Redemption
Originally scheduled for August 4
and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus,
(Romans 3:24 ESV)
It is not a
particularly common word in the New Testament; “redemption.” One
author (Robinson) gives us the Greek roots of this word:
Through the redemption (dia tēs apolutrōseōs). A releasing by
ransom (apo, lutrōsis from lutroō and that from lutron, ransom).
God did not set men right out of hand with nothing done about men’s
sins. We have the words of Jesus that he came to give his life a
ransom (lutron) for many.
Despite Matthew 10:45, we do not
usually associate the word ransom with our salvation. But the
definition is rather clear; something must be done to pay for our
sins, hence, the ransom. God could not, in justice, forgive us
without paying for our sins as well as cleansing us. If he
forgiveness without paying the price once we would certainly give
Him opportunity to do it again.
Perhaps this is why we see
so often the connection of “body and blood.” You might want to look
at it this way:
· Blood, in the Old
Testament, is used for ceremonial cleansing. It yields purity in the
believer.
· The body, however,
symbolizes the total commitment of Christ to our salvation. You can
get blood out of a human being without death; the Red Cross does it
every day. But the entire body being committed is total commitment.
So it is that communion is composed of both elements. We take
the bread which represents the body and the total commitment of
Christ to our salvation. We take the cup which represents his blood,
completely capable of forgetting any and all sins.
And what does
Christ ask for in return? Only that you do it in remembrance of him,
in a worthy manner. Examine yourself and bring your sins to him to
be cleansed, knowing that he is totally committed to your salvation.
“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and
righteousness.”
