I – The Abundant Fruits of Redemption
The redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ produces a multitude of blessings and transformations in the lives of believers. Here are the main fruits of this saving work:
- Eternal life (Revelation 5:9-10).
- The forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace”).
- There righteousness (Romans 5:17 “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!”).
- Liberation from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.””).
- Adoption into God’s family (Galatians 4:5 “to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.“).
- Liberation from the slavery of sin (Titus 2:14 “who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”).
- Peace with God (Colossians 1:20 “and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”).
- And the presence of the Holy Spirit in us 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”).
So, to be redeemed is to be forgiven, made holy, justified, delivered, adopted, and reconciled to God.
II – Effects of Redemption
From Physical Birth to New Birth in Christ
To fully understand the diagram above, a summary of the journey “From physical birth to new birth in Christ” is essential. After physical birth on earth, here are the stages that a believer goes through:
- Physical Birth and the Inheritance of Sin
The initial physical birth marks the beginning of our earthly life. It anchors us in our sinful flesh, a consequence of original sin inherited from Adam and imputed sin, which is our legal status before divine justice.
- Spiritual death
This reality of sin leads to spiritual death. Original and imputed sin separate us from God. Because of our sinful nature, we cannot have a relationship with an eternally perfect God; sin and perfection are incompatible.
- Death with Christ
At salvation, the believer experiences a death with Christ. This process stems from repentance and redemption, two fundamental and intrinsically linked concepts in Christian theology.
- The new birth in Christ: regeneration
Birth with Christ is regeneration, obtained through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Redemption in Christ causes us to be born again, this time into union with Him. This new birth is distinct from our natural birth, by which we were physically conceived and inherited our sinful nature (see point 1).
Following this regeneration (and in connection with point 5), the believer begins to perceive, understand, and aspire to divine things, leading a life of faith and holiness. Christ is formed in his heart, and he participates in the divine nature of Christ by becoming a new creation. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 states “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!.”. This transformation is the work of God, not of man, as Ephesians 2:8 emphasizes “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—”. In His immense love, abundant grace and mercy, God freely offers this gift of regeneration.
- Spiritual rebirth and reconciliation
Spiritual rebirth occurs simultaneously with birth in Christ and marks the restoration of reconciliation with God. The believer becomes a new person, capable of entering the kingdom of God. Ephesians 2:6 says “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,”. It is through faith in Christ that he is declared righteous before God. Eternal life begins with this spiritual rebirth.
- The Dual Reality of Death Due to Sin
Death due to imputed sin presents a dual reality: it is both spiritual and physical. Spiritual death is separation from God, also caused by original sin. Physical death, or the death of the body, is the cessation of biological life, the ultimate consequence of imputed sin, inherited as a legal status since Adam’s transgression, and of personal sins. The sentence of this judgment is physical death, a tangible sign of collective condemnation and proof that “in Adam all die” (1 Corinthians 15:22 “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”).
The diagrams above refer to physical death or biological death, the general view of which is presented below.
Biological Death After Redemption
Redemption through Jesus Christ does not remove death from the biological body of believers. However, it radically changes its meaning and transforms death from a consequence of sin into a gateway to eternal life and full communion with God. Paul described this meaning as:
- A defeat of death: 1 Corinthians 15:26 states, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”. The resurrection of Jesus Christ signifies His victory over death, which has lost its power. Several biblical passages suggest that the believer’s soul is received immediately by God after death, particularly 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 “6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”.
- An End to Suffering: Romans 8:21 “that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.” expresses the idea that biological death is the end of earthly suffering and struggles related to fallen nature and the corrupt world.
- A passage, not an end: It is a passage to God’s presence instead of a gate to hell, according to 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 In Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”, the apostle Paul writes that death is gain.
- The Waiting for the Resurrection: And finally, death is not the end. Several biblical passages emphasize that, even though the soul is in the presence of God, the fullness of eternal life will be manifested at the time of the resurrection of the body at the end of time (John 5:28-29 “28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.”).
This is the parallel recap between the effect of Adam’s Sin and the effect of Redemption in Christ:
Effect of Adam’s Sin
|
Effect of Redemption in Christ |
Original sin (corrupt nature)
|
Liberation (from the power of sin) |
Imputed sin (legal guilt)
|
Imputed righteousness (declared righteous) |
Parallel Recap
The Revelation of Divine Glory Through the Plan of Redemption
The parallel we have drawn highlights a fundamental truth: the glory of God is fully revealed through His plan of redemption, a plan which, paradoxically, can only be realized in the presence of sin.
Here is how this path looks like:
Sin → Faith + Repentance → Redemption → Salvation → Glory of God
Aware of his sin, the believer manifests faith and repentance inseparably and simultaneously. These two major components of conversion are essential for turning away from sin. This means that the believer turns resolutely to Christ and His work of redemption. It is this final salvation that fully contributes to the glory of God.
Let us pray for worship of God and for the glory of God:
O Redeemer God! You have redeemed us and delivered us from the slavery of sin, the devil, and hell. We sing adoration to You and to Your glory; You Who died for us.
In Christ's Love
