Redemption:
Definition of Terms:
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The term Redemption derives from the Latin redemptio, meaning “a buying back” or “ransom.” It emphasizes that Christ’s sacrifice paid the price for human sin and opened the possibility of reconciliation between humanity and God. Redemption is an objective event accomplished by Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross. It is something done for the human race as a whole, not something that can be earned by individuals. Thus, Scripture teaches that the entire human race has been redeemed, although this does not guarantee individual salvation;
“[God] desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all.” 1 Timothy 2:4-6
“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3:16-17
Although Christ redeemed all of humanity, not everyone will be saved. Redemption restored humanity’s broken relationship with God, making available to all the grace necessary for salvation. This grace was merited by Christ through His obedience and death on the cross and cannot be earned. However, personal salvation requires cooperation with this grace that flows from Christ’s redemptive work. It is through cooperation with God’s grace that the redemption of the human race can be fully realized in a person’s life (i.e., through justification and sanctification), and lead to salvation. Thus, while Redemption makes grace available, salvation involves the individual’s cooperation with this grace through faith, good works, and living a holy life. This requires ongoing engagement with the grace that Christ won through His death and resurrection.
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13
“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.” Romans 5:10
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13-14
The Church Fathers continuously taught that while Christ redeemed the world, recapitulating the world through Himself, that personal salvation was conditional upon one’s response to grace. The Fathers taught that because of Christ’s obedience unto death, the Father greatly exulted Him, bestowing upon Him a name above every other name. His obedience thus merited the grace necessary for the salvation of humanity. The rewards of His Passion is God’s grace shared with the Church. It is only in our response to the grace bestowed on us that we can hope for salvation.
“He who created you without you will not justify you without you.”
(Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 169)“God’s part is to provide grace; yours is to accept and guard it.” (John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 1)
“For it was necessary for our salvation that the Divine Majesty should do that which had to be done to redeem us from the bonds of death… in such a way that the grace of God might be made more manifest in our recovery than was the power of Satan in our fall.” (Pope Leo the Great, Sermon 26, On the Feast of the Nativity)
Bible Verses:
Philippians 2:8-9
“And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name.”
1 Timothy 2:4-6:
“[God] desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all.”
John 3:16-17
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”
1 John 2:2
“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
Romans 5:10
“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.”
Philippians 2:12-13
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
Church Father Quotes:
Irenaeus of Lyons
“But when He became incarnate and was made man, He recapitulated in Himself the long history of humanity, and procured for us a comprehensive salvation, so that we might receive the grace of fellowship with God.” (Against Heresies, Book III, 18.7)
Athanasius of Alexandria
“For it was for this end that He both came and was manifest to bring the world to life, and to present the whole of creation to the Father.” (Against the Arians, Discourse I|, 69)
“The Word of God came in His own person, because it was He alone, the Image of the Father, who could recreate man made after the Image.” (On the Incarnation, 13.7)
“For the Son of God became man so that we might become God; and He manifested Himself in a body so that we might receive the knowledge of the invisible Father.” (On the Incarnation 54)
Gregory of Nyssa
“He who is the Life comes into death, and by meeting it, destroys its power.” (The Great Catechism,
32)
John Chrysostom
“God’s part is to provide grace; yours is to accept and guard it.” (Homily on Ephesians 1)
Ambrose of Milan
“In Adam I fell, in Adam I was expelled from Paradise; in Adam I died. How shall I return to Paradise unless I am justified in Christ? …
You shall be justified, not by yourself, but in Him.” (On the Death of Satyrus, Book 2)
Augustine of Hippo
“He who created you without you will not justify you without you.”
(Sermon 169)
Cyril of Alexandria
“Christ gave His own body for the life of all, and His flesh came to be a source of life to those who partake of it, driving away death by communion with His life-giving power.” (Commentary on John, Book 4)
Pope Leo the Great
“For it was necessary for our salvation that the Divine Majesty should do that which had to be done to redeem us from the bonds of death… in such a way that the grace of God might be made more manifest in our recovery than was the power of Satan in our fall.” (Sermon 26, On the Feast of the Nativity)