| ON REDEMPTION
I believe in the forgiveness of sin and the redemption of ignorance.
--Adlai E. Stevenson Jr. (1900 - 1965), retort to a heckler asking him to state his beliefs, Time, November 1, 1963
An understanding of redemption is not necessary to salvation any more than an understanding of life is necessary before we can be born into it.
--OSWALD CHAMBERS (1874–1917)
God redeemed the human race when we were spitting in his face, as it were.
--OSWALD CHAMBERS (1874–1917)
|
ON REDEMPTION
If I had the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of John, the meekness of Moses, the strength of Samson, the obedience of Abraham, the compassion of Joseph, the tears of Jeremiah, the poetic skill of David, the prophetic voice of Elijah, the courage of Daniel, the greatness of John the Baptist, the endurance and love of Paul, I would still need redemption through Christ’s blood, the forgiveness of sin.
--R. L. WHEELER
Redemption means that Jesus Christ can put into any man the disposition that ruled his own life.
--OSWALD CHAMBERS (1874–1917)
The purpose of Christ’s redeeming work was to make it possible for bad men to become good—deeply, radically, and finally.
--A. W. TOZER (1897–1963)
A SHORT BIBLE STUDY ON REDEMPTION
The idea of redemption in the Old Testament takes its start from the thought of property (Lev 25:26; Ruth 4:4 ff). Money is paid according to law to buy back something which must be delivered or rescued (Nu 3:51; Neh 5:8). From this start the word “redemption” throughout the Old Testament is used in the general sense of deliverance. God is the Redeemer of Israel in the sense that He is the Deliverer of Israel (Dt 9:26; 2 Sam 7:23; 1 Ch 17:21; Isa 52:3). The idea of deliverance
includes deliverance from all forms of evil lot, from national misfortune (Isa 52:9; 63:9; compare Lk 2:38), or from plague (Ps 78:35, 52), or from calamity of any sort (Gen 48:16; Nu 25:4, 9). Of course, the general thought of the relation of Israel to God was that God had both a claim upon Israel (Dt 15:15) and an obligation toward Israel (1 Ch 17:21; Ps 25:22). Israel belonged to Him, and it was by His own right that He could move into the life of Israel so as to redeem Israel. On
the other hand, obligation was upon Him to redeem Israel.
In the New Testament the idea of redemption has more a suggestion of ransom. Men are held under the curse of the law (Gal 3:13), or of sin itself (Rom 7:23 f). The Redeemer purchases their deliverance by offering Himself as payment for their redemption (Eph 1:7; 1 Pet 1:18).
Galatians 3:13 (Message Bible)
Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember the Scripture that says, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"? That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the Cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse.
Romans 7:23 (Message Bible)
but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
Ephes. 1:7 (Message Bible)
Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free!
1 Peter 1:18 (Message Bible)
It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. |
