A Complete Redemption

When we ponder the wonderful, brilliant, plan of redemption that was in the mind of God the Father before creation (Ephesians 1:3-6), it staggers the mind. Why would the one and only true, holy, righteous, perfect, all knowing, almighty God the Word, (John 1:1, 14) choose to leave the glory of heaven, put on flesh, knowing that He would be rejected, beaten, mocked, and put to death, and go to the place of torment, and yet still come to earth to save humanity? Humanity, the only creature in all creation that chose to rebel against Him, serve His enemy, continuously commit all manner of evil and ultimately hate Him, so, why would God do such a thing? Because He wanted to share all that He is and has with the only creature in all of creation that He made in His image and likeness. God wanted a family.

Before Jesus rose from the dead, He was "justified in spirit" (1 Timothy 3:16), "made alive in spirit" (1 Peter 3:18), conquered Satan and stripped him of the authority of which he had robbed man in the Garden. We see the defeat of Satan and Christ's triumph as revealed in Colossians 2:15 "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them." The margin reads, "Having put off from himself the principalities and the powers." You see, Jesus when to Sheol (Psalm 16:10), Hades (Acts 2:17) to pay the price required by justice for man's redemption. Only God the Father knew what Jesus suffered until He had satisfied the claims of justice, had been made Righteous, and made a New Creation, the first born of all creation. (Colossians 1:15)

In that moment, Satan's dominion over Him ended. He hurled back the hosts of Hades. He crushed their death-dealing ability. He stripped Satan of his authority and left him paralyzed and broken. ( Matthew 12:29; Luke 11:21-22; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John  3:8) Then God raised Him from the dead, having taken from Satan the keys of hell and death. (Revelation 1:17-18) Try to imagine if we can, what was happening in the spiritual realm when Jesus rose from the dead, holding in His hand the keys of hell and of death having defeated Satan before his own cohorts. Hebrews tells us, "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:14) Another version says it this way, "Seeing therefore the children have received a fellowship of blood and flesh, He also, in like manner, took partnership in the same, in order that, through death, He might paralyze him that held the dominion of death, that is, the Adversary."

Redemption had come. Satan was defeated and the Father "has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love." (Colossians 1:13) That was the greatest moment in human history. That was a moment that will be remembered through all eternity. I believe that the angels must have celebrated before the Father's throne in greater jubilee than on the day Christ was born. Christ rising from the throes of hell in triumph meant the end of Satan's tyranny over humanity, man was now completely redeemed, and the claims of Justice were satisfied. God had legally and completely redeemed man. All the ages throughout eternity will remember the heroic battle that Jesus fought in order to prove to Satan and humanity that God was just. Now, on legal grounds, God has justified the ungodly, because His only begotten Son had redeemed them with His own blood and now offers all men, people, everywhere eternal life. The Apostle John tells us, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." (John 5:24) 

The old spiritual nature that linked man to Satan has ceased being, and a new nature, God's own nature, is imparted to everyone who believes. (2 Peter 1:2-4) Now, all believers are the children of God in the same manner that Jesus was His son in His earth walk. (John 1:12-13) The Apostle Paul tells us, "For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." (Romans 5:17 AMP) At one time, we were defeated, conquered, and held in bondage. Now, we are set free and in the name of Jesus we become the bondage-breakers for the rest of the human race. He has made us Masters where fear held us in captivity. We are now reigning as kings in this this life. The Father through Jesus Christ has taken us from slavery to the Throne. 

Have you freely received? Are you living in the abundant life that Jesus made possible? Are you free from shame, guilt, condemnation, and unworthiness? If not, take some time right now and ask the Father to touch you with His love. Ask Him to wash away the shame, guilt, condemnation, and unworthiness. Receive the freedom that comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. No longer let your past anchor you to your old nature, but live in the newness of life that is only found in Christ. Jesus has made redemption eternal, comprehensive, complete and available to all who come to Him. (Romans 10:13). The redemption He has accomplished is perfect and complete, providing a freedom in every sense of the word. "It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed]." (Galatians 5:1 AMP) May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you all your days.

Free Indeed

Sickness and disease came from the fall of Man. In other words, they are the byproducts of satanic dominion over man. Any redemptive act of God that would redeem us from Satan must also redeem us from sickness, disease, poverty and all manner of bondage, because they come from Satan. However, any redemptive act that fails to redeem us from these things, especially sickness and disease, is a limited redemption at best. So, what is the limit of redemption that God has provided through Jesus Christ? According to the Holy Spirit, speaking through the Prophet Isaiah, "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5) 

We can see the reality of this in the earth ministry of Jesus as the Son of Man as recorded by the Apostle Matthew, "When evening had come, they brought to Him (Jesus) many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.” (Matthew 8:16-17) Then we see a greater revelation of this through the Apostle Peter after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus to the right hand of the Father, "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed." (1 Peter 2:24) Basically, we see that which was to come, Isaiah; that which had come, Matthew; and that which is a finished work that continues to be, Peter.

Here is redemption. God dealt with the sin problem, (Isaiah 53:6) by substitution, through Jesus Christ and as we see in the scriptures shown above, He also dealt with the disease problem. If God laid our sin on Jesus Christ, it would be wrong for us to live in sin. In the same way, if God laid our
diseases on Him, it would be wrong for us to live under the continual dominion of disease. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." (Romans 8:11) The Holy Spirit who dwells in the believer will indeed heal these mortal bodies of ours. We see once again that healing is a part of the plan of redemption.

What about our needs? It is wrong for me to need clothing, food, and shelter, and not to have them? Jesus tells us, "For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things." (the necessities of life) (Matthew 6:32) Jesus goes on and says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33) The Apostle Paul tells us, "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19) Paul is also referring to the necessities of life. The word "supply" means, to make full; to cause to abound; to furnish or supply liberally. Therefore, "God shall supply all your need" means exactly what it says.

All of these issues deal with bondage. Bondage is defined as, the state of being a slave; the state of being bound by or subjected to some external power or control. So think about the measures that God took for humanity. God the Word became flesh (incarnate) (John 1:1, 12); He (Jesus) suffered on the cross; spent three days and nights in Hades; satisfied the claims of justice; subdued and triumphed over Satan, (Colossians 2:15) death and hell, (Revelation 1:18); was raised in victory from the dead, (Ephesians 1:19-21); ascended into the presence of the Father where He sat down at the Father's right hand; (Hebrews 1:3), and has made redemption both eternal and available for all mankind. (Colossians 1:13-14) With this in mind, it then seems to be almost a crime for us to remain in bondage, a slave to the devil, in any area of life, especially when we consider the depths of redemption. 

Jesus said, "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." (John 8:36) The Apostle Paul tells us, "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Corinthians 3:17) and "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." (Galatians 5:1) God declares that we are free! Unbelief does not change these facts. Ignorance of our rights and privileges cannot annul the Word or make it of no effect. God says we are free! Not only did God break Satan's dominion and power over us, He also translated us, (removed from one place to another), by the new birth, out of Satan's family and placed us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love, that is, into His own family. Therefore, Satan has no more right to reign over us than he has reign over Jesus.

So, let us make our confession of these wonderful truths, through the lips of faith. Let us declare, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption..." (Colossians 1:13-14) Hallelujah!!!