The Gospel of Redemption and Human Freedom in Theology
The gospel of redemption centers on the belief that humanity, entangled in sin, is set free through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. This redemption is not earned but is a gratuitous act of God's grace [4]. The Apostle Paul articulates this in Romans 3:24, stating that believers are "justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ" [1]. This concept of redemption is foundational to Christian theology, addressing the human condition of spiritual captivity and offering liberation.
Redemption, in a theological sense, signifies a deliverance from the bondage of sin, Satan, and the law [8]. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, explains that this deliverance encompasses all sin—original and actual—which holds individuals captive in their natural state and subjects them to the punishment of death [3]. Through Christ's sacrifice, sin is "taken, and put away, finished, and made an end of," freeing believers from its damning power and the obligation to punishment [3]. This freedom also extends to liberation from the "enslaving governing power" of sin [3]. The concept of redemption is often linked with justification, which is the act of being declared righteous by God. Justification is described as being "freely" given by God's grace, meaning it is bestowed "without anything done on our part to deserve" it [4]. This grace is understood as God's "free love" [4].
The mechanism of this redemption is through a "ransom" paid by Christ's death [4]. Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown, in their Presbyterian commentary on Romans, emphasize that while justification is gratuitous, it is not merely a divine decree but is "based on a 'Redemption,' that is, 'the payment of a Ransom,' in Christ's death" [4]. This understanding highlights the costliness of redemption, even though it is freely given to humanity. The resurrection of Jesus serves as God's "assurance" or pledge that His revelation is true and worthy of acceptance [2]. This assurance, described as pistis in Greek, is generally rendered as "faith" [2].
The gospel message, which includes the doctrine of redemption, is presented as the "word of truth" [7]. It consists of "doctrines full of comfort to distressed minds, such as free justification by the righteousness of Christ, full pardon by his blood, and complete satisfaction by his sacrifice" [7]. This message is not "of deceit" or "fallacious" but is the truth as it is in Jesus [7]. The reception of this gospel leads to a "professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ," which is described as the "doctrine of grace, life, and salvation by Christ" [6].
Human freedom, in the context of redemption, is understood not as an inherent ability to choose salvation independently, but as a liberation from the spiritual bondage of sin into a new state of spiritual freedom. Before redemption, humanity is held captive by sin [3]. The redemption offered through Christ frees individuals from this captivity, enabling a genuine response of faith and obedience. Paul's own experience illustrates this transition from legal bondage to Christian freedom, which he describes as instantaneous, with the "bands of Pharisaism" being "loosed instantaneously" [5]. This freedom is characterized by a righteousness that comes "from God (resting) upon faith," rather than an "own righteousness" derived from the law [5].
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in enabling believers to experience the joy and peace that come from this redemption. The "God of hope" fills believers "with all joy and peace in believing," leading them to "abound in hope" [9]. This is achieved "through the power of the Holy Ghost," to whom it belongs "to inspire believers with all gracious affections" in the economy of redemption [9]. This highlights that human freedom to embrace and live out the redeemed life is empowered by divine agency.
The concept of "full assurance of faith" (Hebrews 10:22) is described as a "fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt" [2]. Similarly, "full assurance of understanding" (Colossians 2:2) refers to an "entire unwavering conviction of the truth of the declarations of Scripture, a joyful steadfastness on the part of any one of conviction that he has grasped the very truth" [2]. These assurances are outcomes of the redemptive work, allowing believers to live in confidence and certainty regarding their salvation and God's truth.
Sources
- Romans “Romans 3:24 (Webster) — Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ:”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Assurance — The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:31) is the "assurance" (Gr. pistis, generally rendered "faith") or pledge God has given that his revelation is true and worthy of acceptance. The "full assurance [Gr. plerophoria, full bearing'] of faith" (Heb. 10:22) is a fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt. The "full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2) is an entire unwavering conviction of the truth of the declarations of Scripture, a joyful steadfastness on the part of any one of conviction that he has grasped the very truth. The "full assurance ”
- Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 1:14: In whom we have redemption,.... Which is an excellent and wonderful blessing of grace saints have in and by Christ; and lies in a deliverance from sin, all sin, original and actual, under which they are held captive, in a state of nature, and by which they are made subject to the punishment of death; but through the sacrifice of Christ it is taken, and put away, finished, and made an end of; and they are freed from the damning power of it, or any obligation to punishment for it; and in consequence of this are delivered from the enslaving governing power of it by h”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 3:24: justified freely--without anything done on our part to deserve. by his grace--His free love. through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus--a most important clause; teaching us that though justification is quite gratuitous, it is not a mere fiat of the divine will, but based on a "Redemption," that is, "the payment of a Ransom," in Christ's death. That this is the sense of the word "redemption," when applied to Christ's death, will appear clear to any impartial student of the passages where it occurs.”
- Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 3:9: be found in him--"be found" at His coming again, living spiritually "in Him" as the element of my life. Once lost, I have been "found," and I hope to be perfectly "found" by Him (Luk 15:8). own righteousness . . . of the law-- (Phi 3:6; Rom 10:3, Rom 10:5). "Of," that is, from. righteousness . . . of God by faith--Greek, "which is from God (resting) upon faith." Paul was transported from legal bondage into Christian freedom at once, and without any gradual transition. Hence, the bands of Pharisaism were loosed instantaneously; and opposition to”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 9:13: Whiles by the experiment of this ministration,.... That is, the poor saints at Jerusalem having a specimen, a proof, an experience of the liberality of the Gentile churches ministered to them by the apostles, first, they glorify God; by giving thanks unto him, acknowledging him to be the author of all the grace and goodness which they, and others, were partakers of; particularly for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the doctrine of grace, life, and salvation by Christ, of which he is the author, as God, the subject m”
- 1 Thessalonians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Thessalonians 2:3: For our exhortation,.... Or "consolation"; for the ministry of the Gospel, which is here meant, consists of doctrines full of comfort to distressed minds, such as free justification by the righteousness of Christ, full pardon by his blood, and complete satisfaction by his sacrifice; as well as of exhortations to the exercise of grace and discharge of duty: and this was not of deceit; or "error", was not "fallacious", as the Ethiopic version renders it; it consisted of nothing but truth, it was the word of truth, and the truth as it is in Jesus; nor did it pr”
- Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 1:27: Zion shall be redeemed with judgment,.... The blessing of redemption by Christ is the source and foundation of the other blessings of grace, before mentioned, the little remnant are favoured with, as justification, pardon of sin, and conversion, Isa 1:18, Isa 1:25 it is of a spiritual nature; the redemption of the soul is a deliverance from the captivity of sin, Satan, and the law, and is plenteous and eternal; the objects of redeeming grace are "Zion" and her converts; not the world, but the church is redeemed by Christ; for by Zion is meant, not a place, but peopl”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 15:13: Now, &c.--This seems a concluding prayer, suggested by the whole preceding subject matter of the epistle. the God of hope--(See on Rom 15:5). fill you with all joy and peace in believing--the native truth of that faith which is the great theme of this epistle (compare Gal 5:22). that ye may abound in hope--"of the glory of God." (See on Rom 5:1). through the power of the Holy Ghost--to whom, in the economy of redemption, it belongs to inspire believers with all gracious affections. On the foregoing portion, Note, (1) No Christian is at libert”