Is Redemption Important to us? Part 1

Matthew 20:28 - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

This scripture and others state and illustrate the doctrine of redemption. In short, redemption means that one who is capable of redeeming and taking the place of another or others actually meets the demands of the law and becomes the legal substitute by paying the redemptive price for those who are condemned to death because of breaking the law.

In the case of man, Satan caused him to rebel against God and break His law, incurring the death penalty. Man being under the sentence of death, could not pay his own death penalty and also live again to enjoy freedom from sin and carry out the eternal purpose for which he was created. To carry out the eternal plan he had to be redeemed and brought back into full reconciliation with God in order to fulfill the holly and righteous demands of the law and holiness of God. God undertook redemption work for man by sending Jesus Christ to die for him and resurrect him from the dead so that the original plan could be realized. This is plainly set forth in the following points about redemption.

1.) All life both vegetable and animal is sustained and perpetuated by substitutional suffering and death of innocent victims.

2.) God’s benevolence, holiness and relationship to the human race made atonement necessary. He had made the race to live forever and carry out His eternal program, so when it sinned it was necessary for Him to uphold and vindicate the moral law and yet redeem eternal man from His enemy. If He had permitted His enemy to escape with this attack on the eternal program He would be defeated in the eyes of all free moral agents who could join the rebellion trying to put God to complete defeat and eternal ruin.

3.) Satan had kidnapped man and made him a slave to sin and a subject of eternal death. He held a pseudo sovereignty over humanity and that for ransom on the principle of possession and consent of a responsible agent, or government by consent of the governed. He is the god and prince of the world who had the power of death and hell before his defeat by atonement (Genesis 3:15)

You people there, are you aware the truth about redemption and importance in our life? Read this and try to ask ourself the deeply importance this in our salvation. See you next part...

What I Said About This?

2 Timothy 3:16-17- All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Bible is not an amulet, a charm, a fetish or a book that will work wonders by its presence. It is a book that will work wonders in every life, here and hereafter. If acted upon and obeyed in faith and sincerity. It is God’s inspired revelation of the origin and destiny of all things, written in the most simple human language possible so that the most unlearned can understand and obey its teachings. It is self-interpreting and covers every subject of human knowledge and need now and forever.

As a literary composition, the Bible is the most remarkable book ever made. It is a divine library of 66 books, some of considerable size, and others no larger than a tract. These books include various forms of literature – history, biography, poetry, proverbial sayings, hymns, letters, direction’s for elaborate ritualistic worship, laws, parables, riddles, allegories, prophecy, drama and others. They embrace all manner of literary styles in human expression.

It is the book that reveals the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts binding, its histories true and its decisions immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. The Bible contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christians charter. Here heaven is opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject our good is its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill your feet in righteousness and true holiness. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully, meditatively, searchingly, devotionally, and study it constantly, perseveringly and industriously. Read it through and through until it becomes part of your being and generates faith that will move mountains. The Bible is a mine of wealth, the source of health and a world of pleasure. It is given to you in this life, will be opened at the judgment, and will stand forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the least to the greatest of labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

Exposing the Hidden Truth

Death and hell are probably two of the most misunderstood subjects in the Bible today – full with mystery and corrupted with medieval myths, they often evoke feelings of fear and hopelessness. Yet the bible’s real message about life after death and the existence of hell are surprisingly full of good news and knowing the real truth about them will help you avoid the confusing distortions leading many astray.

Don’t be fooled, because what you believe about hell and the state of the dead greatly impacts what you think about God’s real character – it’s true, God’s reputation is affected by the answers to these fascinating questions. You owe it to yourself to know what the bible really says about death and hell.

1. How did people get here in the first place? Genesis 2:7
To rightly understand what happens when a person dies, we need to start with how God gave life to man in the beginning. The bible says plainly that God made man from dust, from the elements of the earth at the beginning of earth history. Notice it does not say God gave man a soul but that man became a soul after God combined the body and the breath of life.

2. What happens when a person dies? Ecclesiastes 12:7
At death the reverse of creation occurs; the body returns to dust and the spirit goes back to God, the one who gave it. The spirit of every person who dies – whether righteous or wicked – returns to God at death.

There is nothing mysterious about this spirit – nowhere in the bible does it say this spirit has life, wisdom, or feeling when a person dies. The spirit of God (the breath that God gave him) is in my nostril (Job 27:3), w2hich means it is the breath of life and nothing more.

3. Then what is a soul and doesn’t it live on after we die? Ezekiel 18:20, Revelation 16:3
A soul is a living being – a combination of two things: body and breath. A soul cannot exist unless body and breath are combined. God’s word teaches that we are souls, as well as the animals.

And according to God’s word, souls do die – they are not immortal! Man is mortal (Job 4:17). Only God is immortal (1 Timothy 1:17). Immortality is a gift God gives to the saved (1 Corinthians 15:53-54). The concept that everyone has an undying, immortal soul goes against the bible. When we die, the soul ceases to exist – there is no such thing as a disembodied soul .. ie ghost, poltergeists, etc. This also means that the growing belief in reincarnation is in direct opposition to the bible.

4. You mean people are not conscious after they die? Ecclesiastes 9:5-6,10, Job 14:12, 21, Psalm 146:4
Yes, God’s word says that the dead know absolutely nothing! Nor can the dead communicate with the living! The dead person’s thoughts have perished (Psalm 146:4). Though millions think it is possible, the dead cannot communicate with the living. The bible not only shows that it is impossible, it says we should not even attempt it.

5. How did the devil first lie about death? Genesis 3:4
Satan, speaking through the serpent, told Eve that sin would not bring death. “You shall not surely die. He said even though God told Adam and Eve that they would surely die. The devil is the first one who said man is immortal despite God’s clear teaching.

Throughout history Satan has worked powerful miracles through people who claim to receive their power from spirits of the dead. (Example – Magicians of Egypt – Exodus 7:11; Woman of Endor – 1 Samuel 28:3-25, Sorcerers – Daniel 2:2). And in the end-times, Satan will again use sorcery to deceive the world (Revelation 18:23). Sorcery is a supernatural agency that claims to receive its power and wisdom from the spirits of the dead. So posing as godly loved ones who have died, bible prophets or even the apostles (2 Corinthians 11:13). Satan and his angles will deceive billions. Those who believe the dead are alive, in any form, will most assuredly be deceived.

6. Don’t all good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell as soon as they die? John 5:28-29, No good people do not go immediately to heaven at death, and there is not one single soul burning in hellfire today. The bible is very specific about this issue. All go to their graves to wait for the resurrection and judgment day (Job 21:30,32). The bible says that God reserves, or holds back, the wicked until the judgment day to be punished. They will enter hellfire at the end of the world, and not one day sooner (John 12:48). Until then, they sleep in their graves (John 11:11-14)

Think about it. Would God punish a person before their judgment – their day in court? Or would He burn a petty thief who died 5,000 years ago 5,000 years longer than a cruel murderer who died today?

7. What about the thief on the cross in Luke 23:43? John 20:17
Jesus said these words to Mary on Sunday morning, the day of His resurrection. Many say that Jesus promised the thief on the cross that they would be together in paradise on the evening of their deaths – but John 20:17 shows Jesus had yet to ascend to heaven.

In the original inspired language, there is no punctuation, so it appears that when all the other bible evidence about the state of the dead is considered, the only plausible explanation is that the comma in Luke 23:43 simply seems to have been put in the wrong place. Instead, it should be read, “Verily I say unto you today, shall you be with me in paradise”. Or I’m telling you today – when it seem that I can save no one, I give you the assurance that you will be with me in paradise.

8. After the resurrection, will the wicked enter hell in bodily form? Matthew 5:30, Matthew 10:28
Real, live people – and not just spirits – will enter hell in bodily form and are destroyed, both spirit and body. The fire from God out of heaven will fall upon and consume real people and blot them out of existence.

9. What happens to those in hellfire? Revelation 21:8
The bible is clear the wicked are obliterated in hellfire. If they lived forever, they would be immortal. But this is impossible because the bible says God only hath immortality (1 Timothy 6:16). Immortality is a gift given only to righteous humans at the judgment.