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Redemption
-- What is it?
(By
Robert Surgenor)
In
the city of Cleveland, Ohio, listed in the Yellow Pages
of the phone directory, you will find thirteen
establishments that are unique. These businesses are
patronized by people who have fallen into financial
difficulties and are seeking to obtain a little
"quick cash." The people who operate these
establishments are termed "pawnbrokers." In
order to obtain immediate cash, the individual presents
to the pawnbroker an owned item. For a small basic fee
plus a monthly interest charge, the broker will loan a
very small amount of the item's value to the owner. In
order for the pawned item to be restored to the pawner,
the amount loaned on that item must be returned to the
pawnbroker. This transaction is called "redeeming."
In other words, the item is sold, kept by the broker,
and cannot be restored to its original owner until redemption
money is given.
PAWNED
Would
it interest you to know that we, like valuable items,
have been pawned in a spiritual sense? Holy Scripture
speaks of us as having been "sold under sin"
(Rom. 7:14). God says concerning the whole human race,
"they are all under sin" (Rom. 3:9). This
calamity transpired when Adam, the head of our race,
sinned against God. In so doing he "pawned"
all of us, so that we are not in God's possession as
Adam first experienced, but rather in the possession of
another. We are "without God in the world"
(Eph. 2:12), held under sin, and under the curse of
God's holy law. "Cursed is every one that
continueth not in all things which are written in the
book of the law to do them" (Gal. 3:10). Thus we
are guilty before God (Rom. 3:19), condemned already
(Jn. 3:18), and hopelessly condemned to die (Eze. 18:4).
Such are the dire circumstances of the human family to
which we belong! We as "pawned" beings are in
a state of bondage as a direct result of sin.
THE
PROBLEM
Held
as slaves, we cannot set ourselves at liberty.
Practicing good works, trying to act like a Christian,
praying, expressing charity to others, confessing one's
sins, joining church, submitting to baptism, tithing,
receiving the "sacraments" cannot in any way
set one free from bondage! In order for a pawned item to
be returned to its original owner a redeemer with
a ransom is needed! Multi-billionaires are too
poor to redeem any man back to God. "None of them
can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a
ransom for him" (Ps. 49;7). Thus God shows us
that no human power or skill, no giving of silver, or
service, or even one's life, can avail to ransom
any soul from the awful doom imposed by sin. I sincerely
hope that you see this, for most do not. Consequently
they never their hopeless condition, nor do they seek
God's remedy.
Mankind
needs redemption and a redeemer to pay the
ransom price if he is ever going to escape the
bondage of sin and the curse of God's broken law! The
word "redemption" is a wonderful
word! It has various shades of meaning, such as:
"to regain possession of by repurchase; to rescue
or deliver, as from bondage by paying a ransom;
to purchase out of the slave market; to loose, to set
free."
THE
PERSON, PURCHASE & PRICE
God
required the sinner's obligation to be met. There could
be no backing away from this holy demand. Since no
mortal, nor angel, nor saint could redeem us,
where could redemption be found? Ah, my friend,
the story is sweet and clear. Redemption was
found in the only One who was able to redeem--the
Lord Jesus Christ! He voluntarily consented to
pay the debt. Under God's law a redeemer must
be a near kinsman (related to us), he must be
able, and he must be willing to redeem. He
also must be free from bondage himself. Christ
fulfilled these requirements concerning God's law,
confessing, "I am not come to destroy (the law),
but to fulfill (Matt. 5:17). Consequently He clothed
Himself with a human body so that in the manger we see
the incarnation of the eternal Son into the human
family. He became our Kinsman Redeemer. "As
the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also
Himself likewise took part of the same. " (Heb.
2:14). He tells the purpose of His coming into this
world--"The Son of man came . . . to give His life
a ransom for many" (Mk. 10:45). Thank God, He the sinless
One took the slave's place willingly, was made a
curse for him and shed His blood as the ransom price
of redemption. "Christ hath redeemed us
from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us:
for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a
tree" (Gal. 3:13). Divine justice demands eternal
punishment in hell because of sin. Christ paid the ransom
to the "Justice of God" with a view to setting
you free. Notice what God says, "In whom we have
redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of
sins" (Eph. 1:7). Peter exclaims, "REDEEMED...with
the precious blood of Christ" (I Pet. 1:18,19).
Peter fully knew that the church could never redeem--only
the blood of Christ!
Christ
has "obtained eternal redemption for
us" (Heb. 9:12). This means that those who are redeemed
will never be taken back to the "slave
market." Redemption once obtained is never
lost! Will you accept the price the Redeemer has
paid--His precious blood? If you rely solely on His redemptive
work, you will be among the throng in heaven singing
these words eternally, "Thou art worthy...for
Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy
blood..." (Rev. 5:9). May it be so--for your sake!
Written by: Robert
E. Surgenor (Evangelist)
Published in tract form by: The Gospel Messenger,
4527 West 226th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44126
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