Redemption Applied
September 17, 2008
This past year, I have been intrigued by the book of Genesis. I keep finding my way back to the passages in chapters 1-12 in particular. There is so much about the human condition today that is explained here. Of particular interest to me is learning what the earth was like before sin and before the law. Why? Because Jesus died to restore things as they were before sin wrecked havoc and brought death into the world.
As Christians we are meant to be ‘beacons in the night’ to the world around us or as 2 Corinthians 2:14 describes, “the fragrant aroma of the knowledge of God in every place.” But the reality is that many times we aren’t very different. We watch the same crud on TV; listen to the same garbage on the radio. We live purposeless and powerless. We have the same problems, addictions and brokenness as the rest of humanity and in all honesty many times our lives repel those around from receiving the gift of life that we claim to have.
The reality is that the church does not truly understand what Jesus has already given us. We need a good, sound theology lesson to be perfectly honest. Enough with the watered-down, “just come to Jesus and get a free ticket to heaven” stuff that allows people to go on living exactly as they were before.
We need to understand redemption. Redemption means “to tear loose,” “to purchase,” “to rescue,” “a ransom.” Jesus redeemed us from the clutches of evil -- in all its forms. Redemption applied means that Christians truly walk in their spiritual inheritance from Jesus. It means that we shine like a city on a hill. It means that our hearts have received abounding measures of God’s love and pour it out on the world around us. It means that we live powerfully – casting out devils, healing disease, breaking curses and taking dominion back from the kingdom of darkness. It means that we operate as the not-so-secret-service and infiltrate every sector of society to uphold righteousness. In short, we once again become the “salt of the earth” and in so doing bring glory, honor, and dominion to the “King of Kings.”
Redemption applied means that we appropriate God’s rule. Take for example the curses that came upon humanity when Adam and Eve when sinned in the Garden. Sin always brings consequences but redemption brings restoration. One of the consequences that came upon Eve in Genesis 3:16 is pain in pregnancy. God also said to her, “you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you. " This was a curse brought on by sin. The nature of a curse is that it is handed down perpetually to each successive generation… until the curse is broken by appropriating redemption.
In Genesis 3:17-19 we read Adams curse, “the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat.” This was a curse on Adams ability to produce. And it directly affected is ego and confidence. Although not all people farm the land any longer, most people struggle to produce enough to care for their families. They toil and sweat day after day.
We still see these curses passed down today. And yet, there are a few who truly have broken away by appropriating redemption. Galatians 3:13 says the Jesus, “rescued us from the curse” by “taking upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing.” Therefore all who have received the gift of life from Jesus now have authority over all the curses in their lives if they have turned from a life of practicing sin to a life of faith in what Jesus did.
What I am proposing is this…
2. Women and men can be equals in marriage. Women don’t need to try and control their husbands and men don’t need to rule. There is a place of love, respect and mutuality in decision-making.
3. The ‘ground,’ ‘field’ or ‘area’ you labor in does not have to be cursed. You no longer have to toil only to have less than bountiful provision. There is a place of grace and abundance in return for your labors that has been provided. You can enter into supernatural provision where you not only have enough for yourself, but enough to help those who are less fortunate.
Search the scripture for yourself. See if my propositions line up with scripture in its entirety. I have only listed three ways that redemption can be applied, but there are many, many other places. Study it for yourself. What God has given us is bountiful and beautiful. But His gifts are meaningless if we don’t study the scripture to learn what they are. Take the scripture literally not figuratively. Assume that His promises are for now not for some far off “Day of the Lord.”
Jesus has come! Life is different now.
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