Redemption

Sabbath School Lesson – Memory Verse: Matthew 20:28

“Even as the Son of man came not be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

>> Download the PDF for your studies below.

It remains very important that we understand and continue to learn about redemption. Redemption is the purchase of deliverance from sins. It is an exchange for something of value. The soul of man is of the greatest value. When the faith journey begins, there is an excitement about the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life that is given in the faith of Jesus Christ. But there are so many things which work to distract us and/or distort our continual growth in Christ. Yes, it happens. No matter how long we have been in the faith of Jesus Christ, there are devices to hinder our faith and knowledge of redemption. (Romans 3:24-31)

God in his authority ordained the course in the birth, death, and resurrection of his only begotten son for our redemption. Redemption was made with the purchase of the blood of Jesus Christ. It is through him that we are saved, that we can hasten before God, and plead in a prayer of confession. Salvation in Jesus is the core belief of our faith. From this core, we grow in our faith with him. Jesus died once for all, “entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us”. (Hebrews 9:12)

Adam, the first man, was to live in peace and harmony. He was given a beautiful peaceful home in the Garden of Eden. Eve, his wife, was created with his rib. God just didn’t place him in the Garden with no instructions. God told him what to do and the outcome if he disobeyed. The divine plan to live in harmony with God’s will, did not happen. Eve succumbed to the temptation of Satan. Even though she was held accountable for her sin, the judgment was on Adam because he was the head of the woman. As a result of his disobedience to God, they were banished from the beautiful Garden of Eden. (Genesis Chapters 1-4)

The banishment from the Garden of Eden clearly demonstrates God’s hatred for sin. As the nation of Israel was being developed, the prophets, priest and other spiritual leaders were instructed by God to offer various types of sacrifices as a petition to forgive sins. A sacrifice was needed to atone for sins. (Hebrews 9:11-15)

Jesus Christ was the perfect sacrificial lamb slain for the sins of the world. Because of the shedding of his blood, we have the excellent plan of redemption. The forgiveness of our sins was paid with the blood of Christ. We should never forget. There is nothing that no man can add or take away from salvation in the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12)

In the sacrificial law, the sins of the people were imputed (charged) on animals. The blood of animals had no power to put away sins. It was necessary until the time was fulfilled, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” The blood of Christ has power to put away sins, it is most effective. It has the power to save all who will believe in his life-giving sacrifice. (Isaiah 7:14; Hebrews 9:22)

Salvation is extremely personal. It is a confession of faith that only an individual can make to Jesus. No man, no matter what position he holds in this world, can do for us what Christ has done. When the believer accepts Jesus as his Lord and Savior, he repents from his sinful life. He becomes a new creature in Christ. “I die daily” means that our will must decrease, so that his will can be manifested in us. (I Corinthians 15:31)

Adam the man of disobedience – Sin entered into the world – The sin of Adam, God’s first man changed the course of this world forever. From the beginning it was God’s intent for man to live in peace. He was to enjoy all the beautiful creations that God had made just for him. When God gave Adam specific instructions about which tree to eat, he was forbidden to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, “thou shalt not eat of it”. Adam bears the guilt of that sin, not Eve, because man was given the charge of his family and all things that God had created. The fall of Adam is why we need redemption. (Genesis 2:17)

Jesus Christ the man of obedience – Eternal life was born into the world. God did not leave us in a hopeless state. At the same time, he pronounced the judgment on Adam and Eve, he gave hope of a brighter future. Christ was prophesied in Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thy seed and her seed: It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Satan will be destroyed. Jesus will be wounded. Through 42 generations Jesus was born to redeem us to our heavenly Father. “And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he will save his people from their sins.” He took on death to save us. (Matthew 1:21)