Our Doctrine: Redemption
After the fall of man in the garden of Eden, God announced His plan for redemption through the "seed" of a woman. Ever since then, God's people have waited with expectancy for a hero, a redeemer, a Savior that would crush the Serpent, and restore life and relationship to mankind once again. This restoration is needed in the heart of every person born, but it comes at a price.
To redeem is to purchase back what was lost. In Eden, life was lost. Man traded eternal life for the lust of his flesh. He had placed his will over God's and because of this, every human is born dead in trespasses and sins. There is a wage to be paid by someone, but because man is born spiritually dead, and his heart is desperately wicked, and his best efforts still fall short, he cannot possibly pay the price that is owed for his souls redemption. But if God is truly just, someone has to pay.
The "seed" of the woman prophesied in Genesis 3 is non other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Many things from that time forward pointed to His first advent. The thousands of innocent animals sacrificed for Israel, the blood spilled on the altar of the temple, and the scapegoat released on the day of atonement all foreshadowed something greater. Even the high priest with the exclusive right to come before the presence of God looked forward to Jesus our Great High Priest. The "seed" of one woman would do all of this. Only one man was ever conceived by the holy Spirit, avoiding the sin heritage of man's seed, and born perfect. His name is Jesus!
He came to live a perfect life before the Father on our behalf. He came that He might die in our place. He, Jesus, is the Redeemer, the payment for the wages of sin. His death, His cross was the crushing blow to the head of the Serpent who deceived Eve in Eden, and His glorious resurrection is the victory for all who trust in Him today.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
(Ephesians 1:7-10 ESV)
To redeem is to purchase back what was lost. In Eden, life was lost. Man traded eternal life for the lust of his flesh. He had placed his will over God's and because of this, every human is born dead in trespasses and sins. There is a wage to be paid by someone, but because man is born spiritually dead, and his heart is desperately wicked, and his best efforts still fall short, he cannot possibly pay the price that is owed for his souls redemption. But if God is truly just, someone has to pay.
The "seed" of the woman prophesied in Genesis 3 is non other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Many things from that time forward pointed to His first advent. The thousands of innocent animals sacrificed for Israel, the blood spilled on the altar of the temple, and the scapegoat released on the day of atonement all foreshadowed something greater. Even the high priest with the exclusive right to come before the presence of God looked forward to Jesus our Great High Priest. The "seed" of one woman would do all of this. Only one man was ever conceived by the holy Spirit, avoiding the sin heritage of man's seed, and born perfect. His name is Jesus!
He came to live a perfect life before the Father on our behalf. He came that He might die in our place. He, Jesus, is the Redeemer, the payment for the wages of sin. His death, His cross was the crushing blow to the head of the Serpent who deceived Eve in Eden, and His glorious resurrection is the victory for all who trust in Him today.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
(Ephesians 1:7-10 ESV)