Redemption

The Old Testament Schematic for God’s Rescue Operation

The earliest promise of world wide salvation occurs amidst the judgments for sin in Genesis 3:15 . Later (Genesis 3:15 ) blood sacrifice would be introduced, prefiguring the sacrifice of Christ (John 1:29 .
The Torah institued the priesthood/sacrificial system which defined in picture form the need for an intermediary and for substitutionary blood atonement (Leviticus 16:15-22 , Leviticus 17:11 ))
The Psalms and Wisdom books express the Old Testament longing for redemption (Psalms 2:7 ), justice (Psalms 10:12-13 ), purity (Psalms 51:10,12 ), God’s presence (Psalms 16:11 ), an wisdom (Proverbs 1:7 ). Israelite kings woeful record solidified this hope.
The Prophets point to the expectation of a Coming Messianic King (Isaiah 9:7 ), and a Suffering Servant (Psalms 16:1,6-8 , Isaiah 53 ). This coming One whould be divine in status, the exalted title-Jehovah used of Him. “For the prophet Micah (Micah 5:2 ), He is Jehovah, whose going out has been from eternity unto eternity,” for Jeremiah (Jeremiah 23:5-6 ). “Jehovah our righteousness,” and for Malachi (Malachi 3:1 ) “Jehovah whom you seek,” and the “Angel of the Covenant whom you desire.”

The New Testament Arrival of the Deliverer-King Jesus

Jesus came as the heir to the thrne of David (Luke 1:31-33 , Romans 1:3,4 ), fulfulling all the hopes of the OT ( Luke 24:44-47 ).
Jesus came with sovereign power over desease (Matthew 4:23-24 ), death (John 11 ), sin (Mark 2:1-12 ), occult (Mark 5:1-13 , Hebrews 2:14-15 ), and nature (Mark 4:35-41 ).
Jesus came to die on a cross as the predicted “Suffering Servant”. (Mark 10:45 )
- Reconcilation - (Ephesians 1:7 ), penal substitutionary atonement (Hebrews 9:11,26 , 1 Peter 2:24 , 1 Timothy 2:6 , 2 Corinthians 5:15 )
- Propitiation - (Romans 3:25 ) The law/sin/death cycle was destroyed.
- Redemption - (Mark 10:45 )
- Forgiveness - (Ephesians 1:7 )
- Justification - (Romans 5:1 )
Jesus is resurrected bodily from the grave, and ascends to God’s right hand (Acts 2:32-33 ), now credentialed as the only viable Savior of the human race (Acts 4:12 ). His clear victory confirms the promise of the final restoration of all things (1 Corinthians 15:24-25 ).

The Good News of Deliverance from Sin’s Stranglehold

God intervened with grace and mercy (Luke 19:10 , John 6:44,65 , Ephesians 2:1-7 , 1 Timothy 2:6 ).
God calls sinners to repentance and faith (Mark 1:15 , John 1:12-13 , Acts 11:18 , Romans 10:9-10 , Ephesians 2:8-10 ).
God preserves His people, giving them the strength to persevere (John 10:27-29 , Hebrews 10:35-39 , Jude 24-25 ).

“For waht is more consonant with faith than to recognize that we are naked of all virtue, in order to be clothed by God? That we are empty of all good, to be filled by him? That we are slaves of sin, to be freed by him? Blind, to be illuminated by him? Lame, to be made straight by him? Weak to be sustained by him? To take away from us all occasion for glorying, that he alone may stand forth gloriously and we glory in him [cf. 1 Corinthians 1:31 ; 2 Corinthians 10:17 ]?” John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion.