'CHAPTER
XI.
REDEMPTION
However
closely salvation and redemption may be related in the gospel plan, there is a
difference between the two.
Salvation is a saving or keeping from, and
redemption is bringing back from.
The great
salvation through Christ is from death—the second death. The great redemption
is from mortality and death—the first death. The Lord promised to redeem his
people from death and the grave. Hos. 13:14.
Hos
13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them
from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction:
repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
But that
will not apply, strictly speaking, to Enoch and Elijah, as they were saved from
death; from going into the grave. But their redemption from mortality—from that
condition which brings mankind to the grave—was the same as that of others. It
is true that both these words have a different application from that here
noted; as, we are saved from sin, and redeemed from our vain conversation.
1Pe_1:18
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as
silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your
fathers
But such
application does not disprove the statement made in regard to the difference of
the terms, and of their general application. The apostle Paul says that we, who
have the first-fruits of the Spirit, are groaning for redemption. Rom. 8:23.
Rom
8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits
of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the
adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
And Jesus
instructs us, when we see the signs of his coming, to look up, and lift up our
heads; for our redemption draws nigh. Luke 21:28.
Luk
21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift
up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
By this we
see that the work of redeeming love is not yet done for the saints of God. The
grave yet holds in its cold embrace myriads of faithful ones, who died in hope.
They rested in the promise of God through Christ, and could say with Job, “I
know that my Redeemer liveth;” and with him they looked forward to the “better
resurrection.” Of the ancient worthies, now sleeping, Paul said: “These all,
having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise; God
having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be
made perfect.” Heb. 11:35, 39, 40.
They are
resting and waiting for the redemption for which we are waiting and groaning.
And the same apostle informs us that “the first-fruits of the Spirit” which we
have received, is also an assurance, “the earnest of our inheritance until the
redemption of the purchased possession.” Eph. 1:14.
When man
fell,—when sentence was pronounced upon him,
The
Atonement - 188
his
possession shared with him the curse. At the first he was given dominion over
the earth; but the Lord said: “Cursed is the ground for thy sake.” And when the
seed of the woman undertook to bruise the serpent’s head, he not only purchased
man with his blood, but he purchased his possession also, and with him it
remains to be redeemed. Satan may mar
the work of God, but he cannot thwart his purpose. God’s work will
finally be perfected, and the work of the devil will be destroyed. 1 John 3:8.
1Jn
3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from
the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might
destroy the works of the devil.
(To be
continued)
(Excerpt
from-) THE ATONEMENT PART SECOND:
THE
ATONEMENT AS REVEALED IN THE BIBLE
(1884)
BY ELDER J. H. WAGGONER
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