Redemption and salvation appear to be similar, but that is far from the truth. There could be no salvation until the redemptive act took place at Calvary. The Old Testament saints were saved through their faith in the promises of God and the coming Messiah. We, who live post Calvary, also are saved by faith in the promises of God and belief in the redemptive act of the Son of God.
All three Persons of the Godhead were involved in the work of both redemption and salvation. The Son offered himself as a sacrifice in obedience to the Father. The Spirit empowered, enabled and upheld the Son on the tree in order to accomplish our redemption and salvation. Then the Spirit raised Christ from the dead, Romans 8:11.
What is Redemption
Redemption is the act of buying back. It involves the idea of being rescued, or bought back from a state of spiritual and moral captivity, into a state of freedom and restoration.
It involves the recognition of all men being sinners and must wear the consequences for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, Romans 6:23. That death is not just physical but also spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God.
Result of Sin
Man was created in the image of God to display the glory of God and to be in fellowship with the Great I Am That I Am, Exodus 3:3. However, Adam disobeyed God and sin entered the entire human race, Genesis 3. Adam did not know death prior to his disobedience.
Sinful man has no way of being reconciled with a holy God. From the death of the first animals in Genesis 3:21, when God provided skin coverings for Adam and Eve, man felt the need to offer sacrifice for death is a reality. The writer of Hebrews wrote, According to the Law, you may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness, Hebrews 9:23. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, Leviticus 17:11.
Satan gained power over man by default when Adam sinned. Christ bought sinful man back at Calvary, through the act of the shedding of His innocent blood.
Animal Sacrifices
The animal sacrifices in the Old Testament pointed to God’s eternal plan of the Lamb slain before the foundation of the earth, Revelation 13:8. Right at the point when man’s punishment was being announced, God gave the promise of man’s redemption through Christ. Satan’s eternal demise was also promised. He, Christ, shall bruise you on the head and you, Satan, shall bruise him on the heel, Genesis 3:15.
Only the Son of God had the currency to undo the wrong done in the Garden of Eden. Only He could make atonement for all the sin of the world, through the shedding of His sinless blood. Christ alone had the currency to buy mankind back and make reconciliation possible with a holy God.
At Calvary the penalty of sin was paid and the justice of God was met. God could not just forgive man, for God cannot go against any of His attributes. His holiness and justice, love and mercy had to all be maintained.
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was the redemptive act that allows all sinful men to be declared righteous before a holy God. However, only through faith in what Christ did at Calvary are we justified and reconciled in the sight of God, Romans 5:1.
Salvation
Salvation is preservation, or deliverance from harm. It is the undeserved deliverance from eternal damnation and restoration to a covenantal relationship with the Father. Man must acknowledge he is a sinner with no way out, except by believing in the redemptive act of Christ.
At the Father’s request the Son of God came to earth in the form of a man. The Father so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life, John 3:16. Jesus Christ paid the price but we have to accept the free gift of salvation. We have a bank account in heaven, but we have to make the withdrawal.
External verses Internal
Redemption is an external act by another, while salvation is internal. There are many people who accept that Jesus Christ was a real person, but just a prophet, not the Son of God. They do not accept the act of His life, death and resurrection as the only price of their redemption.
We have to acknowledge that we are a sinner, repent of that sin and ask God’s forgiveness. Only then can God wipe the slate clean of our wrong doing. Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson they will be like wool, Isaiah 1:18.
The Colours
The colours, scarlet and red, were a rare and very expensive commodity as they were produced from the dried bodies of the scale insect, kermes. These colours were only worn by royalty and high-ranking officials. Crimson being a deeper and darker shade, while scarlet is brighter and more vivid.
The two colours represent both royalty and the forgiveness of sin. Only the shed blood of the King of Kings could remove the stain and shame of sin. The shedding of His innocent blood sanctifies those who believe in Him, Hebrews 13:12.
When we accept the external act of Christ’s act of redemption and internalize it through accepting God’s gift of salvation, Ephesians 2:9, we become a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. A people for God’s own possession, 1Peter 2:9.
Such Treasure
God always knew that Adam would fail, for He knows the end from the beginning, Isaiah 46:10. However, He had an eternal plan of redemption and salvation from before the foundation of the world. This great treasure is available for all who believe in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. How can so many refuse to give their life back to the One who gave them life in the beginning?
Nature itself reveals the wonder and majesty of the all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere-present God. No one will have an excuse when they finally face their Maker, Romans 1:20,21. There will come a time when every person who has ever lived must answer for their decision concerning God’s redemptive act and gift of salvation. Our time on earth is merely a testing ground as to whether we accept or reject the One who made us.
Give Thanks
It is no wonder the psalmist wrote I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart. I will tell of your wonderful deeds, Psalm 9:1. Every day of our lives we should give thanks for God’s love that is beyond comprehension, for while we were sinners, Christ died for us, Romans 5:8. We are to walk in the light as He is in the light, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin, 1 John 1:7. We are forgiven from all sin, so let us walk as children of light, worthy of the name Christian, authentic follower of Jesus Christ.
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