'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. 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 firstfruits 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.
Thus the
future work of redemption has two great objects to accomplish. And, as before
said, they who say the work of redemption is finished; who deny the great work
yet to be accomplished, rob the Redeemer of the glory of his work. It remains
for us to examine that work in respect to both these objects. And,
1. THE
REDEMPTION OF MAN
(To be
continued)
(Excerpt
from-) THE ATONEMENT PART SECOND:
THE
ATONEMENT AS REVEALED IN THE BIBLE
(1884)
BY ELDER J. H. WAGGONER
No comments:
Post a Comment