our Christ.
What about the
redemption of the land that had been temporarily given to Satan?
Jesus becomes the
REDEEMER OF THE LAND that
had been "sold to another". In the OT God provided the year of
Jubilee every 50 years, and at this
time the slaves were to be set free and the land returned to its original
owner (cp Lev 25:10, 13, 39, 40, 41, 53, 54), these events in a sense
pre-figuring the return of the land to mankind who had forfeited it when
Adam sinned. To be sure, the Jews were excited in the
year of Jubilee. But we as blood
bought, heaven bound believers have a "Jubilee" coming like no one has
ever seen because we have a KINSMAN REDEEMER that is going to take
the scroll out of the hand of Him Who sits on the throne and He is going
to break the seals which lead to the trumpets, the seventh culminating in
the Kingdom of this world becoming the Kingdom of His Christ. John alludes
to this glorious of restoration of the land...
And they sang
a new song, saying, "Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its
seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase (agorazo
[word study]) for God with Thy blood (a picture of redemption)
men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And Thou hast made
them to be a kingdom (Adam relinquished his rule, but the Last Adam [1Co
15:45], our Redeemer, restores rule to the redeemed) and priests to our
God; and they will reign upon the earth." (Rev 5:9-note,
Rev 5:10-note)
Blessed and
holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the
second death has no power (all who are overcomers - see 1Jn 5:4, 5 = all
believers), but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign
with Him for a thousand years. (Rev 20:6-note)
By Christ Redeemed, in Christ Restored,
We keep the memory adored,
And show the death of our dear Lord,
Until He come.
The "land" redeemed by the precious blood of our
Kinsman Redeemer and returned to men and women who have been reborn by
placing their faith in their Redeemer. Then our Kinsman Redeemer fulfills
one final role of Avenging our blood, by punishing our murderer Satan.
And what happens
to the "great dragon...the serpent of old who is called the devil and
Satan, who deceives the whole world"?
After describing the
glorious period of 1000 years (Millennium)
in which Satan is bound (Rev 20:1, Rev 20:2, Rev 20:3), John describes his
brief "unleashing" and his final punishment...
And when
the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison,
8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners
of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the
number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the
broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the
beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the
devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone,
where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented
day and night forever and ever. (Rev 20:7-note,
Rev 20:8-note,
Rev 20:9-note,
Rev 20:10-note)
Comment:
The devil is finally and eternally cast into the lake of fire, where the
worm dies not and the fire is not quenched. This is the destination for
all who fail to believe in Messiah as their Redeemer, but it was not
originally prepared for man but for the devil and his angels (Mt 25:41)
So Jesus our
KINSMAN-REDEEMER also has became our
BLOOD AVENGER.
THE
SEVENTH
TRUMPET WILL SOUND
John writes these fitting words...
And the
seventh angel sounded; and there arose loud voices in heaven, saying, "The
kingdom of the world has become (prophetic aorist - see comment)
the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and
ever." 16 And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God,
fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying, "We give Thee thanks, O
Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who wast, because Thou hast taken Thy
great power and hast begun to reign. 18 "And the nations were enraged, and
Thy wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time
to give their reward to Thy bond-servants the prophets and to the saints
and to those who fear Thy name, the small and the great, and to destroy
those who destroy the earth." (Rev 11:15-note,
Rev 11:16-note,
Rev 11:17-note,
Rev 11:18-note)
Comment:
Garland explains that "has become" is the "prophetic aorist.
The event is so certain in the sounding of the seventh angel that it is
treated as if already past. However, the kingdom will not have arrived in
totality until all seven bowl judgments are poured forth (Rev. 16:17-note)
and the King Himself returns to earth to defeat the armies of the nations
(Isa. 63:1-6; Zec. 12:1-9; 14:1-8; Rev. 19:11-21).
John
MacArthur explains: The sounding of the 7th trumpet marks a
significant milestone in the book of Revelation. It sets in motion the
final events leading up to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ and the
establishment of His earthly millennial kingdom. Rev 10:7 expresses the
finality of the seventh trumpet: “In the days of the voice of the seventh
angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as
He preached to His servants the prophets.” That mystery is the full
revelation of the consummation of God’s plan. It was prophesied by the Old
Testament preachers, but its fullness was never revealed until the book of
Revelation.
The seventh
trumpet sets in motion the final consummation of God’s redemptive plan for
the present universe. During its tenure will come the final fury of the
Day of the Lord judgments (Re 16:1-21), the final harvest of judgment on
earth (Re 11:18; 16:19), and the Lamb’s defeat of the kings of the
earth (Re 17:12-18), culminating in the final, climactic triumph of
Christ at Armageddon (Re 19:11-21). The sounding of the seventh trumpet
signals God’s answer to the prayer, “Your kingdom come. Your will be
done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt 6:10). That answer sweeps
through Rev 12:1-22:21 as God finishes His mighty work of reclaiming
creation from the usurper, Satan...Though its effects on earth were
delayed (as with the seventh seal; Rev 8:2, 3, 4, 5), there was an
immediate response in heaven when the seventh angel sounded his (7th)
trumpet...That dramatic proclamation is obviously connected to the effects
of the seventh trumpet. There is unrestrained joy that the power of Satan
is to be forever broken, and Jesus Christ is to reign supreme as King of
kings and Lord of lords. With the defeat of the usurper, the question of
sovereignty over the world will be forever settled. What Jesus refused to
take on Satan’s terms (cf. Lk 4:5, 6, 7, 8) He will take on His own
terms. Heaven rejoices that the long rebellion of the world against God
the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ is about to end. The setting up of
Christ’s long-awaited kingdom (Ed: See discussion of
Millennium 2 and
Millennium 3) is
the apex of redemptive history. (Macarthur
J. Revelation 1-11. and
Revelation 12-22. Moody
or
Logos)
(Bolding added)
WORTHY IS THE LAMB!
BREAK YOUR SEALS!
LET THE FOUR RIDERS
OF THE APOCALYPSE COME FORTH!
LET THY KINGDOM COME!
AMEN!
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