23/03/2017 - OUR REDEMPTION

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For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, And ransomed him from the hand of one stronger than he. Jeremiah 31:11

In this context Jacob stands for the people of God.  There was no escaping slavery to the devil because sin had steered us away from the Lord.  In order for spiritual death – the separation from God – to not be eternal and nothing could be done in our favor, the Almighty expelled man from the Garden of Eden and protected it with a flaming sword that encircled the garden, blocking and guarding the way to the tree of life.  If man ate of this fruit he would certainly die eternally.

In order for the children of Israel to leave Egypt, the Lord prepared Moses during many years and when the time was right, He sent him to tell the Pharaoh to let His chosen people go free.  This act symbolized the work to be done for all of humanity seeing as man had no way to come to the Father since the fall.  It became imperative to perform a righteous work where Someone without sin would pay for the redemption: The Son of God.

Our deliverance was foretold ever since Adam fell at Eden.  Even though the devil strived fiercely for it not to happen, the Almighty fulfilled the plan accordingly and consequently we were all delivered. Our ransom was paid with the blood of Christ.  In these days there is nothing more to be done to free man, except to preach the Gospel so that more can hear, receive, accept and be free.

The cost of releasing us from eternal slavery was very high.  God sent his Only Begotten Son to take upon Himself our guilt, our sins, our iniquities, infirmities, sufferings and punishments in order to bring his peace.  As a silent lamb before his shearers, the Savior walked to the cross.  There, all our errors and sufferings befell Him who bore everything in our stead with His love for us.

Just as the Almighty prophesied Jesus did what He had said.  Due to this, all those who accept, believe and receive Him as Lord and Savior does not and will not perish, nor is subjected any longer to the forces of darkness.  By accepting Him as the perfect substitute in your place, you rid yourself from the hatred of the devil, you are born again and become a legitimate son or daughter of God.  In Christ, the suffering ceases, the stain of sin is washed and you become one with the Father.  Why not receive Him now?

The saved are free! There is no longer any condemnation against one who is in Jesus.  We used to walk vainly in our flesh doing the devil’s bidding; now we live under the direction of the Holy Spirit.  We are blameless by reason of the blood of the Lamb, not because we didn’t sin, but because Jesus died in our place.  In Him we are made anew and are delivered away from eternal damnation.

The true Jacob was redeemed: this includes me and you and as many as love the Lord, descending from Abraham’s seed or not. Now we are transferred from death to life and will never perish, seeing as we left the dominion of darkness for that of Jesus Christ. The best thing we did in our lives was to accept the invitation to salvation!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares