REDEMPTION
Introduction
Redemption as a theme in the bible is one that seems to go through a transitional phase. The idea in this case is a representation of freedom, setting free from bondage or exchange of something that one has in their possession for another that is in another person’s possession. The concept in this case can best be defined as a sort of ransoming or trade off. Both the writers in the Old Testament as well as those in the New Testament differently interpret and expound on this theme. The concepts adopted by both sides remain the same to date; however, the events that surround the interpretation from both sides bring out two very different interpretations of the same concept.
The Old Testament
The Old Testament authors depicted redemption as deliverance. This was supposed to be from bondage. This deliverance however was on the condition that a price is paid by a redeemer, thus the Hebrew definition pada gaal kapar. Pada in this case was to mean substitution which often took the form of human life or animal which was to be delivered. The term was also used to denote the firstborn. The books of Exodus and Numbers in the Old Testament highlight the fact that all firstborns God or Yahweh; whether they were animal or human (Bromiley et.al, 1986, Pg 19).
It was therefore logical that they were to be offered to God. As far as the animals were concerned, those in this position that were considered to be clean would subsequently be sacrificed. Those considered unclean would however be redeemed first. However, the redemption of firstborn humans was different; they were to either substitute an animal or part with a fixed sum. People condemned to death would also find redemption through the payment of parti...
... middle of paper ...
...om. In this case, he is depicted to have paid the ultimate price so that humanity can be delivered from the clutches of evil (Top of Form
Bauer & Johannes, 1970, p.64). As a bonus his death not only offers redemption for mankind but also introduces the aspect of new life. Starting over and new life is not an aspect discussed in the Old Testament. Finally despite the perfection of Christ’s redemption of mankind, believers will have to wait until the return of Christ for this particular redemption to be complete.
Conclusion
The concept of redemption is pretty much the same in both the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. However, the writers of both testaments had their own interpretation as to this particular concept. This is the case of a concept that is as similar it is different as depicted by the different biblical authors because of the different settings.
In The Unfolding Drama of The Bible, Anderson says, “The new heaven and the new earth”(83). As Jesus died for man and woman he restored the perfect world. By Jesus doing so one can receive everlasting life in heaven. Being saved by grace through faith allows for anyone to be saved. One is not saved by his works man and woman are saved by their faith alone. To wrap up the Bible Jesus died for humans everlasting life in heaven by believing and trusting in him.
The most popular understanding of the atonement today is the theory of “penal substitution.” The concept and idea of a wrathful God who can only have his anger at wicked sinners only appeased through bringing about the violent death of his Son on the cross – forms the basis of much Evangelical thinking, although it was not a view held by the early church. Penal substitution first emerged with Anselm in the 11th century. It was substantially shaped by John Calvin in the Reformation Era but was ultimately finalized by Charles Hodge who lived in the 19th century in the United States; he taught at Princeton Seminary for fifty years. Charles Hodge explains to us how penal substitution provides deliverance from the power of sin and Satan, something more directly associated with Christus Victor model of atonement. (p. 144). Jesus took the punishment because the law was broken and somebody has the pay the crime. Historically the word “satisfaction” does not mean grafication as in common usage, but rather “to make restitution”: mending what has been broken, paying back what was taken and can be connected with the legal concept of balancing out an injustice according to Anselm. From the legal aspect the purpose of satisfaction is not heal us or restore us inwardly, but is rather to satisfy society.
1985. “An Interpretation of Sacrifice in Leviticus” in Anthropological Approaches to the Old Testament. Ed., Bernhard Lane.
Restoration allows humanity to have a relationship with God and be forgiven of our sins so that humanity can be welcomed into the kingdom of Heaven. Without restoration, humanity would lose all ties with God and would not be able to be saved by Him when judgment day comes. Restoration is extended to all people but those who seek forgiveness of their sins will be able to use the restoration to their advantage. Just because God forgives us of our mistakes does not mean that we do not have to repent. Humanity is going to sin no matter how hard we try not to. It is what we do after we sin that will lead us away from God or bring us closer. “Sometimes we are determinedly ignorant of what we are doing...It is the small wrong step that is so easy, the small deviation from the path that we cannot imagine will lead us even farther from our goal” (Shuster, 2013). Sometimes when we sin we do not realize that we are getting off the path of God, and how easy it is to do so. When we sin we will be forgiven when we repent which will help us gain entry into the kingdom of
For Israel’s existence as the covenant people of God sacrifice was necessary as the existence of sin and impurity threatened their relationship with God (Rooker 2000:49). The process and act of sacrifice was prescribed by God as a means purging impurity caused by sin. This would result in forgiveness and the restoration of the relationship between God and the sinner (Arnold & Beyer 1999:124).
When confronted by the prophet Nathan, David was asked, “Why have you despised the word of the Lord by doing evil in His sight” (2 Samuel 12:9)? Oh, how those words must have cut deep into the man after God’s own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14) The revelation of his sin caused him to seek repentance; the deep-cleansing-healing-restoration kind. Aren’t you thankful for a merciful God? One Who is willing to bring the very same deep-cleansing-healing-restoration to anyone who has found themselves snagged by one
stories treat the jews more like animals than humans. In addition sacrifice is also a similar
What exactly does the term redemption actually mean? M. Wayne Clark, in his editorial titled “Redemption: Becoming More Human” in Expository Times, gives his own thoughts and ideas on what this word really means. Clark says that this word has several specific meanings. One of these is that “‘redemption is salvation from the states or circumstances that destroy the value of human existence itself’” (76). This is saying that this term is about being forgiven for past sins and crimes that someone has committed. Sins and crimes are known to be very fragile to someone’s right to exist as a human. Clark says another way that redemption can be defined is that it is a type of forgiveness that removes someone’s sha...
In Judaism, God is seen as having a contractual relationship with the Jewish people where they must obey his holy laws in return for their status of the chosen people. God rewards or punishes Jewish people based on whether they obey or disobey his will. In parts of the Old Testament, however, God does show mercy or forgiveness, and in later interpretations God’s laws such as the Ten Commandments are followed
In Judaism, God is seen as having a contractual relationship with the Jewish people where they must obey his holy laws in return for their status of the chosen people. God rewards or punishes Jewish people based on whether they obey or disobey his will. In parts of the Old Testament, however, God does show mercy or forgiveness, and in later interpretations God’s laws such as the Ten Commandments are followed not only out of loyalty to God but also because of their high moral character.
As a one reads through the Old Testament, he will find the story as it unfolds of the children of Israel. Beginning in the book of Exodus the children of Israel are in Egyptian bondage and being forced to work as slaves. God appears to Moses in a burning bush and tells him that He [God] has heard His people and He is going to deliver them out of bondage. God at that time tells Moses that He has chosen him to be the leader of this people. After God brings ten plagues against Egypt the children of Israel are driven out of the land, and God promises to lead them to a land “flowing with milk and honey.” On their way to the “Promised Land” they cross the Red Sea in which Pharaoh and the Egyptian army is defeated by God. Then they go to Mount Sinai to receive the Law. After receiving the law they then go to the Promised Land, and there Moses sends twelve spies into the land. Ten of these spies come back and give a bad report to Moses and the children of Israel. Since they did this Israel was punished by God and made to wonder in the wilderness for forty years during which time all who were over the age of twenty perished. The only two that did not die was Caleb and Joshua who had come back with a good report, and told Moses and the children of Israel to go up at once and take the land. Once they had completed the wilderness wondering they returned to the Promised Land and took the land under the new leadership of Joshua. However, Israel did not drive out all the inhabitants as the Lord God had commanded them, thus the inhabitants that were not driven out would be a snare to them. Once they had established themselves in the land they began to chase after the gods of the inhabitants before them. God then sent judges to deliver them which ...
In the days of Christ’s life on this earth, believers did not have access to the Bible in its entirety as we know and are familiar with today. Believers in this ancient time period only had access to the Old Testament. However, through their access to the Old Testament, believers were provided a foundation for New Testament times. This foundation provided New Testament believers with the Lord’s established principles of right and wrong they were expected to follow. In addition, the Old Testament is overflowing with accounts of people whose lives exemplified the future life of Christ on this earth. These pictures allowed the Israelite nation to begin to have an understanding of why Christ needed to come as their Messiah and the work He needed to do on earth. Finally, there are common themes that are interwoven throughout the entire Old Testament. Three of these themes: transgression, redemption, and consummation point to the purpose of Christ’s atoning death on the cross. These themes portray God’s work both in the lives of Old Testament believers, but they also foreshadow God’s desire and plan for believers in New Testament times and beyond.
Surveying the Old Testament reveals the theme of God’s faithfulness to his people. In light of this understanding, the restoration of the Israelites prophesized in the Old Testament is essentially the fulfillment of every covenant with God. This perspective relates to the work of Christ and encourages any follower of God to trust in his faithfulness.
Wrath and salvation (Greathouse, 119). His wrath is a current reality, found in Romans 1:18. Yet in spite of the unfaithfulness of humanity, God is capable of keeping his covenant promise by “reestablishing his lordship over creation” (118). He takes sin’s power and breaks it; making the sinner clean and reconciling the broken relationship. Different from the justice seen in the daughter of Zeus, God’s justice is here seen as being equivalent to his righteousness. “A righteousness only God can provide” (118). The saving power of God, which is put forth as a part of his righteousness, is equivalent to his integrity. “He acts in complete conformity with his character” (119) as loving and
as for Childs is how one gets to understand what the nature of the Old Testament is. This is in comparison to the community’s authority and also the community that had helped shape it and also preserve it. The relationship that existed between the increasing biblical writings and parts of Israel were completely dialectical, it was the word that had given the community content and form.