Printer-friendly version

The fall of man was a catastrophic event. A peaceful, beautiful world was plunged into despair and misery. A bountiful, helpful earth was turned into a bed of thorns and thistles. Even the animals and humans which populated the earth and heretofore had lived in peaceful coexistence, would soon be turned one against another, creating violence and strife which would not cease for thousands of years. After their sin, Adam and Eve heard God walking in the garden, and, now knowing their sinfulness, vainly strove to conceal themselves. But God called them out and pronounced the dreadful curse upon the earth. The days of joy were ended.

Even in the curse, however, God hinted at the redemption He had planned for man. Although He had turned man to destruction, He would make a way for man to return to Him. “Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.” (Psalm 90:7) God would not allow the devil to have his way, to work his destruction among men; instead, He would send a Saviour to redeem man and conquer the devil.

However, the redemption was not an excuse for man’s sin. Instead, it was a manifestation of God’s power, love, and of His unalterable plan for humanity, as well as a destruction of the devil’s plans. It exalted God and put the devil to shame. Thus, it is probably significant that the prophecy of the future redemption is found in the curse on the devil. “And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:14-15)

But while redemption does not excuse man’s sin, it does forgive his sin. It does cleanse his life. It does purge his wickedness. “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) Redemption originates from God, and it is a manifestation of God’s character, yet it acts upon man. Redemption is God’s reclamation of that which is His own, yet man finds an eternal benefit in it. Redemption is God’s work in God’s way according to God’s will, yet it is man’s only hope.

Redemption comes through Christ. “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:30-31) “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” (Hebrews 9:15) Without Christ redemption cannot come, for it is His death that redeemed us. He forever defeated the devil that had deceived man and atoned for the sins of mankind. “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” (John 12:31) “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” (Romans 5:15) Unless we both accept the fact of Christ’s great redemption, and act upon that reality, we will not find a way to purge our sins and escape the effects of the fall.

Christ’s redemption is the Christian’s hope. It is only through Him and His work that we can attain to peace with God.