Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Jesus Christ who redeems All
Genesis 12:1-9
…… and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Genesis 12 : 3)
Devotion
…… and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Genesis 12 : 3)
Devotion
There are a lot many promises of God, where He pledges that something will or will not be done or given or come to pass. His promises are not flippant or casual as we often make. His promises are rock-solid, unequivocal commitments made by God Himself.
God promised to bless Abraham that through his descendants, the whole world (Genesis 12: 2 – 3 ) will be blessed. The story of redemption in Scripture hinges on His promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3. The fall of man was horrific. It looked like all was lost for mankind. And yet, as God declares what the consequences of the fall will be, there, amongst the gloom of the curse, comes a little ray of sunshine. A little bit of light to focus on in a very dark tunnel. God so loved the world that he did not want them to perish. So, almost 4,000 years before the incarnation of Jesus, God declared that a redeemer would be born of a virgin. So there was a promise of a redeemer, someone that will crush Satan's head and hopefully get mankind out of this gigantic mess!
A redeemer is someone who restores the lost rights and freedoms by paying whatever price is required to set that person free. Jesus Christ, the redeemer, rescues those who believe in Him “from the dominion of darkness” and delivers them into God’s kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13–14). The idea of redemption from sin in the Old Testament is associated with an animal being substituted as the ransom price.
Jesus came “to give his life as a ransom for many”. His death on the cross paid the ransom price to set sinners free from the bondage of sin. Just as, in the Old Testament animal sacrifices paid for Israel’s sins, Christ “bore our sins in his body on the tree” and satisfied the debt we owed. Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree’. Christ paid the ransom to secure our freedom from sin and death with His own precious blood. The apostle Peter testified, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18–19).
Although our sins separated us from God, the Father, in His love and mercy, He sanctioned the ultimate rescue mission by sending His Son to be our Redeemer. Christ gave His life so we might live. We are forgiven, cleansed and saved from God’s wrath through Christ. We are released from guilt and condemnation and restored to fellowship with God. Jesus our Redeemer sets us free from evil forces and powers of darkness in the world and rescues us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
God promised to bless Abraham that through his descendants, the whole world (Genesis 12: 2 – 3 ) will be blessed. The story of redemption in Scripture hinges on His promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3. The fall of man was horrific. It looked like all was lost for mankind. And yet, as God declares what the consequences of the fall will be, there, amongst the gloom of the curse, comes a little ray of sunshine. A little bit of light to focus on in a very dark tunnel. God so loved the world that he did not want them to perish. So, almost 4,000 years before the incarnation of Jesus, God declared that a redeemer would be born of a virgin. So there was a promise of a redeemer, someone that will crush Satan's head and hopefully get mankind out of this gigantic mess!
A redeemer is someone who restores the lost rights and freedoms by paying whatever price is required to set that person free. Jesus Christ, the redeemer, rescues those who believe in Him “from the dominion of darkness” and delivers them into God’s kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13–14). The idea of redemption from sin in the Old Testament is associated with an animal being substituted as the ransom price.
Jesus came “to give his life as a ransom for many”. His death on the cross paid the ransom price to set sinners free from the bondage of sin. Just as, in the Old Testament animal sacrifices paid for Israel’s sins, Christ “bore our sins in his body on the tree” and satisfied the debt we owed. Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree’. Christ paid the ransom to secure our freedom from sin and death with His own precious blood. The apostle Peter testified, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18–19).
Although our sins separated us from God, the Father, in His love and mercy, He sanctioned the ultimate rescue mission by sending His Son to be our Redeemer. Christ gave His life so we might live. We are forgiven, cleansed and saved from God’s wrath through Christ. We are released from guilt and condemnation and restored to fellowship with God. Jesus our Redeemer sets us free from evil forces and powers of darkness in the world and rescues us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to listen to Your voice and faithfully obey Your call as Abraham did and thus become a blessing to many. In the name of Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.
Thought for the Day
The Jews looked upon a serpent to be freed from serpents and we look upon the Cross to be delivered from death. Jesus Paid it all.
Latha Mary Ninan
Epiphany Mar Thoma Church
New York
Heavenly Father, help me to listen to Your voice and faithfully obey Your call as Abraham did and thus become a blessing to many. In the name of Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.
Thought for the Day
The Jews looked upon a serpent to be freed from serpents and we look upon the Cross to be delivered from death. Jesus Paid it all.
Latha Mary Ninan
Epiphany Mar Thoma Church
New York