Redemption Not Reform

A Word of Truth #140  

What did Jesus do while on the earth? He healed the sick. He led a good life. He kept the Law and is a good example for everyone. Jesus did all of these things, but none of them accurately or adequately describes His work on the earth.

Jesus’ true work is redemption—the “buying back” of sinners. Jesus came to buy sinners back from their sin and the eternal damnation they deserve because of it. Our sins are debts with God against His ledger that expects complete and perfect obedience to His law. Jesus’ perfect life and death on the cross pays the ransom price that fulfills our debt, sets us free from sin, and makes us God’s children. “Christ gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify us for His own special people…” (Titus 2:14)

Jesus did not come to the earth simply to reform society and be a positive influence. He came to redeem the world. He came to buy us back and to set us free.

Salvation took the Blood of Christ

A Word of Truth #141  

The Christian gospel is not for the squeamish, for when you speak of the gospel you are speaking of blood being shed. In fact, the Bible says, “Without the shedding of blood there is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22b). This offends the sensitivities of many today, who tend to think lightly of sin and who fail to understand how deeply God is offended by our transgressions.

The simple fact is that while many in our world assume that their own goodness can overcome sin and please God, such thinking is false. Peter reminds us that we cannot be “redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold…but (only) with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb with blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). “The blood of Jesus Christ,” God’s own Son, alone “cleanse(s) us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). This is God’s plan for your salvation as revealed in the Bible.