What Does Redemption Mean?
After the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden, when Adam committed high treason against his Creator, God did not just leave him to suffer eternally in his fallen state. Instead, in His great mercy and love, God immediately outlined a plan to win back His man—a plan of Redemption.
It was a mystery, hidden in God until the time came for the fullness of the plan. It had to be hidden—God did not want His enemy, the devil, to interrupt or block His plan. This glorious plan of Redemption would put Satan out of business completely. Praise God! Romans 16:25-27 tells us that though the plan was kept secret since the world began, it has now been made known to us through His Word:
“Now to Him Who is able to strengthen you in the faith which is in accordance with my Gospel and the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ (the Messiah), according to the revelation (the unveiling) of the mystery of the plan of Redemption which was kept in silence and secret for long ages, but is now disclosed and through the prophetic Scriptures is made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, [to win them] to obedience to the faith, to [the] only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One)! Amen (so be it).”
This outline will help you, step by step, to understand the reality of God’s plan and your part in it. Once you understand and apply what you learn, you will be better able to stand strong against every attack of the enemy to defeat you.
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The plan of Redemption called for an incarnation (the union of divinity with humanity in Jesus Christ—God became a man in the person of Jesus Christ).
Since man was the key figure in the Fall, a man, Jesus, had to be the key figure in the Redemption. After the Fall, because God’s presence was no longer in man, anyone born into the world now ruled by Satan because of Adam’s treason did not naturally know God. (See Luke 4:6.) The objective, then, of the Incarnation, was for man to once again receive the eternal life of God, this time through the substitutionary death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Man would once again be given the right to become a child of God (John 1:12-13; 2 Peter 1:3-4).
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Redemption comes from knowledge of the truth.
God’s divine power has already provided everything that pertains to life and godliness, so man can escape the world’s corruption and partake of God’s divine nature. You can have God’s grace and peace multiplied to you through the knowledge of Jesus our Lord (2 Peter 1:1-4). Knowledge in this verse means “recognition, full discernment, acknowledgement.” Acknowledgemeans “to own, avow or admit to be true, by a declaration of assent.” As you acknowledge and confess Jesus, receiving Him as your Saviour and Lord, His nature takes up residence in you.
Revelation knowledge of God is the reality and truth of His Word which is revealed by the Holy Spirit. It is not just a product of head knowledge (James 3:13-18). It is literally knowledge given by revelation from God as you acknowledge Him and spend time in His Word!
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Satan’s lordship has been broken.
Revelation 12:11 tells us the believers overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, or confession. Confession brings possession. Boldly confess, or speak aloud, what God says about you from His Word: “I am an overcomer by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of my testimony. I am redeemed from the lordship of Satan. His weapons formed against me cannot prosper” (Isaiah 54:17; 2 Corinthians 10:4; James 4:7).
Not Satan, but Jesus is the Head of the Church (Ephesians 4:15-16, 5:23; Colossians 1:18, 2:10). If you have made Jesus your Lord, Satan no longer has rule over you. His lordship over you has been forever broken. Hallelujah!
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We are bought with a price.
First Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us we are temples of the Holy Spirit who is in us. We don’t own ourselves. We were bought with the precious blood of Jesus, the price paid for us through the plan of Redemption. Because of this, we should glorify God in our bodies and spirits.
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We begin walking in our inheritance.
When we begin to take our place in His kingdom and assume our rights and privileges in Christ, God is able to respond to us in greater measure (Ephesians 3:20).
We have a glorious inheritance in Him (Acts 20:32; Colossians 1:12). His Word tells us about what belongs to us. As you study the scriptures in this outline, our prayer is that you will come into the strength of the full knowledge of your Redemption, of who you are in Christ, experience His goodness and be filled with all His fullness.