Pointing People to Forgiveness and Redemption through Jesus Christ
Forgiveness and redemption through Jesus Christ are central tenets of Christian theology, offering a path for humanity to be reconciled with God. Forgiveness involves the pardon of sins, while redemption signifies a "purchase back" from a lost state through the payment of a ransom [4, 5].
The New Testament emphasizes that knowledge of salvation comes through the forgiveness of sins [1]. This forgiveness is granted by God alone, and by Christ, through Christ's sacrifice [4]. The shedding of blood is presented as necessary for pardon, with the blood of Christ being uniquely efficacious where legal sacrifices and outward purifications were not [4]. Paul, in Acts 13:38, proclaims that through Jesus, there is forgiveness for sins [6].
Redemption, from the Greek apolutrosis, consistently carries the idea of a ransom or price paid [5]. This concept is seen in passages like Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45, where Christ states that he came "to give his life a ransom for many" [5].
Reconciliation, a change from enmity to friendship, is also a key aspect of this process [2]. While it can refer to a change in the sinner's disposition towards God, it primarily points to God's initiative in restoring the relationship [2]. God was "in Christ" to bring about this reconciliation, entrusting this message to his servants [7, 10]. Through Christ, God removed what stood between humanity and himself, making it possible for people to be made right with God [7]. This ministry of reconciliation is a responsibility for all believers, who are called to be Christ's ambassadors [7].
Access to God is made possible through Christ, by the Holy Spirit, and is obtained through faith [3]. This access follows reconciliation to God and allows believers to approach God with confidence to obtain mercy and grace [3]. Adam Clarke notes that God's actions in forgiving sinners serve as an encouragement for all generations, demonstrating that Christ saves all who come to God through him [8]. God's justice required a sacrifice, and his mercy provided that sacrifice in Christ, thus allowing him to be both just and the justifier of those who believe [9]. The way of salvation through Jesus Christ is described as God's "most excellent contrivance" for saving sinners [11].
Sources
- Luke “Luke 1:77 (BBE) — To give knowledge of salvation to his people, through the forgiveness of sins,”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Reconcilation — A change from enmity to friendship. It is mutual, i.e., it is a change wrought in both parties who have been at enmity. (1.) In Col. 1:21, 22, the word there used refers to a change wrought in the personal character of the sinner who ceases to be an enemy to God by wicked works, and yields up to him his full confidence and love. In 2 Cor. 5:20 the apostle beseeches the Corinthians to be "reconciled to God", i.e., to lay aside their enmity. (2.) Rom. 5:10 refers not to any change in our disposition toward God, but to God himself, as the party reconcile”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Access to God — Is of God -- Ps 65:4. Is by Christ -- Joh 10:7, 9; 14:6; Ro 5:2; Eph 2:13; 3:12; Heb 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1Pe 3:18. Is by the Holy Spirit -- Eph 2:18. Obtained through faith -- Ac 14:27; Ro 5:2; Eph 3:12; Heb 11:6. Follows upon reconciliation to God -- Col 1:21,22. In Prayer -- See Prayer. De 4:7; Mt 6:6; 1Pe 1:17. In his temple -- Ps 15:1; 27:4; 43:3; 65:4. To obtain mercy and grace -- Heb 4:16. A privilege of saints -- De 4:7; Ps 15:1; 23:6; 24:3,4. Saints have, with confidence -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16; 10:19,20. Vouchsafed to repenting sinners -- See Repen”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Pardon — Promised -- Isa 1:18; Jer 31:34; Heb 8:12; Jer 50:20. None without shedding of blood -- Le 17:11; Heb 9:22. Legal sacrifices, ineffectual for -- Heb 10:4. Outward purifications, ineffectual for -- Job 9:30,31; Jer 2:22. The blood of Christ, alone, is efficacious for -- Zec 13:1; 1Jo 1:7. Is granted By God alone. -- Da 9:9; Mr 2:7. By Christ. -- Mr 2:5; Lu 7:48. Through Christ. -- Lu 1:69,77; Ac 5:31; 13:38. Through the blood of Christ. -- Mt 26:28; Ro 3:25; Col 1:14. For the name's sake of Christ. -- 1Jo 2:12. According to the riches of grace. -- Eph 1:7. On”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Redemption — The purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is apolutrosis, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are instances in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament of the use of lutron in man's relation to man (Lev. 19:20; 25:51; Ex. 21:30; Num. 35:31, 32; Isa. 45:13; Prov. 6:35), and in the same sense of man's relation to God (Num. 3:49; 18:15). There are many passages in the New Tes”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 13:38: 13:38-41 Paul appealed for them to believe the message about Jesus, through whom there is forgiveness for your sins.”
- 2 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Corinthians 5:18: 5:18-21 God entrusts to his servants the message and ministry of reconciliation through Christ. • God has given us this task of reconciling people: Paul is speaking of his own ministry, but sharing this wonderful message is the responsibility of all believers. Christ’s ambassadors call people to accept what God has done so they can be made right with God through Christ. • Christ paid the penalty for people’s sins—to take away all that stood between God and humans and to make us right with God.”
- Ephesians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ephesians 2:7: That in the ages to come - God has produced us an example, and one which shall be on record through all generations, that he quickens dead souls; that he forgives the sins of the most sinful, when they repent and believe in Christ Jesus. So that what God has done for the sinners at Ephesus will serve as an encouragement to all ages of the world; and on this evidence every preacher of the Gospel may boldly proclaim that Christ saves unto the uttermost all that come unto God through him. And thus the exceeding riches of his grace will appear in the provision he has ”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 3:26: To declare, I say, at this time - To manifest now, by the dispensation of the Gospel, his righteousness, his infinite mercy; and to manifest it in such a way, that he might still appear to be the just God, and yet the justifier, the pardoner, of him who believeth in Jesus. Here we learn that God designed to give the most evident displays both of his justice and mercy. Of his justice, in requiring a sacrifice, and absolutely refusing to give salvation to a lost world in any other way; and of his mercy, in providing The sacrifice which his justice required. Thus, beca”
- 2 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 5:19: That God was in Christ - This is the doctrine which this ministry of reconciliation holds out, and the doctrine which it uses to bring about the reconciliation itself. God was in Christ: 1. Christ is the same as Messiah, the Anointed One, who was to be prophet, priest, and king, to the human race; not to the Jews only, but also to the Gentiles. There had been prophets, priests, and kings, among the Jews and their ancestors; and some who had been priest and prophet, king and priest, and king and prophet; but none have ever sustained in his own person the three”
- 2 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Peter 1:16: Here we have the reason of giving the foregoing exhortation, and that with so much diligence and seriousness. These things are not idle tales, or a vain thing, but of undoubted truth and vast concern. The gospel is not a cunningly devised fable. These are not the words of one who hath a devil, nor the contrivance of any number of men who by cunning craftiness endeavour to deceive. The way of salvation by Jesus Christ is eminently the counsel of God, the most excellent contrivance of the infinitely wise Jehovah; it was he that invented this way of saving sinners b”