Redemption from sin was accomplished by the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus Christ. This happened nearly two thousand years ago. Therefore, when we talk about redemption, we are talking about an accomplished historical fact. We are not talking about something that remains to be accomplished or completed, but something that was completely finished over nineteen hundred years ago. The book of John points this out as follows: “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:30) Whatever was necessary for the removal of sin from the people of God was accomplished at Calvary.

It has been done perfectly and nothing from man needs to be added to it!

This was the work of Christ for His people. We will consider later the work of Christ in His people (the new birth). But we can say now that everyone that Christ did something for on Calvary will, sometime in their lives on earth, experience the work of Christ in them as the benefits of salvation are brought to them by God, the Holy Spirit.

To further show, from Scripture, that Christ actually finished the work of redemption on Calvary, let us examine the following passages:

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
(I Peter 1:18-19).

“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
(Hebrews 9:12)

Notice here, that it doesn’t say that He tried to obtain eternal redemption or that “He did His part; now you must do yours to make it complete.” He actually obtained eternal redemption for those for whom He died. If He died for the entire human race, then they have all been redeemed and there will be no one in hell. But from other Scripture we know that this is not true.

So for whom did Christ die?

For the elect. Every one of them will be eternally saved because Christ actually redeemed them from their sins on Calvary.

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue, and people, and nation.”
(Revelation 5:9)

Not one drop of Christ’s blood was shed in vain!

But those who teach that Christ tried and intended to redeem the whole human race teach that much of Christ’s blood was, in fact, shed in vain.

Christ’s death was a substitutionary death. He actually died as a substitute for certain people (the elect). He satisfied the debt that these people owed to God. The elect were set free because their debt had actually been paid. If I go to the bank and pay off the debt for one hundred particular men, then these men are actually debt free. But not everyone that owes the bank money is free of debt.

We find this principle of substitution set forth in the following Scriptures:

“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for (lit. instead of, in the place of) many.”
(Matthew 20:28)

“For he hath made him to be sin for (lit. in behalf of) us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
(II Corinthians 5:21)

Questions

1. When was redemption accomplished?

5. What do we mean when we say that Christ died as a substitute?



Memory Verse

We have memorized Matthew 1:21 and John 10:11.

Let us memorize Matthew 20:28.