To whom was the ransom price paid?

ÒThe Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.Ó (Matthew 20:28)

 

The ransom price for our souls was paid into the hands of God whose justice was offended, whose law we have broken, and who is the Lawgiver, to God who is able to save and to destroy, and against whom all sin is committed, who will by no means clear the guilty, unless His justice is satisfied. He is the Judge of all the earth who must and will do right. Therefore, Christ is said Òto redeemÓ men Òunto God by His bloodÓ (Revelation 5:9). The price of redemption, which is the blood of Christ, was paid unto God. It was by the ransom price of ChristÕs shed blood that the redemption of our souls from the vindictive justice of the infinite, holy, and righteous Lord God was obtained.

The ransom price was not paid into the hands of Satan, or any other enemy that had power over us. The power of Satan was only a usurped power. He had no legal right to hold us captives. Therefore, the delivery of our souls out of his hand is by power and not by price.

However, the justice of God had a legal right to shut us up and detain us as prisoners until satisfaction was given. Therefore redemption from avenging justice, which is the redemption that is by Christ, is redemption by a price paid to justice for the ransom of GodÕs elect. It is written, ÒOf him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the LordÓ (1 Corinthians 1:30-31). Jesus Christ is made of God unto us Redemption. He redeems and saves His people by three mighty works of deliverance.

By Ransom PriceThe Son of God paid the justly demanded price of our soulsÕ ransom from the lawÕs curse. He paid both perfect, infinitely meritorious righteousness and complete, infinitely meritorious atonement.

By Regenerating PowerAt the appointed time of love, the Lord of glory sends His Holy Spirit to regenerate, to quicken from the dead, His ransomed people. By sovereign, irresistible grace and power, the Spirit of God sets chosen, redeemed sinners free from the bondage of sin, the tyranny of Satan, and the terror of the law, calling them to life and faith in Christ. That call to life and faith is not an offer grace, but the gift and operation of grace, producing life and faith in Christ.

By Resurrection GloryAt the day appointed by the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ shall come again in power and great glory to gather His saints in the resurrection of the just into His heavenly kingdom. When He has raised our bodies from the grave and destroyed all our enemies and His, when He has glorified all His saints and made all things new, then, we shall forever be delivered from all the consequences of sin (Revelation 21:1-5).

Knowing that the precious blood of Christ is a price sufficient to satisfy the justice of God for all His elect, we rejoice to sing with confidence and joy the lines of CowperÕs great hymnÉ

ÒDear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood

Shall never lose its power

`Til all the ransomed Church of God

Be saved to sin no more!Ó

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

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