JESUS: HE PAID THE PRICE FOR OUR FREEDOM
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Jesus
a) No doubt Pilate wrote the name "Jesus" over the head of our Lord on the cross, simply because that was his name. This name, however, was given by God at Jesus's birth because it has a special meaning. Jesus is our Savior (Matthew 1:21).
2. He Paid The Price For Our Freedom
a) We call Jesus our Savior because he redeems us. Our "redemption" is understood when we look back at our ruined lives all marred by sin. We can see that we no longer belonged to God, but to Satan. We must say with Paul, "I am carnal, sold under sin" (Romans 7:14). The term "carnal" means "of the flesh". Of course, God did not sell us, we sold ourselves like the people of old who "sold themselves to do evil" (1 Kings 21:20, 2 Kings 17:17).
b) If we were not properly regarded as belonging to Satan, why should God have determined to send us into the eternal punishment "prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41)? Why should we share Satan's destiny if Satan did not own us? And why should God's Son die on the cross for us? Indeed, we became Satan's possession when we sinned. God recognizes that, and so should we.
c) If we belonged to Satan, we would be punished with him, unless God provided for our rescue and escape, and unless we accepted that way and reached out to God for it. But God would not steal us from Satan, and if God was to take us back, a price had to be paid.
d) This was not to satisfy Satan, but to satisfy God. God would not pay evil for evil. God would not pay evil for good. But he would pay good for evil, that evil might be overcome. This payment for our rescue is called "redemption" or "purchase".
The End ...
1. Jesus a) No doubt Pilate wrote the name "Jesus" over the head of our Lord on the cross, simply because that was his name. This name, however, was given by God at Jesus's birth because it has a special meaning. Jesus is our Savior (Matthew 1:21).
2. He Paid The Price For Our Freedom
a) We call Jesus our Savior because he redeems us. Our "redemption" is understood when we look back at our ruined lives all marred by sin. We can see that we no longer belonged to God, but to Satan. We must say with Paul, "I am carnal, sold under sin" (Romans 7:14). The term "carnal" means "of the flesh". Of course, God did not sell us, we sold ourselves like the people of old who "sold themselves to do evil" (1 Kings 21:20, 2 Kings 17:17).
b) If we were not properly regarded as belonging to Satan, why should God have determined to send us into the eternal punishment "prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41)? Why should we share Satan's destiny if Satan did not own us? And why should God's Son die on the cross for us? Indeed, we became Satan's possession when we sinned. God recognizes that, and so should we.
c) If we belonged to Satan, we would be punished with him, unless God provided for our rescue and escape, and unless we accepted that way and reached out to God for it. But God would not steal us from Satan, and if God was to take us back, a price had to be paid.
d) This was not to satisfy Satan, but to satisfy God. God would not pay evil for evil. God would not pay evil for good. But he would pay good for evil, that evil might be overcome. This payment for our rescue is called "redemption" or "purchase".
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