… who gave himself as a ransom for all people.
Summary: Understanding biblical concepts can be a challenge. We don’t often pay a ransom, but we do occasionally pawn something, and the two are very similar.
If the Gospel is so simple, why does it always sound complicated?
Paul has just finished saying that we should pray to God because it pleases him. Then he adds that God wants all people to be saved and know the truth. After that, Paul adds that in addition to God, there is a mediator, Christ Jesus, “who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”
A “ransom” is the price for redemption.
“Redemption” is the word for someone or something that has been “redeemed.”
To “redeem” someone or something, you have to pay a ransom. When that has been done, we can say that redemption has occurred.
Confused?
Let’s use a pawn shop as an illustration.
Imagine that money is tight. (That is not hard for many of us!) Now imagine something happens, and you are desperately in need of money. Let’s imagine that an unexpected electric bill shows up in the mail, and if it’s not paid, the lights go out — literally!
Thinking quickly, you take the one thing you own that is worth anything, your wedding ring, and head for the pawn shop. They give you enough money for the electric bill, but now you have to get the ring back, so you work double shifts at your job and pick up a newspaper route on the side.
It seems like forever before you have enough money to buy back the ring, but finally the day comes. With your money in one hand and the pawn ticket in the other, you go back to the pawn shop to buy back the ring.
The money is the ransom you need to pay. The moment the ring is back in your hand, redemption has occurred. You have redeemed the ring.
Because of what happened back in the days of Adam and Eve, you and I are separated from God. Instead of being in a relationship with the Father, we prefer our own company instead. Until, that is, we discover that we need our Father’s love for life to have real meaning.
The problem is that the price for redemption is our life. Obviously, if we pay with our lives, there is nothing left. We die apart from God, and our spirits never find rest.
This is why Jesus died for you and me. He paid the price, the ransom, and gave up his life so we don’t have to.
Application: Thank the Lord Jesus for life!
Food for Thought: Why did God raise Jesus from the dead after he gave his life for us?
First of all, I like your analogy.
The death, resurrection and ascension of Christ are a package deal. Since Jesus was willing to die for us, that shows the He is truly good and deeply cares about us. But without the resurrection, we have a God who really cares but doesn’t have the power to raise the dead. Jesus would still be lost and so would we. Through the resurrection, we see that not only does He care, but has the power to do something about it.
Without the resurrection we have a dead God. But He is the living God. And He reigns as King of the universes and sustains us by His powerful word. His resurrection and ascension shows that He is a living, actively reigning or Sovereign King. We didn’t only need His help at the cross, we need His help for every breath. He died to pay our debt, He rose to show His power over death, and He ascended on high to intercede for us and rule over everything – including our lives today.
1 Corinthians 15: 12 – 20: But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Hebrews 1: 1 – 3: In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Romans 1: 1 – 4: Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life a was a descendant of David, 4and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Colossians 1: 15 – 17: Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life a was a descendant of David, 4and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power b by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Thank you, Rich.
You are right! It is a “package deal.” It would be like redeeming the ring but not having the strength to carry it home.
Like R, my mind went to 1 Corinthians 15. See also Romans 6:1-14.
Thank you, JEC!
Always good to hear from you!
Perhaps the key verse from the passage you referenced is this:
“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.” (Romans 6:8-9)
Good meditation and good comments this morning.
Why did God raise Jesus from the dead after he gave his life for us?
In raising Jesus from the dead, God demonstrated that His sacrifice was sufficient to pay our debt. He continually demonstrates this as well by raising us to new life through Christ.
Romans 4:25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
In raising Jesus from the dead, God demonstrated that Jesus is worthy to be the Son of God in power and Lord of all.
Romans 1:4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
In raising Jesus from the dead, God demonstrated that Jesus has been given the authority to rule.
Ephesians 1:19-23
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Through the resurrection we can have assurance and believe that the debt of sin has been paid, Jesus is worthy of and is Lord of all, and has been given all authority by God. God raised Jesus from the dead so we could believe in Him, trust in Him, and be saved.
Romans 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
And what is the Will of Jesus our Lord? The Will of the Father; To reconcile us to God.
John 6:40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life
Thank you, Chris!
Excellent thoughts. One of your most compelling observations is this:
“Through the resurrection we can have assurance and believe that the debt of sin has been paid”