The Cross of Jesus Christ 2
Redemption
When Adam sinned, believing the lie of Satan and choosing to be independent from God, he, in actual fact, sold out his life and that of all the generations to follow to Satan's control and ownership (see Genesis 3).
His act of rebellion brought man into bondage - to himself, to Satan, to sin, to law, and to nature. He became enslaved to his own desires and weaknesses, and the taskmaster of this slavery was Satan himself.
JESUS - THE RANSOM
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" Mark 10:45.
The word redeem in the New Testament literally means to purchase in the slave market with a view to setting free. Jesus Christ entered the scene of history with one great purpose in mind - to buy back mankind from Satan's power and set him free into God's kingdom. The price He paid for us was His own life.
" . . . You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body" 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins Colossians 1:13-14.
FROM SIN - THE WORK OF SATAN
"He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work" 1 John 3:8.
Christ's death loosed us from:
1. The guilt of sin
" . . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are JUSTIFIED FREELY by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" Romans 3:23-24.
2. The power of sin
"For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be RENDERED POWERLESS, that we should no longer be slaves to sin ...For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace Romans 6:6-14.
3. The penalty of sin
"In him we have redemption through his blood, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, in accordance with the riches of God's grace" Ephesians 1:7.
FROM DEATH - THE STRENGTH OF SATAN
"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil - and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death" Hebrews 2:14-15.
Jesus was the substitute for our own death, and the rightful sentence passed upon Adam (Genesis 2:17) was assumed by Him.
" 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" 1 Corinthians 15:55-56 (see also Romans 4:25).
FROM THE CURSE - THE TYRANNY OF SATAN
"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him" Acts 10:38 (KJV).
Part of the curse that is upon all mankind is sickness (read Deuteronomy 28:35,59-61 and Job 2:7).
Christ not only bore this curse (Galatians 3:13), but actually bore our sickness itself (Matthew 8:16-17; Isaiah 53:4-5). As we receive by faith what Christ has done, Satan can no longer wield it as a threat against us.
FROM THE WORLD - THE KINGDOM OF SATAN
Our world is under Satan's power (2 Corinthians 4:4) . But, through Christ's death we are set free from Satan's dominion (Colossians 1:13).
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" 1 John 5:4 (KJV).
"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" Galatians 6:14 (KJV).
FROM REBELLION - THE EMPOWERMENT OF SATAN
"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient" Ephesians 2:1-2.
The death of Christ has given every man and woman fresh opportunity to come into submission to God.
"As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all that you do" 1 Peter 1:14- 15.
OUR CONDITION IN SATAN'S KINGDOM
Under God's anger because of sin (Romans 1:18).
Awaiting the judgement of God (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).
In danger of the 'second death' (Revelation 20:14-15).
A captive in satan's kingdom (Colossians 1:13).
REDEEMED BY CHRIST
Saved from God's anger (Romans 5:9).
Saved from the judgement of God (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).
Saved from the second death (Revelation 20:6; 2:11).
Delivered from the kingdom of darkness (Hebrews 2:14-15).
UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP
We have been bought with a price - the life of Jesus Himself. Now we belong to Him.
"If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord" Romans 14:8 (see also Acts 20:28).