Newsletters: June 2010
Ransom and Restitution
Perhaps the most famous statement in the Bible is: “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
This statement makes several important assertions. 1.) That God cares deeply for mankind. 2.) That God gave something of great value as a provision to rescue man from death. 3.) That an intelligent acceptance of what God has provided will in fact give life in its fullness.
It has been observed by many Biblical commentators that the books of Genesis and Revelation are the beginning and end of the most profound story ever told. Genesis begins with the creation of man who was created in the mental and moral image of God - a perfectly balanced condition of mind and body.
Genesis then relates how man fell into mental, moral, and physical degradation through transgression against God. At the end of the book of Revelation we see the restoration (restitution) of mankind to the fullness of lasting life that was first enjoyed in Eden’s paradise. Everything else that is portrayed in the Bible between these two books is the elaboration of this grand theme.
What is a “Ransom”?
A ransom is usually defined as a sum paid for the release of a prisoner. Isaiah 42:7 says that God’s purpose is ultimately to “... bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”
Also, Jesus stated in Matthew 20:28 that he “came...to give his life a ransom for many.” What exactly did he mean by this statement and what are its implications?
As we just noticed, a ransom is a sum paid for the release of a prisoner. It is the price of deliverance. Upon payment of the ransom price those being held are able to return to their families and former life with all of its freedoms. This would help to explain what Jesus meant when he said he came to give his life as a ransom. Somehow the sacrifice of his life would provide the required price to allow the many to go free. When we say go free we mean freedom from all the conditions that bring about suffering and death, including death itself. The Bible refers to mankind as prisoners of hope because although they are prisoners of sin and death, there is the great hope that they shall be set free. Zechariah 9:11,12
The Bible presents a consistent story from beginning to end. Jesus’ statement regarding himself as a ransom price is readily understood when we look at how the book of Genesis presents the experiences of man at the beginning. Adam lost the liberty of life through transgression. He became a prisoner in the sense that, having violated God’s command, God’s justice required that Adam’s life be terminated. Adam (and the human race) would now walk in the prison yard in a weakened condition until the day of death.
Jesus’ declaration that he would give his life as a ransom harmonizes perfectly with the fact that Adam (and his race) needed to be ransomed from the condemnation of God’s justice if he were to have full life and liberty again. Essentially, Jesus, being a perfect man, took Adam’s place in death. This fact guarantees a resurrection from death conditions for Adam and humanity. This helps us to understand what Jesus meant when he said that he is “the resurrection and the life.” John 11:25
What is Restitution?
The word restitution means restoration or return to a former condition made by giving an equivalent compensation for loss, damage, or injury.
Many people are familiar with John Milton’s famous poem, Paradise Lost. Consistent with the Bible, he shows the lost paradise condition of human life in its fullness and perfection. This is to be restored through the payment of Jesus’ ransom sacrifice and the restoration work of Christ and the Church. The Bible begins to become very understandable when we see that its main features are so clearly stated. We can begin to more clearly see just how it is that Jesus died for our sins and what the grand outcome is intended to be. 1 Corinthians 15:3
For centuries a majority of Christian denominations have taught that the only ones who will receive life through faith in Christ are Christians and that when the end comes all others will be lost. Sadly, if this were true, then the vast majority of the human race would not receive a resurrection from the dead. It surprises many to discover that this long-held view is not consistent with what the Bible presents. It is true that Christians, who believe in Christ’s ransom work, have a certain advantage ahead of the world of mankind. In general, Christian faith has a somewhat different purpose in God’s arrangement compared to mankind’s assisted faith during the coming age of restoration.
The fact that the benefits of Christ’s ransom work extend beyond the Church is explained in 1 John 2:2 where it says that Jesus “is a propitiation (satisfaction) for our sins: and not for our sins only but for the sins of the whole world.” When John says “our” he means the “Church of the firstborn” Hebrews 12:23 The word firstborn implies others are to come after. This point helps us to understand what Paul meant when he said, “Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world.” 1 Corinthians 6:2 In other words, after the Church of Christ is resurrected to spirit conditions they will be instrumental in the world of mankind’s restitution or restoration.
One of the most important scriptural statements along this line is Acts 3:21. It says of Christ: “Whom the heaven must retain until the times of restitution (restoration) of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”
Isaiah Eloquently Prophesies of the Time of Restitution
Acts 3:21 stated that all the holy prophets spoke of “the times of restitution of all things”. One of these was Isaiah. Throughout the sixty-six chapters of his book there are many references to the grand restoration of the human family, which includes a resurrection of those that have already gone to the grave.
In Isaiah 35:10 this grand prophet captures the greatness of the outcome of Jesus’ ransom sacrifice on behalf of mankind when he says, “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
In chapter 26:9 Isaiah states that during the restoration time “theinhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.”
In chapter 61:11 he also proclaimed: “For as the earth brings forth her bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all nations.”
Again, Isaiah 42:7 speaks of the release of the prisoners from their bondage to weakness and death when he shows that the purpose of the restitution is “To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”
The Law of Equity
Everything God does must obviously be consistent with His own laws. In Psalm 97:2 we read that “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.” In Romans 3:25,26 the Apostle Paul explains that because Jesus has become a propitiation (or satisfaction for sin) that God has settled the account of justice against man. In other words, God has been just and right with His own laws. Not only that, but God has also provided the way for man to be justified and restored to conditions of eternal life. The text goes on to say that Jesus’ death and resurrection shows that God is just, and at the same time the justifier of all which believes in Jesus.
The Kingdom Rule
When the time for the general resurrection of mankind begins the world will be under a very different governmental administration. Isaiah 9:6,7 tells us that the “government will be upon Christ’s shoulders”, and that he will be known as the “Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end.”
Faith in Christ, the princely ruler of the Kingdom, and obedience to the laws of righteousness will be the requirement for all if they are to make personal progress toward full perfection of human nature (all that was lost in Adam.) Act 3:23 states that “it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear [obey] that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.”
We need to understand that life for mankind is intended by God to be life lived in righteousness. No one should ever fear such an expectation nor feel it too exacting, for all will be given the strength to grow into these capacities. Mankind will indeed rejoice as these things are actually achieved in their lives, for everyone will become a great blessing to each other. This fact is beautifully stated in Isaiah 25:9 “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
When Shall These Things Be?
The question naturally arises: If Jesus paid man’s ransom price two thousand years ago why is Christ’s Kingdom not established in the earth, and why hasn’t the restitution begun? Anyone acquainted with the Bible can see that time has been an important feature in how God has kept His promises from age to age. The Apostle Paul sheds a great deal of light on this question of time with one simple statement. He said in 1 Timothy 2:6“Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” In other words, the appropriate time in God’s plan will come for Jesus’ work of ransoming mankind to be understood by the world. At that time all will be able to take advantage of the restoration work that will be based on Jesus’ ransom sacrifice.
If the most famous statement in the Bible is “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”, then perhaps the second most famous statement is found in the words of Jesus’ model prayer, where he taught us pray: “ Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 The fact of the matter is that this Kingdom will come in due time, and God’s promise of restoring mankind to perfection shall be done on earth because it was willed in heaven.
For a more complete study of this wonderful topic we are pleased to offer you the free booklet God’s Millennium.
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