Redemption

The concept of redemption refers to final deliverance of those for whom the price of ransom has been paid. For the Christian this means not just redemption of the spirit (Hebrews 12:23), not the redemption  of the spirit and the soul; but the complete redemption of the spirit, soul and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Redemption is usually thought of having been redeemed from some ill fate. A slave is redeemed from being put to death because another people was prepared to pay a high price for him. Or, say, a slave is on the auction block and nobody wants to purchase the slave because they don't like the look of him. He is too skinny and has been ill treated and looks too old. The slave trader is prepared to let the slave starve, as he doesn't want to pay for any food. Another person takes pity on the slave and purchases him for the price the slave trader is prepared to accept. Redeemed from a certain death, the slave is fed and looked after well. He begins to show signs of good health and gratitude for his redeemer.

In the Scriptures, we read that a kinsman is given the responsibility to redeem those who have found themselves in difficulty, whether they have given themselves to slavery, or are given to poverty, or had some other issue that brought upon them some form of social disapprobation that is redeemable. 

The story of Boaz and Ruth is an example of redemption. Ruth was a Moabite woman who had married an Israelite, who died and left her husbandless. She decides to reject the idolatry of the Moabites and identify with the true God, by joining Naomi, her mother-in-law who decided to return to Israel to live. They travel to Bethlehem, where Naomi had a wealthy relative named Boaz. 

Realizing that her daughter-in-law was likely to be molested by the young Israelites while working in the field, Naomi arranged for her to join the maidens working for Boaz. Whereupon she devised a scheme so that Ruth would be well looked after preferably by Boaz, by putting up some property that she owned to be redeemed by her nearest kinsman. Boaz approached the kinsman and explained to him that it was his responsibility to redeem the property, however, it came with the Moabitess. The nearest kinsman declined to redeem the property, so Boaz did. He also married Ruth. This way the property and the family pedigree remained intact, when Ruth conceived and bore a son, the grandfather of King David.

The inherent idea within the word "redemption" is "buy back" that which was previously given away or lost or taken. The restoration of ownership is probably the best way of thinking about redemption. There is no question that the Devil rested controlling rights (ownership) of this world from the Man (Genesis 5:2)). Not that the Devil was the rightful owner, but that the Man yielded the rights of ownership (if you like) or control over planet Earth. God created the man and instructed him that he was to:

Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth. (Genesis 1:28)

The Man had been given the right to subdue the planet and have authority over everything on it.  Unfortunately instead of the Man subduing the planet, he was subdued by the Devil and relinquished authority to him. From that time until Jesus rose from the dead, there was need of redemption, if the Man was to regain control of the planet. After Jesus rose from the dead, He gained control of Earth, having redeemed what the Man lost. The righteous blood of Jesus Christ purchased the planet from the Devil. This was done by the Devil taking the Son of God to Hell, when He became sin on behalf of the Man and his progeny. In doing this, the Devil deceived himself, for the Son of God had the inherent power of an indestructible life (Hebrew 7:16). The Spirit of Holiness (Romans 1:4) of the Eternal Word (John 1:1-3; 1 John 1:1-2) made flesh (John 1:14), enabled the Son of God to demonstrate and prove that all things were created through Him and for Him, and all things belong to Him, whether in Heaven or Hell (Colossians 1:15-16).

In the account of Boaz acquiring the right to marry Ruth as a kinsman redeemer, certain protocols were required to be met and permission to do so had to be obtained (Ruthe 4:1-11). Boaz was second in line regarding the redeeming the land (Num. 27:9-11). The first kinsman redeemer was prepared to redeem the land but feared losing another inheritance if he were to marry Ruth, so he passed up on the opportunity, with ten elders being witness. The witnesses were important for the transaction. For whenever two or more agree on Earth, this makes the transaction binding. Ten elders (and other witnesses) evidently provided greater solemnity to a financial transaction in the event of a dispute (cf. Deut.19:12; 21:2-4; 24:7-9; 1 Kings 21:8-11).

Understanding the protocols that have to be met when it comes to the selling and purchase of land, or even acquiring rights held by other individuals, helps in coming to grips with what the Son of God did on the Cross of Calvary. The redemption process begins with the Cross but is not completed until the day we receive a glorified body that will never cease to exist.

And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:23 KJV)

The redemption of our bodies is the physical transformation of our biological earthly bodies into glorified eternally existing celestial bodies that look exactly as we do on Earth, except there will be no imperfections. However, not every body will have the same status, for each individual will have a different radiant glory, depending upon what they have done in this life as a Christian. The Apostle Paul informs us:

There are celestial bodies and there are terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. (1 Corinthians 15:40-42)

The analogy depicts how we might view the lights in the sky. The sun, of course, shines in the day; its light being so bright that other lights do not compare, they cease to be there in the sky. The sun is a type of the Father. The light from His throne is so bright that other lights cannot compare.

Interestingly, the full moon reflects the light of the sun. This typifies the Son reflecting or radiating the glory of the Father. 

Many say that the moon beams forth its own light, however, this is not so. Anyone looking at the moon during the day, around the time of the new moon, can see the shadows it has, and during this phase, the moon does not shine, indicating that it reflects the light from the sun. A number of translations point out Jesus "reflects the (radiant or effulgent) glory of God...." (Hebrews 1:3) whereas others correctly indicate that the Son of God radiates His own glory. Nevertheless, the typology component is interesting for the Scriptures state that in the days to come, God will be everything to everyone (1 Corinthians 15:28).

When we compare the light of the full moon with that of the brightest star, we see there is no comparison in size. The moon is many times larger and much brighter, as far as we are concerned. It is even possible to walk in the beam of the moon's light and see where one is going; not so when it comes to the next brightest object (Venus) or the brightest star (Sirius) in the night sky.

The redemption of our bodies has to do also with the reward that we are to receive. For this is why each one will have a different radiance to others. The radiant glory that we will possess will be like the stars for some, but not all. For there will be those who will not have any radiance, even though they will have glorified bodies. The Apostle Paul indicates this when saying:

For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

The complete redemption of our spirit, soul and body will include the glory that we have brought to God while on Earth. The apostle compares this glory to gold, silver and precious stones, which are suggestive of 100 fold, 60 fold and 30 fold in terms of fruitage.  This can vary greatly as to what level a person achieves this. Some will have different levels of glory, which do not amount to 30 fold, others will think they have more than what they might actually possess. This will be revealed on the day we receive our glorified bodies.

Nevertheless, in order to provide some additional insight to what we are to receive when our bodies are redeemed, here are three accounts of experiences that I have had.

One day I was reading the book of First Corinthians. When I came to chapter three, verses eleven to thirteen I was caught up in the Spirit and saw a multitude of people walking by me as far as my eye could see. They were walking past me from my right to my left. The number was too many to estimate, let alone count. From what I could see, most of the people were silhouettes. They existed but had no glory, nothing shining from them. Among them there were the odd one that had some light shining from them. The surprising element was that the intensity of light seemed to determine the height of the person. Now these people were moving past me very quickly. There were billions of them. Nevertheless, I got the impression that there were about 100 silhouettes for a person with a small bit of dim light. There were 1000 people for a person will a little more light and a 100,000 for a person whose was a little taller and brighter light again. A few were nearly twice the size of the silhouettes, but not many. Eventually, there were two towering lights, which seemed to be 50 times taller than the the silhouettes and 10 times taller than the tallest of the other lights that I had seen. Once these two towering personages disappeared out of my view the vision ended.

What that vision told me was that there is going to be billions of people who will be saved but have no glory, and even though they will not regret being there, their eternal status will be determined by what they do here on Earth. 

When the vision concluded, I cried out to our Heavenly Father: Please, God. Do not let me be a silhouette. I don't want to be a silhouette. 

Another experience I had occurred when God was speaking to me about the 30,60,100 fold that is found in the book of Matthew and those who will miss out of having any glory. 

As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.  As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (Matthew 13:22-13)

I was wondering about certain preachers and renown evangelists in respect to this Scripture; especially one whom I had read, made the claim in a book that he had brought millions to Christ. Furthermore, I was contemplating what type of person would be limited so that he could not bring forth 100 fold. I figured that as a group, Evangelicals were probably limited to 30 fold, Pentecostals were limited to 60 fold, but wondered who would be a recipient of 100 fold. 

Anyhow, as it happened, the particular preacher that made the claim he had brought millions to Christ was being interviewed on a television show, which I saw. Now, I was not one to watch television much. Nevertheless, I did sometimes. When I saw this person being interviewed, I was interested to learn what he had to say. Two things he said stuck with me. One was that he had difficulty when it come to tithing for many years. The second thing, which really pricked my ears, was that he and his organization had put 30 people through Bible school and into the ministry. This famous man was merely a 30-folder I thought. Then I had a revelation that the people who came to his meetings, who made decisions for Christ, were not so much his fruit, but the fruit of those who brought them to the meetings.

One day the pastor, of the church I was attending at the time, had twenty-seven pots of small saplings on the front stage of the auditorium. He announced that God had revealed to him that he was going to bring eighteen more people through his ministry who would go on to be pastors. Nine pastors had already come out of his ministry and were leading congregations. Unfortunately, for that pastor, as far as I know, the extra eighteen pastors did not eventuate. He was out of the ministry by the year's end and retired.  

The new pastor decided that a generous gratuity ought to be given to the retired pastor as an act of appreciation for the services that he had given the people of God for his fifty years service as a pastor.

 Now the new pastor wasn't always so generous or gracious when it came to talking to me about the old pastor, and there had been various issues that arose which were not complimentary to his office or walk with God. I myself had intervened in a dispute he was having with his wife and another person at a member's meeting, whereupon I was told that I wouldn't have been given the righthand of fellowship, had he known I would challenge his authority. Then there were the many people who had expressed to me that he had bruised numerous individuals over the years with his "my-way-or-the-high-way" attitude. 

I expressed my sentiment that I could not see how the old pastor was worthy of being honored with the generous gratuity. From what I had been told and seen of his actions when his pride was brought to the fore, my view was that there was no need to honor the man with something that I didn't consider him worthy. 

Shortly after my conversation with the new pastor over the phone, I had a vision. God showed me the old pastor and how He saw Him. I was blown away. This man had no spots nor wrinkles and was perfect. He a degree of glory most Christians have no hope of achieving. As far as our Heavenly Father was concerned, the fruit that brought glory to His name is for what this old pastor will be remembered. Had this old pastor reaped the glory that would have been his if he had of brought another eighteen pastors through to the ministry, his glory would have been three times brighter and he would have been three times taller in the age to come.

Sadhu Sundar Singh was a world renowned man of God who made an impact in the English speaking church prior to World War II. Corrie ten Boom, a famous author who helped Jews escape the Nazis in the Second World War, spoke to Sundar Singh and asked him, how could she have the faith he had so that she could also have visions, see Lord Jesus Christ, and experience a walk with God like himself. Singh told the young Corrie, that those who believe without seeing are more blessed (John 20:29).

One day Sadhu Sundar Singh had a vision wherein a man who had been a minister (preacher/teacher/ pastor) in an established church for much of his life died and went to Heaven. The man had earned numerous degrees and was regarded as highly educated. In the vision, after some time had expired, Singh saw another man enter Heaven who was given a higher status than the highly educated minister. The minister complained to an angel that he had studied extensively and taught the parishioner all he knew, so it was unjust that he be exalted above him. The angel replied, the difference between the minister and his parishioner was this: unlike himself, the parishioner did what he was taught.

When it comes to redemption of the body, this also includes the glorification of the person. Each one's eternal status in the Kingdom of Heaven will be determined by what we do on Earth. Back in the days when there was no electricity, Jesus said that no one takes a candle and hides it under a basket, but places it on a lampstand so everyone in the household can see; therefore, in similar fashion we are to let our good works shine before men so that they give glory to God (Matthew 5:15-16).

The redemption of our bodies and their glorification really depends upon the fruit that we bring forth in our lives. Most will have no fruit other than the fact that they escaped eternal judgment. Nevertheless, the fruit of their decision is the redemption of their body. There is no salvation without the redemption of our bodies. The degree of glorification that we are to experience is pertinent to the redemption of our bodies. If we produce no fruit, there is no redemption. 

Fortunately, the first fruit, the fruit of lips brings forth redemption, providing we continue in producing the fruit of lips until the day we die or, if we are alive, we are caught up to meet the Lord in the clouds. 

The fruit of lips is the acknowledgement of the name of the Lord (Matt 10:32; Luke 12:8) . When we publicly acknowledgement Jesus is Lord, we do so unto salvation (Romans 10:9-13). This doesn't mean we cannot turn our back on the Lord and forsake the salvation that is ours, just that while we are acknowledging Jesus is Lord we have salvation. Everyone who truly believes Jesus rose from the dead, confesses that He is Lord, because they have a relationship with Him. The grace of God is such that every opportunity is given to everyone so that they may be saved. God desires all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4).

The fruit of the Spirit produced in our lives is a natural outworking of the Holy Spirit within us.  The fruit of the Spirit is consists of nine qualities. Three of these qualities consist of emotions; three consist of attitudes; three consist of character. The elements of character (faithfulness, meekness, self-control) that are produced in an individual are indicators of the amount of fruit that will be produced by each individual. 

Faithfulness is critical if one is too produce fruit. Without demonstrating faithfulness, no one is going to produce fruit unto eternal life. Secondly, meekness produced in a person will bring forth twice as much fruit as what just being faithful will produce. Just being faithful, without meekness, will also produce the spirit of boastfulness. This is why a meek person produces twice as much fruit as a person who is merely faithful. Not that being faithful is something to be dismissed, for without faithfulness, we cannot receive anything from the Lord. The double-minded person is not faithful and does not receive anything from God (Ps. 119:11345; Jam. 1:7-8)

The fruit of righteousness is the outcome of a life that has been devoted to giving God the glory and being a light to those in darkness, so they can are attracted to learning more about salvation: how to be saved, what a saved life entails, the outcome of living a saved life. The Apostle Peter says that the outcome of our faith towards God is our salvation (1 Peter 1:9), but for those who bring glory to His name, also produce the fruit of righteousness, which is the winning of souls, sown in peace by those who make peace (Jam. 3:18; cf. Pr. 11:30). The book of Daniel says that those who bring souls to salvation, so they walk in righteousness, will shine like the stars (Daniel 12:3).

Stanley Tam was a man who looked to God for help. In doing so, God showed Stanley that he had to be faithful in trusting him. Stanley was not a preacher but a businessman. He developed a business that was eventually able to give over $150 million to the promotion of the gospel. There came a time in Stanley's life where he was challenged to sign over his business to God legally. At the time, Stanley was giving 90% of the profits to the Lord God and living off 10%. After some deep contemplation, Stanley signed over his business to God as the legal owner. Once, he had done this, God spoke to him and said, now he would reap fruit for eternal life. He went to Venezuela and testified before tens of thousands of people and some 12,000 gave their hearts to the Lord. Over the decades since, possibly a million or more people have given their lives to God, because of Stanley Tam's testimony. Numerous are the small churches in Asia that exist because of Stanley Tam testimony.

Roland Buck was a pastor living in Boise, Idaho. Charles and Frances Hunter interviewed Roland Buck in 1979 and wrote a biography of his encounter with angels. In three years, according to what I read, the Hunters said that some 200,000 souls had given their lives to the Lord because of what they read in that book.

Reinhard Bonnke/s organization Nations For Christ claim that over 79,000,000 decisions have been made in Africa at his crusades. When Bonnke was starting out, T.L. and Daisy Osborn held a conference attended by 10,000 pastors who had come to know Lord Jesus Christ through their ministry in West Africa. The couple have possibly led more souls to Christ than any other person in history in a ministry that spanned over 50 years across 90 nations from 1949.

The redemption of our bodies will occur on that final day. Meanwhile, we are redeeming what is ours by doing the will of God and laying our own lives down for the sake of the lost. We have all been called to be sons of God. The word "daughters" is used at times because it sounds abnormal to refer to females as sons. However, when it comes to Heaven, our Lord Jesus has informed us that we will be like angels (Matt 22:30; Mark 12:25). Therefore, when reflecting upon what each one's life's purpose on Earth ought to be, nothing can be any more important than the harvest of righteousness that is sown in peace by those who make peace (James 3:18) and it just so happens that the peacemakers shall be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9).When each receives his or her redeemed body there will be no doubt.