September 24, 2004

THE REDEEMER

"For I know that my Redeemer lives, and [that] He shall stand at last on the earth" (Job 19:25, NKJV).

From Genesis to Revelation, the story of Christ, our Redeemer [Deliverer], is pivotal. Paul declared that the prophesied Redeemer had finally appeared in the person of the incarnate Christ (see Romans 11:26); that all who believe, whether Jews or Gentiles, are "justified freely... through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24, NKJV); that in Christ alone we have "redemption through His blood" (Ephesians 1:7, NKJV); and that redemption is a present reality, since Christ has already "obtained eternal redemption" for us (Hebrews 9:12, NKJV).

The word, redeemed, essentially means to "buy back" what has been sold, pledged, or forfeited (see Luke 1:68). Through sin, man bartered away his magnificent inheritance of a perfect home, eternal life, dominion, and intimacy with God (see Genesis 3:23, 24). By so doing, he sold himself into bondage to the ruthless slave master Satan (see Romans 7:14). This degraded and enslaved the human race, and rendered humanity incapable of escape from bondage. But Christ "gave Himself a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:6, NKJV). He paid the full price with His own precious blood (see 1 Peter 1:19).

Not only has Christ purchased our redemption by satisfying the demands of the broken law, but He has delivered us from the domination of Satan. "The world's Redeemer was treated as we deserve to be treated, in order that we might be treated as he deserved to be treated. He came to our world and took our sins upon his own divine soul, that we might receive his imputed righteousness. He was condemned for our sins, in which he had no share, that we might be justified by his righteousness, in which we had no share."--Review and Herald, March 21, 1893.

My Prayer Today: Lord, with the patriarch Job, I confidently await the final phase of Your marvelous redemption. Amen.