Episode 56: The Second Article: Redemption

The Second Article: Redemption

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

What does this mean? I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity.

This is most certainly true.

Read The Large Catechism: Apostles Creed: Article II: https://bookofconcord.org/large-catechism/apostles-creed/#:~:text=Article%20II.,learn%20it%20fully.

Who is Jesus Christ? The Two Natures in Christ and the Communication of Attributes

Is Jesus God?
Yes.
How do you know he is God?
- The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is God by giving him divine names.
  “Thomas answered Him, ‘My Lord and my God.'” John 20:28
  “From their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever.” Romans 9:5
- The Bible attributes to Jesus divine attributes (characteristics).
  - Jesus is eternal (without beginning or end).
    “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” John 1:1-2
  - Jesus is unchangeable. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
  - Jesus is almighty (omnipotent). “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” Matthew 28:18
  - Jesus is all-knowing (omniscient). “Lord, You know everything.” John 21:17
  - Jesus is present everywhere (omnipresent). “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
- Jesus does divine works, which only God can do.
  - Jesus forgives. “And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.'” Matthew 9:2
  - Jesus creates. “All things are made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:3
  - Jesus will come to judge the living and the dead. “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead” 2 Timothy 4:1
  - He rules over creation. “And [Jesus] awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm.” Luke 8:24 (Read also Colossians 1:15-20).
- Jesus receives divine honor and glory.
  - “The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” John 5:22-23
    “Let all God’s angels worship Him.” Hebrews 1:6
    “And behold, Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.” Matthew 28:8

Is Jesus a man?
Yes.
How do you know Jesus is a man?
- The Bible clearly calls Him a man. “There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5
- The Bible says He has a human body and soul. Jesus said, … “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” Luke 24:39
  “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death.” Matthew 26:38
- He was born of the Virgin Mary. “When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” Matthew 1:23-24
- Scripture speaks of his human, yet sinless, feelings and actions. “He was hungry.” Matthew 4:2; “Jesus wept.” John 11:35; Jesus said, “I thirst.” John 19:28;
  “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:14-15
Jesus has two natures, yet he is one Person. He is true God and true man.
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only begotten Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
“Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh.” 1 Timothy 3:16
“For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” Colossians 2:9
“The Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood.” Acts 20:28
Why was it necessary for your eternal salvation for Christ Jesus to be true man?
- So that he could take my place under the law and fulfill its demands. (Active Obedience).
  “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5
  For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:19
- So that he would be able to suffer and die for my guilt in my place. (Passive Obedience)
  “He has now reconciled [you] in his body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him.” Colossians 1:22
  “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is the devil.” Hebrews 2:14
Why was it necessary for your eternal salvation for Christ Jesus to be true God?
- So that his fulfilling of the Law, his life, suffering and death would be a sufficient ransom for all people.
  “No man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life.” Psalm 49:7
  “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
- So that he would be able to overcome death and the devil for us.
  “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57
  “Our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death… ” 2 Timothy 1:10
  “This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.” Acts 2:23-24
What do you then believe about Jesus Christ?
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary is my Lord.

Redemption

What does it mean to redeem?

To redeem means to purchase or buy back. This requires a ransom payment.
“And if it is an unclean animal, then he shall buy it back at the valuation, and add a fifth to it; or, if it is not redeemed, it shall be sold at the valuation.” Leviticus 27:27
“Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage! ” Psalm 74:2
“knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” 1 Peter 1:18-19
Who redeemed you?
“even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— Galatians 3:13

Jesus Christ.
From what did he redeem you?
Jesus redeemed me from all sin, from death, and from the power of the devil.
With what did Jesus redeem you? What was the ransom?
Christ Jesus redeemed me not with gold or silver, but with his holy precious blood and innocent suffering and death.
“knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” 1 Peter 1:18-19
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” Ephesians 1:7
To whom did Jesus pay this ransom? Did he pay it to the devil?
“Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.” Isaiah 53:10
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” Romans 3:23-24
“And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.'” Matthew 26:39

No, Jesus paid the ransom to God, in order to appease His wrath.
How did Christ rescue you from sin?
“Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. … So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:34, 36
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— ” Galatians 3:13

Because of my own sin, I am a slave to sin. Christ took my sins and died for them. Because Jesus took away my sins with his death, I am now free from sin and condemnation.
How did Christ rescue you from death?
“…God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.” 1 Timothy 1:9-10
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Through his suffering, death, and resurrection Christ defeated death and gives me eternal life.
How did Christ rescue you from the devil?
Jesus defeated the devil by resisting temptation, dying, and rising. The devil can no longer accuse me of sin. Through faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit gives me power to resist the temptation of the devil.
“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.”‘ Then the devil left him, and behold angels came and ministered to him.” Matthew 4:10-11
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall crush your head and you shall strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15
“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16
Did Jesus redeem only you?
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all,” 1 Timothy 2:5-6
“for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,” Rev. 5:9b

No, Jesus redeemed all people.
Does this mean that all people are saved regardless of faith?
No. John 3:18; Mark 16:16;
What do you gain from Christ redeeming you?
Forgiveness of sins, peace with God, and eternal life.
“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity.” Psalm 32:1-2
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1
“God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Did Jesus stop being God when he suffered and died?
“And you killed the Author of Life, whom God raised from the dead.” Acts 3:15
“None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.” 1 Cor. 2:8
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,” 1 Timothy 2:5

No, Jesus forever remains both God and Man.

Christ’s Humiliation and Exaltation

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11

What is Christ’s Humiliation?
- As a man, Christ did not always or fully use or manifest the divine powers and majesty that were communicated to His human nature.

What is Christ’s Exaltation?
- When Christ fully uses and manifests His divine power and majesty.

Why did Jesus descend to hell? Did He go there to suffer?
No. Jesus descended into hell to proclaim his victory over sin, death, and the power of the devil.
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison,” 1 Peter 3:18-19
“He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” Colossians 2:15
What does Jesus’ resurrection prove?
1. Jesus is the Son of God.

“He was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead.” Romans 1:4

Jesus’ teaching is true.

Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John 2:19
Jesus said, “”When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.” John 8:28
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.'” John 11:25

God the Father accepts Christ’s sacrifice for your sins and the sins of the whole world.

“If while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” Romans 5:10
“[Christ] was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” Romans 4:25
“If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” 1 Cor. 15:17

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” Colossians 2:13-15

If Christ is raised then whoever believes in him will also have eternal life.

“Because I live, you also will live.” John 14:19
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” John 11:25-26
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 15:20

What does it mean that Jesus sits at the Father’s right hand? Does that mean he is really far away from us?

No. Jesus is not stuck up in heaven. Rather Christ has dominion over all creation.
“He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.” Ephesians 4:10
“when [God] raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:20-23

The Return of Christ

What does my faith tell me about Christ’s return to judge the living and the dead?
1. Christ will return bodily and all people will see him.

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11
“Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all the tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. Even so. Amen.” Revelation 1:7

Christ will come to judge the living and the dead. He will not set up a kingdom on earth.

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, Then He will sit on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” Matthew 25:31-32

“We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 2 Corinthians 5:10
“And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.” Acts 10:42

“Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36

No one knows when Christ will return, except the Father.

“The day of the Lord will come like a thief…” 2 Peter 3:10

“You must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Matthew 24:44

“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Mark 13:32

There will be tribulation before Christ’s return.

“Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom, there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” Matthew 24:7

“The Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.” 1 Timothy 4:1

For Christians the return of Christ will be a joyous day.

“When these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:28
“Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting Him.” Hebrews 9:28

“Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13

The Threefold Office of Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King

How is Jesus a Prophet?
Christ proclaims the truth of God.
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers- it is to him you shall listen.” Deuteronomy 18:15
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:68
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20
How is Christ your Priest?
Jesus is my priest, because he offered up himself on the cross as a holy sacrifice to God and he still intercedes to God the Father on my behalf.
“Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3
“For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.” Hebrews 7:26-27
“We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,” 1 Timothy 2:5
How is Jesus your King?
1. Jesus rules over all creation. (kingdom of power).

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:16-17

Jesus rules over his Church (kingdom of grace).

“And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” Colossians 1: 18

Jesus rules over his kingdom in heaven (kingdom of glory).

“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:18