In the life of everyone at birth itself the work of the spirit starts and with that also the battle with the worldly forces for everything. Adam and Eve probably never thought about the consequences of their sin of eating the forbidden fruit and their need to hide in fear from the same loving God. Though God had revealed the way for redemption of mankind then only, the battle continued till this was fulfilled by the Son of God on the cross.
Why did God punish mankind for that one small aberration in their life? The question is not about eating a fruit that was forbidden by God but more than that. The point is about being satisfied in what we have or trying to get that also what is not ours. In the Garden of Eden there were innumerable trees, bearing fruits of every kind and Adam and Eve had the joy of being rulers over all other created beings in that abundance. With such great provision, only one tree and its produce was denied to them by God, who would meet them every evening to help them overcome any problem they would have faced during the day. All the animals and birds were under their control to help in caring for the place and expand its boundary.
All that was created by God was from the earth and man was formed from the dust of the earth. Since mankind is designed to represent God on earth, he is the only one who has a part of the Divine in himself through the breath of God in him. The desire of God is to transform mankind into His image and likeness. Adam and Eve also needed this change, for the earthly element had to be brought fully under the Divine. The visits of God in the ‘cool of the day’ were for this very purpose (Genesis 3:8). The statement of God about man being alone and creation of a ‘helpmeet’ for him is also for that (Genesis 2:21-22). Woman as ‘Ezer-Kenegdo’ or helpmeet was to support him in the right but oppose him when he would stray from the straight path.
The need for this was the presence of darkness on the earth, for when God revealed the light of the glory of His Son, through whom and for whom it was all created, darkness was separated but not destroyed. Since life’s source was God, one’s submission to darkness would bring death and separation. This would be about being in control of darkness and not the Light, the only source of life. The warning of the result of eating the fruit of that one tree was also clear, ‘you shall surely die’ (Genesis 2:17). Some would presume that probably they did not understand the meaning of death for there was no such thing in creation at that time. They had no memory of anything before them and God Himself was the source of all information. in addition to what they experienced daily. Even if this were true, it was apparent that death would not be something pleasant. The serpent’s assertion was exactly opposite to what God had said, for ‘the serpent said to the woman, ‘you will not surely die’ (Genesis 3:4). With two statements of this nature, one would believe the One who is known to him rather than a complete stranger.
However, they believed the stranger and not God, whom they knew well. When we refuse to believe someone who readily provides us with everything, that we did nothing to deserve, what should we expect? The provision of everything and the earth also yielding its abundance was in the agreement. With unbelief, not only was the trust broken, but they believed in the ways of the serpent/the devil and his capacity to provide for all their needs. They decided to follow the devil and accept him as their new master and thus be separated from God, their source of life, through their unbelief. This separation from God is death, for the spirit of man was cut off from God’s Spirit. The soul, that was the link between the body and the spirit, lost control to the body that is composed of the earthly elements. Thus, the earthly desires that arose from the body became the focus of a human being’s life, and their fulfilment, the purpose of life.
Since the life source was cut off, the physical life also was affected and diseases and weakness became normal, leading to physical death. Redemption is the reversal of this alienation with God and breaking of the chains of sin and evil from the life of mankind. This would then bring him into a close relationship with God, while the soul would continue to be freed through daily submission. God could reverse this process, either by destroying the devil; destroying all of creation and start afresh or bring someone who is not under the devil’s and the earthly desires’ control to overcome them. Also, He had to be spiritually alive and thus be always in communion with God. He would then suffer physical death in place of the sinful humanity and being sinless, defeat death and rise again to free all those who follow Him. This is redemption by paying the price or satisfying the legal requirements of a just God.
Who was given the redemption cost? God created mankind to live by eating of ‘every tree whose fruit yield seed; to you it shall be food’ (Genesis 1:29-30). Likewise, for all the animals, all the birds and everything that creeps on the earth, God provided ‘every green herb is for food’. This vegetarian state changed after the flood and Noah was told ‘every moving thing that lives shall be food for you’. This was to be in addition to what was already given as food (Genesis 9:3-6). This carried a restriction, that ‘you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is its blood’. God further brought accountability also with this, and any animal or a man killing another human being shall have to be answerable before Him. The blood for blood became the norm of life to save mankind from untimely death.
This same principle is also the basis for redemption of all mankind and the process of sacrifices was started by God. Since life of unbelief and sin caused death and separation from God, restoration could only be by offering life or the blood as a compensatory payment. The animal sacrifice had three steps; first, the one making the offering placed his hands on the animal, thus transferring his sins on him. When the animal was offered as a sacrifice, it was presumed to be the death of the sinner. The blood of the animal was placed on the altar as an acknowledgement for forgiveness. The offering did not benefit God in any manner but the one who would be offering. The one who brought the offering to God could offer an animal or a bird according to his/her financial state. With this, that individual could be at peace with himself and worship God in confidence that his past sins are forgiven.
Laying down the way of life for His chosen ones, God has said, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings’ (Hosea 6:6). Satan could not accuse that person, for God had accepted the sacrifice as a witness of cleansing of the person. But animal sacrifice was not the perfect solution and this led to repeated sinning and then offer sacrifices for forgiveness. Second, the people did not understand the mercy and grace of God and went after other gods. Third, human sacrifice, that was a norm for the Canaanites, who worshipped Molech, came to be followed by some Israelites also, to save themselves in a crisis by offering the perfect sacrifice of a child.
God desires His people to worship Him with gladness for He has no needs and rather, He meets all our needs. Also, by serving God, people are equipped to do what He desires them to do to be a blessing to others and to reflect His glory through their way of life before others. The sacrificial offerings made no difference to the devil also, for he could continue to lead them in his ways of evil and sinful living. God at His right time sent His Son ‘to be the propitiation for our sins’ (1 John 4:10). This is about settling the accounts with the one who has the rights of control or ownership. It is also about being redeemed from the bondage to sin and control of the devil. Jacob used the word redeemed while blessing Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, saying ‘The Angel who redeemed me from all evil’ (Genesis 48:16). The Hebrew word ‘ga’al/goel’ refers to a Divine, Kinsman- like rescue, protection and restoration, the one who buys back, avenges, or sets free a family member in trouble. The Angel here refers to the pre-incarnate appearance of Lord Jesus and His close relationship with the redeemed. In the New Testament, Lord Jesus is seen as our Redeemer, the One who buys back our freedom.
The Greek word ‘sozo’ means comprehensive restoration rather than just escaping danger or hell. It is rescuing someone from great peril or destruction; healing a person from physical, mental or spiritual sickness; protecting from danger or restoring to a state of safety and security and bringing wholeness to the body, soul and spirit by saving from demonic oppression or danger. When we see the work of redemption and the sacrifice of the Messiah, it highlights the basic points of redemption. First, He is our Creator and with this relationship our Kinsman. Second, there was no way that we could have ever managed to free ourselves from this bondage caused by our sins, that we are born with and commit. Third, the payment was due neither to the devil nor to anyone on earth, but to God, whom we disbelieved to be our Benefactor. The payment was not to satisfy God but His just system established in all of creation. With that the accuser before God, the devil, has no cause and we are restored to a close relationship with God through faith in His Work.
Effect of redemption on our lives – Abraham received a promise that was impossible to be fulfilled in the worldly system. But, ‘Abraham believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness’ (Genesis 15:6). Sarah, his wife was barren and advanced in age and so was he. The original sin was of unbelief and when Abraham believed despite the visible limitations, God put it into his account as righteousness. In like manner, ‘as many as received Him (Lord Jesus as the Son of God), to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name’ (John 1:12-13). This relationship is not of man’s desire but from God and due to a spiritual reformation.
As His children we are no longer alienated from God. As any child has a right to approach his earthly father, in love, we can reach out to God as a right. Since we become God’s children, ‘then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together’ (Romans 8:17). He came to suffer in our place and though redeemed we live in a world polluted by sin. All that we suffer here leads us to share in the glory of the Redeemer, the glory that He has given to us (John 17:22). The result of sin is death and though our sins are forgiven the consequences remain and all must die once and face the judgement of God (Hebrews 9:27). But then is the second death, the ultimate separation from God and all those who refuse to walk in His ways, will suffer that. Lord Jesus declares that His work of redemption is ‘finished’ and all who thirst for Him and live according to His Word will receive ‘the fountain of the water of life’ (Revelation 21:6-8). They will receive new life, the life eternal from and with Him.
However, there is also the second group, which includes all those who are ‘cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars’. All of these people, ‘shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death’.
A ‘born again’ believer, at his baptism is immersed in water and baptised. It is like a piece of cloth being dyed and dipped into the colour solution and it goes in with one colour and comes out with another. At baptism, a believer goes in with the filthy garment of sin, which gets cleansed by the blood of the ‘Lamb of God’. The old nature of sin loses its control over him and the indwelling Holy Spirit starts the process of change from within. Since there is no second death for them, their life beyond this life on earth is secure in heaven.
His life on earth also changes, for the love of God and the Holy Spirit in him. help him change. It is not that he will not sin, for nature is still the same, but every time he repents and makes a deliberate effort to stop in future. Apostle Peter defines the new state of a believer as ‘a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people’ (1 Peter 2:9). The task then is, to ‘proclaim the praise of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light’. As priests of the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the job is to reach out to the entire world, so that all will recognise and know Him. But they have their own intrinsic worth also and that needs to be perfected at their personal level. The good deeds that we perform in this life help us in this by giving us that inner joy and satisfaction of being a blessing to someone. We do not segment our day for some time to God, to family and to business. As His own special people, we keep working to be like Him and thus represent Him before others to be true Christians, all the time.
Our struggles, prayers and every work that we do, in a way, prepares us for our life in heaven with Him. Apostle Paul has linked the past, present and future state of a believer (Colossians 1:21-23). We were in enmity with God and are now reconciled by Lord Jesus, through His death. The Saviour prepares us to ‘present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight’. All this happens once we ‘continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast’ in the blessings promised in the Gospel. We are sinners, whose sins are forgiven, are strengthened by His presence in us and are being prepared for our heavenly life. We receive this by faith and not by our efforts but by the grace and mercy of God.
The love of God has inherent power to transform us from within. The showers of His love and blessings keep saturating us continually to enable us to be a blessing to others. People react to the love of God in various ways. Some filled with shame of their past avoid and some remain buried in guilt of the past and the present. But the chosen of God receive and rejoice in His love and their hearts are filled with gratitude to live a life of newness of everything!
