The Bible is a book of redemption. Although it is a book of history, science,
anthropology, and cosmogony, it is much more than that. It is the truth of salvation
and deliverance for lost mankind.
The idea of the word ‘redemption’ is two-fold. When using the 1828 Noah
Webster’s Dictionary, we can define ‘redemption’ as: to deliver from, to rescue. From
that definition we can believe that the word ‘redemption’ refers to the price paid for
that rescue, a ransom. If we are in Christ Jesus, we are redeemed not only from the
penalty of sin, but also we have the power over sin through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Our Lord paid the penalty for our sin upon the cross of Calvary; and we are
redeemed to a new freedom from sin, a new relationship with God, a new nature, a new
life!
When you read the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament,
the message is the same. The Bible reveals the redemptive atonement of Christ Jesus
the Lord. His blood is the sacrifice, is the ransom by which we are bought. (1
Corinthians 6:20) The Lord Jesus took our sin upon himself in order that He might
satisfy the demand of the law. His sacrifice is totally accepted as full payment for the
debt a sinner owes God. But it does not stop there. Jesus’ death (shedding of his own
blood) is accepted by God as our full and complete deliverance for mankind.
So now we see we are not only redeemed – “set free, rescued” from sin through
Christ Jesus our Lord, but we are free to have power over sin only through Jesus and
His shed blood.
Our Lord’ redemptive work is three-fold:
• Forgiveness – we have been given this through the redemptive price of Christ’s
death.
• Justification – we are ‘justified’ before God through our Lord’s deliverance.
Therefore, this deliverance establishes us in a restored position of favor before God.
• Power Over Sin – Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection promises us a final
deliverance from the power of sin at the coming of our Lord. But He promises that
while we are still earthbound, we can have true freedom over sin through His power
and the power of the Holy Spirit..
Therefore, this redemption of Jesus Christ our Lord is “The Scarlet Thread.”
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