The Finished Work of Christ - redemption
Kenny Hodges
October 24, 2016

The Finished Work of Christ

“When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” John 19:10

What was finished? God’s provision of salvation for the world because of His love for mankind. John 3:16-18
When we speak of the finished work of Christ we mean these three doctrines:

1. REDEMPTION

2. RECONCILIATION

3. PROPITIATION

Redemption:

“Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver of gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:18

Reconciliation:

“…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them…”
2 Corinthians 5:18-21

“For while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His son…” Romans 5:10

Propitiation:

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10

“Whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood…” Romans 3:25

Each of these works of Christ on the cross has a particular aspect or a particular problem that it resolves.

Redemption deals with the issue of sin, so we can say that redemption is that work of the cross that is toward sin.

Reconciliation deals with the issue of our separation from God, so we can say that reconciliation is that work of the cross that is toward man.

Propitiation deals with the issue of God’s wrath toward sin, so we can say propitiation is that work of the cross that is toward God.

“Redemption is an act of God by which He Himself pays as a ransom the price of human sin which the outraged holiness and government of God requires. Redemption undertakes the solution of the problem of sin.” Lewis Sperry Chafer

Three distinct Greek words for redemption:

  1. Agorazo – To purchase in the market.
    Romans 7:14
    Ephesians 2:1
    Revelation 5:1-9
    2 Peter 2:1

  2. Exagorazo – To purchase out of the market.
    Galatians 3:13
    Galatians 4:5

  3. Lutron – To liberate or set free by payment of ransom.
    1 Peter 1:18
    Titus 2:14
    1 Timothy 2:6

There are two distinct dimensions of redemption:

1 – The objective, historical. Christ’s death paid the ransom price for all sin.

2 – The subjective, experiential. Those who put their faith in Christ are loosed and liberated from sin.