Introduction
Only Jesus Christ has the power to save sinners from damnation. Though there have been many pretenders who have claimed to offer alternative ways to God, it is only Christ who shed His sacrificial blood to ransom sinners. No man or angel has the power to redeem. This means that we cannot view the Lord in any way less than God.
The Redeemer
From the beginning, God showed Himself as having power to redeem His people. Throughout the history of Israel we see that God gave Laws of atonement so that people could get pardon from their sins. According to the Law of Moses sacrifices were offered to God year after year for the remission of sin, yet no one could be truly sanctified by the blood of animals. The Bible says in Hebrew 10:2-4, “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” Nevertheless, throughout the Old Testament Jehovah is described as the Redeemer. “And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer” (Psalm 78:35).
Also in Isaiah 41:14 we read, “Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.”
The Most High God, who is our Redeemer, is none other than Jesus who came down in the form of a man to redeem us from our sins and Satan. Since the blood of sacrificed sheep and goats could not save, a perfect, sinless man had to pay the price for sin. Jesus, as the perfect man and mediator, shed His blood on the cross so that sinners could be saved. “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). “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises” (Hebrews 8:6). Jesus said in Matthew 26:28, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
In Him is redemption
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
Jesus is both God and Redeemer. Job looked forward to the day when he would see his Redeemer, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me” (Job 19:25-27). He knew Jehovah as Redeemer, yet spoke of Him walking on the earth in the last days. In both His first and second coming, Jesus is that Redeemer, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2) … “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come” (Isaiah 63:1-4).
Today His pardon is available to all who come to Him in repentance and faith. No matter what sin a person may have committed, He can wash them whiter than snow. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
Power to forgive
“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house” (Matthew 9:6). How could Jesus claim to forgive sin if He is not God, the same Redeemer seen in the Old Testament? Along with the religious leaders of His day, only those who misunderstand and reject Christ refuse to believe that He is the Redeemer, “Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?” (Mark 2:7).
This power to forgive was an accepted fact in the early church, for we read in Acts 5:30-31 that Peter, as he stood before the council, said, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” Hebrews 9:22 says, “Without shedding of blood there is no remission.” Jesus shed His blood to forgive our sins. “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered” (Romans 4:7). The apostles Peter and Paul are stating that a person can only receive this forgiveness through faith in Christ who has paid the penalty on the cross. “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43).
Conclusion
1John 2:1 says that Jesus Christ is our “Advocate”, and in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We need only avail ourselves of what Christ has done through faith. We must trust Jesus Christ alone for our eternal salvation. We are not to trust in our own works or the works of another, but only in the One who is “Mighty to save”, for He only has the power to save sinners. The power is still in His blood.
Page created 10 February 2007