IN HIM WE HAVE REDEMPTION

These are the words that changed the universe forever:

“It is finished”

With extreme specificity and comprehensive thoroughness, Jesus came and accomplished the will of God on earth to perfection.

This purpose is so powerfully articulated by Paul’s words,

“He emptied himself of all power and took on the form of a slave, coming in human likeness and being found in human appearance, He humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” ~Philippians 2:7-11.

What was it that Jesus accomplished by emptying Himself of all power and putting on humanity?

Jesus told us what He came to accomplish:

“Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” ~Luke 24:46-48

And the Spirit moved His apostle to write,

“In Him we have redemption by His blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, He has made known to us the mystery of His will in accord with His favor that He set forth in Him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.” ~Ephesians 1:7-10

Jesus left absolutely no work of redemption undone. Jesus is everything and all anyone needs for redemption. What He finished upon the cross no other person could have even approached- but He finished our redemption to the uttermost end- and His redemptions stands by itself as the lone sacrifice acceptable to accomplish redemption for the lost and guilty souls of humanity.

Jesus’ redemption is offered to the whole world:

It is for Israel (Luke 1:68; 2:38; 24:21),
It is for all peoples (John 3:16; Titus 2:11, 14; Heb. 9:12, 15; 1 Pet. 1:18–19);
It saves the Children of God from their sins (Rom. 3:24, 6:3-5; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; cf. 1 Cor. 1:30);
It is for our bodies (1 Cor. 15:50-58; Eph. 1:14, 4:30)
And it even reaches natural creation itself (Romans 8:22-23)!

MINISTERS OF RECONCILIATION

But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation. We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ~2 Corinthians 5:18-20

Redemption is the heartbeat of the Christian soul and the drive of the Church: I believe that every Christian is entrusted with this ministry of reconciliation- and has the power and authority of the Kingdom of God as ambassadors of Christ to entreat and plead with all men to be reconciled to God!

Here’s how we’re charged as Christ’s ambassador’s to carry out this ministry of reconciliation:

“Therefore do not be afraid of them, because nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear in your ear, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul, but instead be afraid of the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth! I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” ~Matthew 10:26-28; 34

REDEMPTION WARFARE

Christ’s redemption and the ministry of redemption that he’s given us has declared war on the kingdom of this world.

“He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile all things for Him, making peace by the blood of his cross (through him), whether those on earth or those in heaven.”

Colossians 1:13-15, 19-20

Christ’s work of redemption should shape our understanding of what it means to be set apart: His redemption sets us free from the bonds of sin (Romans 6:18 HCSB), washes us clean from our guilt (1 John 1:7) and transfers us into His Kingdom (Colossians 3:13). We are literally set apart from this world: we no longer submit to the authority of sin, but rather, submit to the authority of righteousness in Christ!

Therefore, as Christ’s holy ambassador’s we proclaim the Word, which is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes.

Spiritual warfare is redemption confronting the bonds of sin and the kingdom of this world.

CONCLUSION

“The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil” ~1 John 3:8

What Jesus finished on the cross He entrusted to His disciples everywhere to take into all the world. Jesus desires that you would entreat the world around you to be reconciled according to the same reconciliation that He has given to you. The very redemption that you have received is the light of redemption by which Jesus will compel your part of the world to be saved.

The establishment of the Church marked the beginning of the end. The Church, therefore, lays in wait for the Hope of the return of Jesus Christ our Lord. In that day, that final hour, He will defeat and conquer Satan according to His Word and Revelation, and establish, forever, the Kingdom that He will hand back to the Father in victory.

Let me exhort you, then, as good stewards of Christ’s reconciliation to build yourself up in your most holy faith and strengthen your knowledge of God.

May the following passages help you as you: