Jesus, Our Redeemer
Satan, the enemy of God, has an endless goal of rising up and taking the place of God. (Isaiah 14:12-14). He is responsible for the deception and temptation that Adam and Eve acquiesced to when they chose to disobey God’s command to not eat the fruit. That disobedience was sin and caused the fall of man from God’s grace. “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men…” (Romans 5:18a ESV))
Since God is Holy, only a perfect sacrifice could be the propitiation for that sin and enable mankind to be reconciled to Himself.
The Scripture is very clear concerning our need of a redeemer.
I do not believe I have to convince you that there is evil and darkness in this world. Revelation 12:9 (Weymouth New Testament), “The Great Dragon, the ancient serpent, he who is called ‘the Devil’ and ‘the Adversary’ and leads the whole earth astray, was hurled down, he was hurled down to earth and his angles were hurled down with him.” (Referring to Satan’s removal from heaven when he rebelled against God.)
Ephesians 6:10-12 (ESV) very clearly reveals that we are in a battle with those in the kingdom of satan, “10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” In verse11, ‘schemes’, translated from the Greek word methodcia means deceit and trickery.
Realizing that satan disguises himself as an angel of light as stated in2 Corinthians 14:4, is valuable. It aids our being aware of his trickery, cunning, and deceit when he comes to us with a ‘sounds good’, ‘looks good’, and ‘feels good’ proposal or temptation. The truth about him through, is seen in John 10:10a (ESV), “The thief comes only to steal and kill, and destroy.” Satan’s whole nature is one of destruction. He is determined to destroy what God created and raise up a kingdom ruled by Himself.
As a fallen member of mankind, we also face battles with our own flesh, which also desires to have it’s own way. We see this truth in Galatians 5:16 and 17 (NIV), “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.”
The following scriptures describe the life and actions of a man following the desires of his sin nature and his flesh. Those who are not redeemed live a life in rebelliousness and self-indulgence, doing only what they want to do.
Ephesians 2: 1-3 (ESV), “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ... 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”
Ephesians 4:22 and 27-31 (ESV), “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, ... 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”
Galatians 5:19-21 (ESV), “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
There are also those who say, “I try to live a good life. I’m doing my best to do right. Isn’t that good enough? I hope to please God.” My question to those with this philosophy is: “Are you good enough to equal the goodness of God?”
The correct answer to this question is found in the Scriptures:
Romans 3:23 (ESV), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
Isaiah 64:6a, “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.”
You and I cannot be good enough on our own. We need a redeemer!
Under the Old Covenant, the law was given to show us that we cannot gain salvation by following the law. We read what the law accomplished in Romans 3:19 and 20, “Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.” Our knowledge of sin came through the law.
God’s Word reveals what was required for one to become an acceptable redeemer. 1 Peter 1:18 and 19 (NKJV), “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” The shedding of blood from one who was without blemish or spot is what was required. In other words an acceptable redeemer was one who had no sin and was willing to sacrifice his life for others.
Romans 3:24 lets us know we are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Jesus is our Redeemer!
Then we also read in Romans 4:25 (ESV) concerning Jesus, that He was “delivered up for our trespasses, raised up for our justification.” The word translated ‘justification’ is dikaiosis in the Greek which means: the act of pronouncing righteous, acquittal and absolution. The Greek word apolutrosis, translated ‘redemption’ means: a release effected by payment of a ransom. Literally it means: ‘buy back from’, re-purchasing what was previously forfeited. What a gift! Jesus’s sacrifice provided the potential for the restoration of man’s personal relationship with God which had been forfeited by Adam when he rebelled against God and chose disobedience. I say “potential” because each man must choose for himself whether or not he will accept the gift of redemption paid for by the shed blood of Christ.
What are other benefits we receive because of Christ Jesus becoming our redeemer?
Peace with God - Romans 5:1 (NLT), “Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.”
We become brand new - 2 Corinthians 5:17, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
Freedom from the law of sin and death - Romans 8:1 and 2 (ESV), “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”
We are right with God - Romans 8:10, “And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.”
The Indwelling Holy Spirit - Romans 8:11, “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”
Eternal Life - Romans 6:23 (NLT), “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
We are God’s Children - Romans 8:16, “For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children.”
Our Conscience is purified - Hebrews 9:13,14, “Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people's bodies from ceremonial impurity. 14 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.”
Your name is placed in the Lamb’s Book of Life - Revelation 21:27, “But nothing unclean will ever enter it (heaven), nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.”
Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but by Me.”
Man had a debt he could not pay, so Jesus paid a debt He did not owe! Out of God’s great love, He sent His own Son to redeem us!
Praise God! He has provided the way of redemption! Therefore we can enter into a restored personal relationship with God Almighty! When Jesus returned to the Father following His death and resurrection, He was seated at the right hand of the Father where He makes intercession for us. (Romans 8:34) Isn’t that an amazing truth and thought, Jesus prays for us!
As we face the trials and difficulties that come, we can rejoice in knowing that our Redeemer lives!
Unless otherwise noted all scriptures are New Living Translation.
ESV English Standard Version
NKJV New King James Version
NIV New International Version