MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
October 15, 2025
God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration
THE PURPOSE OF THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION
“But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us [4 things] wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and REDEMPTION.” 1 Cor. 1:30, KJV.
Definitions of “redemption.”
The untranslated Greek word is ‘apulustrosis’, meaning “The act of ransom in full; figuratively, riddance, or specifically, Christian salvation; deliverance.” See Luke 21:28; Rom. 8:23; 1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 1: 7, 14; 4:30; Heb. 9: 15.
Webster’s: Collegiate Dictionary Fifth Edition, 1942, has this definition of REDEEM:
“To regain possession of by repurchase, or especially, payment of amount due as on a pledge or mortgage. To rescue or deliver, as from bondage, by paying a ransom… To make amends for; atone for. To fulfill, as a promise. Theologically, To rescue and deliver from the bondage of sin and the penalties of God’s violated [transgressed] law. Synonym: Ransom.” (end quote).
With these helpful, incisive insights, consider the following (all emphases provided):
“To restore IN man the IMAGE of his Maker, to BRING HIM BACK TO THE PERFECTION IN WHICH HE WAS CREATED. . . . This was to be the WORK of redemption.” E. G. White, Education, pp. 15, 16.
“The PLAN of redemption contemplates our COMPLETE RECOVERY FROM THE POWER OF SATAN. Christ always SEPARATES the contrite [humble, penitent; repentant] soul FROM SIN. He came to destroy the works of the devil, and He had made PROVISION that the Holy Spirit be IMPARTED to every repentant soul to KEEP HIM FROM SINNING. . . .
There is NO EXCUSE FOR SINNING. A holy temper, a Christian life, is ACCESSIBLE to every repenting, believing child of God. THE IDEAL OF CHRISTIAN CHARACTER IS CHRISTLIKENESS. As the Son of man [incarnated human nature as ‘the second Adam’] was PERFECT in His life, so HIS FOLLOWERS are to be perfect in their life. . . . HIS CHARACTER IS TO BE OURS.” Ibid, The Desire of Ages, p. 311.
Dear friend, do you claim to be a follower of Christ, a child of God, a born-again, Bible-and-Bible only believer?
If so, is your faith “the faith of Jesus,” such that it not only grasps this gloriously “simple, accurate, and pure truth”, but cherishes it by “pressing towards this definitive life-goal as the very “mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus?”
To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.