REDEMPTION

CONFUSION ABOUT REDEMPTION

Thursday, August 13, 2015

                John 3:16-21 For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. 18 He who believes on Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who practices truth comes to the Light so that his works may be revealed, that they exist, having been worked in God.

Romans 16:25-27 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel [good message], and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery, having been unvoiced during eternal times; 26 but now has been made plain, and by the prophetic Scriptures, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith; 27 to God only wise be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

  Though the word “mystery” is in the NT, it is not used in the OT. But mystery it was as even God’s prophets as they faithfully spoke and penned His Word did not comprehend what it all meant. It was not until Lord Jesus Christ’ advent and departure that “revelation of the mystery” came to being.

  Even today, God’s Way, Truth, and Life remain a mystery to those refusing His redemption. (Common refusal is by doing nothing; not motion as condemnation is the existent position. Jn.3:18)

  Jesus explained to those believing on Him “… To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. But to those outside, all these things are given in parables so that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.” (Mk.4:11-12)

  The common characteristic of those hearing by ear but not hearing in heart is they hold ideas about Jesus and His redemption that are absolutely contrary to God’s Word.

  The Apostle Paul explained that he became a servant of the church when God gave him the work of telling people God’s complete message; the mystery in the past that God hid, but now has revealed to his people. (Jn.1:12; Col.1:25-26)

  Be not confused, trusting Lord Jesus Christ we gain His redemption . . . and the message becomes our responsibility to hold forth: “Clearly, Christ's love guides us. We are convinced of the fact that one man has died for all people. Therefore, all people have died. He died for all people so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for the man who died and was brought back to life for them. So from now on we don't think of anyone from a human point of view. If we did think of Christ from a human point of view, we don't anymore. Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence. God has done all this. He has restored our relationship with him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships. In other words, God was using Christ to restore his relationship with humanity. He didn't hold people's faults against them, and he has given us this message of restored relationships to tell others. Therefore, we are Christ's representatives, and through us God is calling you. We beg you on behalf of Christ to become reunited with God. God had Christ, who was sinless, take our sin so that we might receive God's approval through him.” (GW 2Cor.5:14-21) 

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