Redemption
In last week's Bible study at Community Bible Study there is a question that says, "For what reason did God redeem us?".
There was a previous question asking to, by any source, define "redeem". I like using dictionary.com because it's quick and easy and is a lot lighter than my big book dictionary. There's even a theological definition included which says, "to save from a state of sinfulneses and its consequences". However, even a secular definition has a theological impact: "to recover ownership of by paying a specified sum". The Lord created us, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture (Psalm 100:3).
The "For what reason" question is interesting because I believe it looks at the character of God. It looks at His motivation. God didn't have to redeem us; he is soveriegn and no one else is telling Him to do so.
The answer that came to me was simply, "Because of his unfathomable love". In Ephesians 3:17b-18 it says: "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
Going back to the definition of redeem we can say that the specified sum was Christ on the cross. Knowing that the Lord as put such a high price on us to redeem us should encourage us in how we value ourselves and others. It's not self-worth, it's God's worth. It's not self-confidence, it's God's confidence. And Jesus says we are more valueable than the birds of the air or the flowers in the fields. (Matthew 6:25-26)
Again I'm led to say how vital it is to thoroughly study the scriptures. Ideally it is participating in a mid-week Bible study that draws you to study at home each day, like Community Bible Study, or Bible Study Fellowship, or Lifelight, or even if your church has a mid-week small group study. If you cannot find such a structured study then I pray the Lord draws you to take it upon yourself, or gather a few from church and study. Don't just sit in church and think you are studying the Bible. Look at the Bereans, it says in Acts 17:11 "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."
There was a previous question asking to, by any source, define "redeem". I like using dictionary.com because it's quick and easy and is a lot lighter than my big book dictionary. There's even a theological definition included which says, "to save from a state of sinfulneses and its consequences". However, even a secular definition has a theological impact: "to recover ownership of by paying a specified sum". The Lord created us, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture (Psalm 100:3).
The "For what reason" question is interesting because I believe it looks at the character of God. It looks at His motivation. God didn't have to redeem us; he is soveriegn and no one else is telling Him to do so.
The answer that came to me was simply, "Because of his unfathomable love". In Ephesians 3:17b-18 it says: "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
Going back to the definition of redeem we can say that the specified sum was Christ on the cross. Knowing that the Lord as put such a high price on us to redeem us should encourage us in how we value ourselves and others. It's not self-worth, it's God's worth. It's not self-confidence, it's God's confidence. And Jesus says we are more valueable than the birds of the air or the flowers in the fields. (Matthew 6:25-26)
Again I'm led to say how vital it is to thoroughly study the scriptures. Ideally it is participating in a mid-week Bible study that draws you to study at home each day, like Community Bible Study, or Bible Study Fellowship, or Lifelight, or even if your church has a mid-week small group study. If you cannot find such a structured study then I pray the Lord draws you to take it upon yourself, or gather a few from church and study. Don't just sit in church and think you are studying the Bible. Look at the Bereans, it says in Acts 17:11 "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."
posted by Gary at 5:40 AM
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