Becoming the storm!!! by Gary Rose

Christians, we are in a war against evil- evil that is personified in our greatest antagonist, the DEVIL!! He will do anything and everything he can to destroy you!!! Don't listen to his whispers of impending doom, trust in God and fight back in a Godly manner. Specifically...

Ephesians, Chapter 6 (World English Bible)

 ¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.  ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  ¹² For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (vs. 13 emp. GDR) ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  ¹⁵ and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace,  ¹⁶ above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.  ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

This is one passage of Scripture that we should read, then read again and again!!! When we use God's methods to combat evil, WE BECOME THE STORM- IN SATAN'S FACE!!!

BELIEVE IT- ITS ABSOLUTELY TRUE!!!

Bible Reading January 27, 28, 29 by Gary Rose

Bible Reading January 27, 28, 29 (World English Bible)

Jan. 27

Genesis 27

Gen 27:1 It happened, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said to him, "My son?" He said to him, "Here I am."

Gen 27:2 He said, "See now, I am old. I don't know the day of my death.

Gen 27:3 Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and take me venison.

Gen 27:4 Make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat, and that my soul may bless you before I die."

Gen 27:5 Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

Gen 27:6 Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, "Behold, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying,

Gen 27:7 'Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless you before Yahweh before my death.'

Gen 27:8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command you.

Gen 27:9 Go now to the flock, and get me from there two good kids of the goats. I will make them savory food for your father, such as he loves.

Gen 27:10 You shall bring it to your father, that he may eat, so that he may bless you before his death."

Gen 27:11 Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.

Gen 27:12 What if my father touches me? I will seem to him as a deceiver, and I would bring a curse on myself, and not a blessing."

Gen 27:13 His mother said to him, "Let your curse be on me, my son. Only obey my voice, and go get them for me."

Gen 27:14 He went, and got them, and brought them to his mother. His mother made savory food, such as his father loved.

Gen 27:15 Rebekah took the good clothes of Esau, her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob, her younger son.

Gen 27:16 She put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands, and on the smooth of his neck.

Gen 27:17 She gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

Gen 27:18 He came to his father, and said, "My father?" He said, "Here I am. Who are you, my son?"

Gen 27:19 Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau your firstborn. I have done what you asked me to do. Please arise, sit and eat of my venison, that your soul may bless me."

Gen 27:20 Isaac said to his son, "How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?" He said, "Because Yahweh your God gave me success."

Gen 27:21 Isaac said to Jacob, "Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not."

Gen 27:22 Jacob went near to Isaac his father. He felt him, and said, "The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau."

Gen 27:23 He didn't recognize him, because his hands were hairy, like his brother, Esau's hands. So he blessed him.

Gen 27:24 He said, "Are you really my son Esau?" He said, "I am."

Gen 27:25 He said, "Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless you." He brought it near to him, and he ate. He brought him wine, and he drank.

Gen 27:26 His father Isaac said to him, "Come near now, and kiss me, my son."

Gen 27:27 He came near, and kissed him. He smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him, and said, "Behold, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which Yahweh has blessed.

Gen 27:28 God give you of the dew of the sky, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and new wine.

Gen 27:29 Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers. Let your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you. Blessed be everyone who blesses you."

Gen 27:30 It happened, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob had just gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

Gen 27:31 He also made savory food, and brought it to his father. He said to his father, "Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that your soul may bless me."

Gen 27:32 Isaac his father said to him, "Who are you?" He said, "I am your son, your firstborn, Esau."

Gen 27:33 Isaac trembled violently, and said, "Who, then, is he who has taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before you came, and have blessed him? Yes, he will be blessed."

Gen 27:34 When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry, and said to his father, "Bless me, even me also, my father."

Gen 27:35 He said, "Your brother came with deceit, and has taken away your blessing."

Gen 27:36 He said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright. See, now he has taken away my blessing." He said, "Haven't you reserved a blessing for me?"

Gen 27:37 Isaac answered Esau, "Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brothers have I given to him for servants. With grain and new wine have I sustained him. What then will I do for you, my son?"

Gen 27:38 Esau said to his father, "Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, my father." Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.

Gen 27:39 Isaac his father answered him, "Behold, of the fatness of the earth will be your dwelling, and of the dew of the sky from above.

Gen 27:40 By your sword will you live, and you will serve your brother. It will happen, when you will break loose, that you shall shake his yoke from off your neck."

Gen 27:41 Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him. Esau said in his heart, "The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then I will kill my brother Jacob."

Gen 27:42 The words of Esau, her elder son, were told to Rebekah. She sent and called Jacob, her younger son, and said to him, "Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you.

Gen 27:43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban, my brother, in Haran.

Gen 27:44 Stay with him a few days, until your brother's fury turns away;

Gen 27:45 until your brother's anger turn away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send, and get you from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?"

Gen 27:46 Rebekah said to Isaac, "I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these, of the daughters of the land, what good will my life do me?"

Jan. 28

Genesis 28

Gen 28:1 Isaac called Jacob, blessed him, and commanded him, "You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.

Gen 28:2 Arise, go to Paddan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father. Take a wife from there from the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother.

Gen 28:3 May God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, that you may be a company of peoples,

Gen 28:4 and give you the blessing of Abraham, to you, and to your seed with you, that you may inherit the land where you travel, which God gave to Abraham."

Gen 28:5 Isaac sent Jacob away. He went to Paddan Aram to Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, Rebekah's brother, Jacob's and Esau's mother.

Gen 28:6 Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan Aram, to take him a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a command, saying, "You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan,"

Gen 28:7 and that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan Aram.

Gen 28:8 Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan didn't please Isaac, his father.

Gen 28:9 Esau went to Ishmael, and took, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.

Gen 28:10 Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.

Gen 28:11 He came to a certain place, and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. He took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep.

Gen 28:12 He dreamed. Behold, a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

Gen 28:13 Behold, Yahweh stood above it, and said, "I am Yahweh, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. The land whereon you lie, to you will I give it, and to your seed.

Gen 28:14 Your seed will be as the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. In you and in your seed will all the families of the earth be blessed.

Gen 28:15 Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken of to you."

Gen 28:16 Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said, "Surely Yahweh is in this place, and I didn't know it."

Gen 28:17 He was afraid, and said, "How dreadful is this place! This is none other than God's house, and this is the gate of heaven."

Gen 28:18 Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on its top.

Gen 28:19 He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.

Gen 28:20 Jacob vowed a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on,

Gen 28:21 so that I come again to my father's house in peace, and Yahweh will be my God,

Gen 28:22 then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be God's house. Of all that you will give me I will surely give the tenth to you."

Jan. 29

Genesis 29

Gen 29:1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.

Gen 29:2 He looked, and behold, a well in the field, and, behold, three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. The stone on the well's mouth was large.

Gen 29:3 There all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again on the well's mouth in its place.

Gen 29:4 Jacob said to them, "My relatives, where are you from?" They said, "We are from Haran."

Gen 29:5 He said to them, "Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?" They said, "We know him."

Gen 29:6 He said to them, "Is it well with him?" They said, "It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep."

Gen 29:7 He said, "Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them."

Gen 29:8 They said, "We can't, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well's mouth. Then we water the sheep."

Gen 29:9 While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she kept them.

Gen 29:10 It happened, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.

Gen 29:11 Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

Gen 29:12 Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son. She ran and told her father.

Gen 29:13 It happened, when Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister's son, that he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things.

Gen 29:14 Laban said to him, Surely you are my bone and my flesh. He lived with him for a month.

Gen 29:15 Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?"

Gen 29:16 Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

Gen 29:17 Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.

Gen 29:18 Jacob loved Rachel. He said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter."

Gen 29:19 Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me."

Gen 29:20 Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.

Gen 29:21 Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her."

Gen 29:22 Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

Gen 29:23 It happened in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him. He went in to her.

Gen 29:24 Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid to his daughter Leah for a handmaid.

Gen 29:25 It happened in the morning that, behold, it was Leah. He said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Didn't I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?"

Gen 29:26 Laban said, "It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.

Gen 29:27 Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me yet seven other years."

Gen 29:28 Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife.

Gen 29:29 Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah, his handmaid, to be her handmaid.

Gen 29:30 He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

Gen 29:31 Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.

Gen 29:32 Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, "Because Yahweh has looked at my affliction. For now my husband will love me."

Gen 29:33 She conceived again, and bore a son, and said, "Because Yahweh has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also." She named him Simeon.

Gen 29:34 She conceived again, and bore a son. Said, "Now this time will my husband be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons." Therefore was his name called Levi.

Gen 29:35 She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, "This time will I praise Yahweh." Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.

Jan. 27, 28

Matthew 14

Mat 14:1 At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus,

Mat 14:2 and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him."

Mat 14:3 For Herod had laid hold of John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.

Mat 14:4 For John said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."

Mat 14:5 When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

Mat 14:6 But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod.

Mat 14:7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask.

Mat 14:8 She, being prompted by her mother, said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer."

Mat 14:9 The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths, and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given,

Mat 14:10 and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.

Mat 14:11 His head was brought on a platter, and given to the young lady: and she brought it to her mother.

Mat 14:12 His disciples came, and took the body, and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.

Mat 14:13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat, to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.

Mat 14:14 Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them, and healed their sick.

Mat 14:15 When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, "This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food."

Mat 14:16 But Jesus said to them, "They don't need to go away. You give them something to eat."

Mat 14:17 They told him, "We only have here five loaves and two fish."

Mat 14:18 He said, "Bring them here to me."

Mat 14:19 He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes.

Mat 14:20 They all ate, and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces.

Mat 14:21 Those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Mat 14:22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

Mat 14:23 After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone.

Mat 14:24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

Mat 14:25 In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.

Mat 14:26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It's a ghost!" and they cried out for fear.

Mat 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying "Cheer up! It is I! Don't be afraid."

Mat 14:28 Peter answered him and said, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters."

Mat 14:29 He said, "Come!" Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus.

Mat 14:30 But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"

Mat 14:31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Mat 14:32 When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased.

Mat 14:33 Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, "You are truly the Son of God!"

Mat 14:34 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.

Mat 14:35 When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region, and brought to him all who were sick,

Mat 14:36 and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.

Jan. 29, 30

Matthew 15

Mat 15:1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying,

Mat 15:2 "Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don't wash their hands when they eat bread."

Mat 15:3 He answered them, "Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?

Mat 15:4 For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.'

Mat 15:5 But you say, 'Whoever may tell his father or his mother, "Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,"

Mat 15:6 he shall not honor his father or mother.' You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition.

Mat 15:7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,

Mat 15:8 'These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Mat 15:9 And in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrine rules made by men.' "

Mat 15:10 He summoned the multitude, and said to them, "Hear, and understand.

Mat 15:11 That which enters into the mouth doesn't defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man."

Mat 15:12 Then the disciples came, and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying?"

Mat 15:13 But he answered, "Every plant which my heavenly Father didn't plant will be uprooted.

Mat 15:14 Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit."

Mat 15:15 Peter answered him, "Explain the parable to us."

Mat 15:16 So Jesus said, "Do you also still not understand?

Mat 15:17 Don't you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly, and then out of the body?

Mat 15:18 But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man.

Mat 15:19 For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.

Mat 15:20 These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn't defile the man."

Mat 15:21 Jesus went out from there, and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon.

Mat 15:22 Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely demonized!"

Mat 15:23 But he answered her not a word. His disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away; for she cries after us."

Mat 15:24 But he answered, "I wasn't sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

Mat 15:25 But she came and worshiped him, saying, "Lord, help me."

Mat 15:26 But he answered, "It is not appropriate to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."

Mat 15:27 But she said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."

Mat 15:28 Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that hour.

Mat 15:29 Jesus departed there, and came near to the sea of Galilee; and he went up into the mountain, and sat there.

Mat 15:30 Great multitudes came to him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others, and they put them down at his feet. He healed them,

Mat 15:31 so that the multitude wondered when they saw the mute speaking, injured whole, lame walking, and blind seeing-and they glorified the God of Israel.

Mat 15:32 Jesus summoned his disciples and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I don't want to send them away fasting, or they might faint on the way."

Mat 15:33 The disciples said to him, "Where should we get so many loaves in a deserted place as to satisfy so great a multitude?"

Mat 15:34 Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish."

Mat 15:35 He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground;

Mat 15:36 and he took the seven loaves and the fish. He gave thanks and broke them, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.

Mat 15:37 They all ate, and were filled. They took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over.

Mat 15:38 Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.

Mat 15:39 Then he sent away the multitudes, got into the boat, and came into the borders of Magdala.

Jesus Christ Is The Propitiation For Our Sins by Roy Davison

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/redemption.html

Jesus Christ Is The Propitiation For Our Sins

The Apostle John writes these reassuring words: "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world" (1 John 2:1, 2).
What does it mean that Jesus is the propitiation for our sins? John uses the same word in chapter four: "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:9, 10).
What does the word 'propitiation' mean? These are the only two passages in the New Testament where this specific Greek word is used, but twelve other words are used that have a similar meaning (from four word families).
One English word must sometimes be used to translate several Greek words. Thus, a discussion of the Greek words can help us to understand this subject.
The English word 'propitiation' refers to something that makes peace by satisfying a demand. In reference to religion it refers to an atonement for sin to regain God's favor. Thus these passages teach that God gave His Son as an atonement for our sins because He loves us.
The Greek word here, ‛ιλασμός, is a noun, defined as atonement, expiation, propitiation, a means of appeasing.
Two other words in the same family are also used to describe what Jesus has done for us.
"Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people" (Hebrews 2:17).
Here we have the verb form of the same word, ‛ιλάσκομαι, defined as 'to atone for (sin) or to make reconciliation'. Notice that this 'making amends for sin' relates to the activity of a priest and that the Messiah had to be a man to accomplish this task.
Another word in the same family is ‛ιλαστήρον that refers to the 'mercy seat', a place of atonement in the Old Testament temple (Hebrews 9:5) or to an atoning victim, an expiatory sacrifice.
This word is found in Romans 3:25. How Christ serves as a propitiation for our sins is explained by Paul in Romans 3:21-26. "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus" (Romans 3:21-26).
We all sin and fall short of the glory of God, which separates us from God. Because God is righteous, He cannot condone sin. Thus, amends must be made for our sin before we can be reconciled with God. God accomplished this by sending His own Son to atone for our sins.
"The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Although we deserve to die because of our sins, God sent His Son to die in our place so we can be saved.
In verse 24 we find a word from a different family with a related meaning: redemption. We are "justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith" (Romans 3:24, 25).
Five words from this family are used in the New Testament to describe redemption through Christ. The root meaning of these words is 'ransom'. A ransom is what is paid so someone can be set free.
Here we have the word απολύτρωσις. The prefix απο gives this word the added force that the ransom has been paid in full. It is defined as 'redemption, deliverance, a liberation accomplished by the payment of a ransom'. This word appears in the following passages to describe what Jesus has done for us.
"But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30 NASV).
"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7).
"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:13, 14).
"But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance" (Hebrews 9:11-15).
This word, as used in verse fifteen, indicates that the blood of Christ also cleansed those who served God under the Old Covenant. The thousands of animal sacrifices were not in and of themselves effectual, but sins were forgiven because they were representations of the true sacrifice that would be made later by the Lamb of God.
In verse twelve a different word is used for redemption, λύτρωσις, defined as 'redemption, a ransoming, deliverance from the penalty of sin': "With His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption" (Hebrews 9:12).
We notice that this word is related to the work of a priest who offers a sacrifice for the sins of the people.
Remember that this word family is based on the root word for ransom. The basic verb is λυτρόω which means 'to ransom, to redeem, to liberate by payment of a ransom'.
Paul uses this word to describe our purification by the sacrifice of Christ: "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works" (Titus 2:11-14).
This word is also used by Peter: "And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:17-19).
The basic noun for ransom is λύτρον which is used in Mark 10:45. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45 // Matthew 20:28).
To whom is the ransom paid? This question has been hotly debated. Some even claim that the ransom was paid to the devil! But the devil is owed nothing. His power is solely negative. We are in the power of the devil only because we have chosen to sin and rebel against God. When God forgives our sins and transfers us into the kingdom of His son (Colossians 1:13) the devil no longer has us in his grip.
The ransom is paid to satisfy the justice of God. God's righteousness requires that sin be punished. Because of His love for us He sent His Son to become a man, to live without sin, and to take upon Himself the punishment for our sins, He "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness -- by whose stripes you were healed" (1 Peter 2:24).
The word αντίλυτρον, that also means 'ransom: what is given in exchange for another as the price of his redemption', is found in Paul's first letter to Timothy. "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time" (1 Timothy 2:5, 6).
Two other words used to describe the atonement of Christ have the basic meaning 'to buy'.
The word εξαγοράζω means 'to buy up, to buy back, buy off, to ransom, to redeem'. "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree')" (Galatians 3:13). "But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons" (Galatians 4:4, 5).
The word αγοράζω is simply the common word for 'buy'. God has bought us with the blood of His Son!
"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20).
"You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men" (1 Corinthians 7:23).
Certain false teachers "will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them" (2 Peter 2:1).
The 'new song' is sung in heaven by those who have been purchased by the blood of Christ. "And they sang a new song, saying: 'You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation'" (Revelation 5:9). "They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb" (Revelation 14:3, 4).
Another word family has the basic meaning of 'restore a relationship, reconcile'.
One form is αποκαταλλάσσω which means 'to reconcile, to restore to favor'. Paul explains how God reconciled us to Himself by Christ.
"For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight" (Colossians 1:19-22).
"For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity" (Ephesians 2:14-16).
This word family has the verb καταλλάσσω and the noun καταλλαγή: 'to reconcile' and 'reconciliation'. The basic meaning is 'reunite after separation'.
"For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation" (Romans 5:10, 11).
"Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).
Jesus Christ is the propitiation for our sins! We have all sinned and deserve to die. But God loves us so much that He sent his Son to undergo the penalty for our sins. He redeemed us by His blood. He bore our sins in His body on the cross. He paid the price for our sins so God could forgive us without violating His own righteousness.
If you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, if you are willing to turn away from sin and dedicate your life to God, if you are willing to confess Christ, and if you are baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for the remission of your sins (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38), you will be redeemed by the blood of Christ. Your sins will be washed away (Acts 22:16) and you will be reconciled to God (Romans 5:10).
Roy Davison

The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982,
Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers unless indicated otherwise.
Permission for reference use has been granted.

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)