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Redemption

1 Corinthians 1:30

The word here translated “redemption” means “complete deliverance by ransom.” It is used to declare that all God’s elect are completely delivered from sin and all its evil consequences by the ransom price of Christ’s sin-atoning blood poured out for us at Calvary and the omnipotent power of his irresistible grace in the new birth and, at last, in resurrection glory.

Always look upon God’s works of grace as broadly as your faith’s imagination will allow you. Never limit them. When you have taken in all you can of it, your faith’s imagination will not have begun to reach the fulness of God’s grace as it is revealed in Holy Scripture. And, of all the words used to describe God’s grace, none is so rich, full, and assuring as this word, “redemption.” — Christ is made of God unto us redemption.

From Eternity

The Lord Jesus Christ was made redemption unto his chosen in eternity, before the world was made. He is the Lamb who, verily, was foreordained and slain before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8). The Lord God made Christ our redemption before we needed redemption. We were justified in him, accepted in him, blessed in him with all spiritual blessings, sanctified in him, and glorified in him, with him, and by him before time began (Romans 8:30; Ephesians 1:3-6). Christ was made our complete deliverance from sin before there was such a thing as sin!

At Calvary

When the Son of God bore our sins in his own body on the tree, he was punished to the full satisfaction of divine justice in our stead. The holy Lord God drew forth his dreadful sword and buried it in the Savior’s being. Jehovah smote Jehovah with all the fierceness of his holy anger, until all anger against our sins wore itself out on him, and our sins were forever put away! When the Lord Jesus died in our place, he was made of God unto us redemption!

In the New Birth

In the new birth every chosen, blood-bought sinner is effectually delivered from death in sin by the merit of Christ’s blood and by the omnipotent power and grace of God the Holy Ghost. Graciously sprinkling our hearts with the blood of Christ, God the Spirit purges our consciences of guilt (Hebrews 10:2, 22), and makes Christ Jesus unto us redemption!

The Resurrection

And there is a day of redemption yet to come (Romans 8:22-23; Ephesians 1: 13-14; 4:30). Soon, when our Savior comes again “to be glorified in his saints and admired in all them that believe,” he will cause a great change to take place. Our bodies, sown in the grave in corruption, shall be raised in incorruption. These mortal bodies shall put on immortality. Mortality shall be swallowed up in life (1 Corinthians 15:51-55). Then, Christ shall be made of God unto us redemption in the complete deliverance of his elect (body, soul, and spirit) from all the consequences of sin!

Don Fortner

Pastor Fortner’s