Doctrinal pointers by Gerald B. Stanton, Th.D. Prof, of Systematic Theology, Talbot Theological Seminary
c o r r e s p o n d e n c e !
Redemption
A lthough there are 30 or more dis tinct and wonderful transactions wrought by God in the life and ex perience of the believer at the very moment of saving faith, and although most Christians seem unaware of the majority of these privileges, the one issue which every believer does recog nize is that he is redeemed from the penalty of sin. The presence of sin is so evident within us and its con demnation is written so large upon the pages of the Word of God that redemption has a central place among the major doctrines of the Bible. In the Old Testament, for instance, the word redemption is found some 132 times. Since this translation comes from five or six Hebrew roots, the word has a number of shades of meaning, but the essential idea is everywhere that of freedom by the payment of a price. Generally, the act of redemption involves deliver ance by a third party and in every case, such a one must be willing to redeem. The three primary qualifications of a Redeemer are brought together in Christ! As God, He was able to redeem and to meet all the require ments of God’s justice and offended holiness. As man, He could die the death of the cross, and as perfect man, he was not involved in the sin of Adam or the condemnation of per sonal sin. Then too, He was willing to redeem. While He came to do the Father’s will, this was in complete harmony with His own fTee choice as the Scriptures abundantly testify (Lk. 22:42; Phil. 2:8; Jn. 10:15-18). Thirdly, He exercised these redemp tive qualities by His death for sinners upon the Cross (1 Pet. 1:18; 2:24). There are ,three important New Testament words for redemption which best picture the work of Christ in behalf of the sinner when they are studied in the following sequence: (1) Agorazo, the most common word for redemption in the Greek New Testament, means to “ purchase in the market.” The underlying thought is that the sinner is in the slave-market of sin and is under the penalty of
death, “ sold under sin” (Rom. 7:14). The price paid for his purchase is the shed blood of the Redeemer, who dies in his stead (Gal. 3:13; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rev. 5:9; 14:4). (2) Exagorazo, meaning “ to purchase out of the market,” adds the thought that not only has the ransom price for sin béen paid by Another, but also that the sinner is removed from the slave mart and is no longer subject to fur ther sale. (3) Lutroo indicates the third step in Christ’s work of redemp tion, the verb meaning “ to loose,” or “ to set free by paying a price.” Added to the blessings of purchase and se curity is the privilege of complete freedom. Not only is the prisoner purchased out from under sin’s pen-, alty and removed from the scene of his bondage, he is now released as a free man in Christ, liberated from the slavery of sin and the burden of its judgment. As indicated, the purchase price of our redemption, paid as an obliga tion to divine justice, is the death of Christ upon the cross. Even those who deny this truth must at least admit the Bible teaches it. “Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold . . . but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:18,19). A brief review of the results of redemption may well include the following: deliverance from the guilt and penalty of the law (Gal. 3:13; Rom. 3:24); deliverance from the rul ing power of sin (Gal. 1:4; Eph. 5:25-27; Titus 2:14); deliverance from the dominion of Satan (Col. 2:14,15; Heb. 2:14,15); and the basis for pres ent sanctification and future glorifi cation, including thè redemption of the body from its present limitations. As we have seen in this column over the past two months, the work of Christ on the cross has provided a propitiation toward God and a recon ciliation toward man. These, together with the redemption provided for sin, comprise the “ finished work of Christ” which is the basis of salvation. END.
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