This week a question came up in my discipleship group as we dove into redemption. As we are redeemed through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, what about those who cam before Christ, how were they redeemed? Well, the short answer is, through faith.
“21Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. 22Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.” – 2 Samuel 7:21-22 (ESV)
I was reminded that faith is a who word and not a what word. It is the LORD that redeems us. It is through Him alone. Faith is Him. Things are only guaranteed through Him. We may not know the full outcome, nor the route for that matter, but we are assured that He will provide.
“1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2For by it the people of old received their commendation.” – Hebrews 11:1-2 (ESV)
It is through faith, the LORD, that we received redemption. So, those before Christ were redeemed through faith.
To us here in this world, it is more complicated yet simple at the same time. We have come after Christ and are redeemed through His shed blood and resurrection. He took on all of our sin as His own, so that I would not have to deal with the consequence of that sin, death. So, that is the simple part, I only have to believe that He died for me and that without Him, I am not redeemed.
The complicated part is that it is not just a one time thing. Yes. I am saved and redeemed once, but I do not get a free pass after that. Redemption is not a box to be checked and I can get along with things. As I have been redeemed, I am to follow His commands and lead a life bringing glory and honor to Him. He has taken on my sin and shame and it is now up to me to follow Him wherever He leads me and to do whatever He has for me. I must have faith that His will be done always and forever, regardless of me.
Before Christ, the people were redeemed through faith that He was who He said He was and would do that which He said He would. After Christ, we are redeemed thanks to the shed blood and resurrection of Him and that He is who he says he is and does what he says He will.
What is your view of redemption? Are you looking for it from somewhere and see it as a task to be completed? What if you had faith that the LORD is who He says He is?
Trevor's Thoughts 