with one who was flesh and blood. These things are material and nec essarily are evil. Christ to the Gnos tic was only one of the aeons between God and man. For these, the evil Gnostics sub stituted a string of aeons as media tors between God and man. For re demption, they would substitute some initiatory rite or ceremony. Some formula of initiation into the guarded secrets of their closed or ders. Accepting the speculative phi losophy of emanations, aeons, in the doctrine of creation, they speculated as to the kingdoms of darkness and light where angelic powers and prin cipalities ruled over spirits. This is Persian dualism in its basic tenets. They appealed to the fancied intel lectual pride of those who had mys tical communication with angels (Col. 2:18). They were polluting the most precious doctrines of the faith.
but loosed and set free by the pur chaser. This picture may be judicial in its setting, but it presents the New Testament view. Redemption is an act of God by which he pays the ransom price of sin which His out raged holiness and justice requires. Redemption is toward sin and set tles that problem for the believer. T hrough H is B lood 1:14b The phrase, “in His blood,” is not in the best manuscripts. It is thought to be an interpolation of Ephesians 1:7. Whether this epistle was writ ten before Ephesians is difficult to determine. Yet the cardinal truth re mains that the sacrificial death of Christ procured our release. Peter said “We were redeemed by the pre cious blood of Christ” (1 Pet. 1:18- 19). T he F orgiveness of S ins 1:14 c The word / aphesis) “sending away” or literally forgiveness of sins states a glorious result of redemp tion. Redemption is the basis of our forgiveness. These are the twin pil lars of hope in Christ, redemption and forgiveness. The word indicates “removal,” and this necessarily in cludes the remission of the penalty, the removal of the condemnation, and also the actual sending away both of sin (the root) and sins (the fruit.) Never once does the Bible speak of the forgiveness of guilt or the forgiveness of condemnation, but only of forgiveness of sin and sins. Christ’s death met every demand of a holy God, so now He can right eously forgive every sinner who be lieves in Jesus. This was far different from the theories of the heretics. According to them, this man, Christ Jesus, could not redeem anyone, because He was too far separated from God. He was only some angelic power that had emanated from the Father. God, who is holy, would have nothing to do
Biola student Ephraim P. SurderRao from India, dressed in his native garb, is pictured on the Biola Campus. Ephraim dearly loves the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and wants to serve Him among his own people. Through "Operation: Firebrand," Biola is able to bring to this coun try those who are academically qualified and Who, with additional Bible training, will be able to reach their own people for Christ.
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