Redemption in the New Testament

By Randy Harshbarger

The Apostle Paul gives us perhaps the most comprehensive, concise statement concerning redemption in all the New Testament in Romans 3:21-26. Read his words. "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set firth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbear­ance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Consider what Paul says.

First, a righteousness has been made known or made manifest apart from the law. Whether this is the Law of Moses or any law system, one's salvation is not dependent upon perfect lawkeeping. Paul is speaking of a righteousness that is possible for sin­ners. That is the condition all men find themselves to be in (Romans 3:10). If a man sought justification on the basis of law, he was obligated to keep the law perfectly; it then became a matter of debt, not grace (Romans 4:4). Paul tells us that this righteousness made possible in Christ was not a new thing; the Old Testament writers anticipated the time when God's Son would come to bring about our salvation. The Jew should not have been surprised, as this is the goal the Old Testament pointed toward.

Second, this righteousness of God is pos­sible through Jesus Christ. That is Christ is the means or the instrument through which this righteousness is appropriated. Philippi­ans 3:9 is a good commentary on this point. Paul wanted to be "...found in him, not hav­ing mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." By faith would include everything that is needful in accepting who Jesus Christ is. He is our Savior, our great High Priest, our King, our Lord. The good news is that while all have sinned, all men, whether Jew or Gentile, can enjoy the blessings Christ pro­vides. This justification is not upon the basis of law or works.

Third, men are redeemed in Christ. To be redeemed is to be justified, or judged to be righteous. In Christ, you are now free from guilt. This gift is freely bestowed. It is by God's grace. His loving kindness, His favor, His goodwill has been bestowed on each of us. We do not deserve it and we cannot merit the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. The ransom price has been paid. Christ paid with His own precious blood. We are deliv­ered, liberated, released from sin and its ef­fects. God can justify sinners because the price has been paid

Fourth, Christ is the propitiation for our sins. He makes it possible for the wrath of God to be averted. God's wrath is not capri­cious or arbitrary. It grows out of His righteousness. He must punish sin and He must reward righteousness. In Christ, God can now justify sinners. At the cross, God did not wink at sin; He forgave sin. Christ is the adequate basis for doing so. Thank God that Jesus paid it all. & (-via Stallings Drive Bulletin; Nacogdoches Texas)

God’s Will Is the Same

By Cecil F. Cox

God's will is the same. What I mean by that is that God's will is the same as it was yesterday. It has not changed. It is the same as it was last week ... last month... last year. It is the same as it was a thousand years ago. God's law has not changed in all this time. Jude 3 says,

"Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common sal­vation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints."

Observe here Jude exhorted these to "contend earnestly for the faith." "The faith" he said, was "once for all delivered." In de­fining the word translated "once" in this passage, J. H. Thayer in his Greek-English Lexicon says, "once, one time" and further discusses the word by saying, "used of what is so done as to be of perpetual validity and never need repetition, once for all." (p.54) The same word is used in Heb. 9:28 we read, "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many;..." Christ will not come again and again to offer Himself for our sins. He did that once and it is of perpetual validity and it does not need to be done over and over. So, God has revealed "the faith" to us "once" and He will not come again and again to reveal more of His will to us concerning our salvation. He did it once and His word is of perpetual validity and it does not need to be done over and over.

So, in view of this we do not look for any new doctrines. He will not add to what He has given and will not take away anything. He has already given His will. His law has not changed. This is not to say that God's law has never changed. It has!! In Heb. 7 we find a discussion of the priesthood of Christ.. The text shows that Christ was not a priest of the "Levitical priesthood". Under it the people received the law. It is pointed out in Hebrews 7 that Jesus was of the tribe of Judah and verse 14 says "...of which tribe Moses spake nothing of the priesthood." So, verse 12 says, "For the priesthood be­ing changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

Someone may ask, "How do you know that this new law we have in the New Testament will not be changed?” There are several reasons.

1. A Change is Forbidden. Gal. 1:6-9 "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be ac­cursed. As we said before, so say now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." 2 Jno. 9 "Whosoever trans­gresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son."

2. Eternal Life is Found in the Words of Jesus Christ "From that time many of his dis­ciples went bock, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life." (Jno. 6:68).

3. We Will Be Judged By The Words of Jesus Christ. “He that rejecteth me, and re­ceiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him; the word that I have spoken, tile same shall judge him in the last day." Do not ex­pect to meet these "latter day revelations" of man in the judgment.

4. And as we have already noticed, The Faith Has Been "Once For All Delivered To The Saints." Look again at Jude 3. According to this verse, God will not reveal to man any new doctrines. There will be no latter day revelations.

In spite of all that God has said (and in this short article we have not exhausted what the New Testament teaches on this matter) there are new doctrines and laws that men have originated and taught. But on this road we dare not travel. & (Gospel Power, Vol. XV, No. 36, Sept. 7, 2008)