God's Plan of Redemption through Jesus Christ

God's plan of redemption is rooted in the biblical concept of redemption, which involves the purchase back of something lost through the payment of a ransom ^[2]. The Greek word for redemption, "apolutrosis," occurs nine times in Scripture and always implies a ransom or price paid ^[2]. This concept is central to understanding God's plan of salvation.

The biblical anchor for God's plan of redemption is found in various passages, including Romans 3:24, which states that believers are "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" ^[1]. This verse highlights the role of Christ Jesus in effecting redemption. Other key passages include Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45, which describe Christ's purpose as giving his life as a ransom for many ^[2].

The plan of redemption involves Christ's sacrifice on behalf of humanity. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, redemption is "by Christ" and "by the blood of Christ" ^[3]. This is echoed in 1 Peter 1:18-19, which notes that believers were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ ^[3]. The Baptist/Reformed tradition emphasizes that Christ's redemption is from the curse of the law, the power of sin, and the power of the grave ^[3].

The Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, as represented by Adam Clarke's commentary on Romans 3:21, understands God's method of saving sinners to be through his own mercy, by Christ Jesus, without any claim resulting from obedience to the law ^[6]. This view is consistent with the Protestant academic perspective, which notes that God's righteousness is revealed through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe ^[8].

The Presbyterian tradition, as seen in Jamieson, Fausset & Brown's commentary on 1 Peter 1:20, highlights God's eternal foreordination of Christ's redeeming sacrifice, emphasizing that redemption was not an afterthought but a part of God's plan from the beginning ^[7]. This is supported by the Baptist/Reformed view, which cites John Gill's commentary on Galatians 3:13, stating that Christ redeemed believers from the curse of the law ^[9].

The plan of redemption is not limited to individual salvation but has broader implications. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, redemption is also from the present evil world and vain conversation ^[3]. The Protestant academic perspective on Matthew 16:17 notes that the revelation of God's plan of salvation in Jesus was a significant moment in the unfolding of God's will for humanity ^[5].

Different traditions interpret certain aspects of God's plan of redemption differently. For instance, the Baptist/Reformed tradition emphasizes the role of faith in receiving remission of sins through Christ's name, as seen in John Gill's commentary on Acts 10:43 ^[10]. In contrast, the Presbyterian tradition, as represented by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown's commentary on 1 Peter 1:20, focuses on God's eternal foreordination of Christ's sacrifice ^[7].

The concept of redemption is closely tied to other aspects of God's character and plan, such as his long-suffering nature. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, God's long-suffering is part of his character and is exercised toward both his people and the wicked, with the object of leading to repentance and salvation ^[4].

Sources

Romans “being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; -- Romans 3:24”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Redemption — The purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is apolutrosis, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are instances in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament of the use of lutron in man's relation to man (Lev. 19:20; 25:51; Ex. 21:30; Num. 35:31, 32; Isa. 45:13; Prov. 6:35), and in the same sense of man's relation to God (Num. 3:49; 18:15). There are many passages in the New Tes”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Redemption — Defined -- 1Co 6:20; 7:23. Is of God -- Isa 44:21-23; 43:1; Lu 1:68. Is by Christ -- Mt 20:28; Ga 3:13. Is by the blood of Christ -- Ac 20:28; Heb 9:12; 1Pe 1:19; Re 5:9. Christ sent to effect -- Ga 4:4,5. Christ is made, to us -- 1Co 1:30. Is from The bondage of the law. -- Ga 4:5. The curse of the law. -- Ga 3:13. The power of sin. -- Ro 6:18,22. The power of the grave. -- Ps 49:15. All troubles. -- Ps 25:22. All iniquity. -- Ps 130:8; Tit 2:14. All evil. -- Ge 48:16. The present evil world. -- Ga 1:4. Vain conversation. -- 1Pe 1:18. Enemies. -- Ps 106”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Long-Suffering of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ex 34:6; Nu 14:18; Ps 86:15. Salvation, the object of -- 2Pe 3:15. Through Christ's intercession -- Lu 13:8. Should lead to repentance -- Ro 2:4; 2Pe 3:9. An encouragement to repent -- Joe 2:13. Exhibited in forgiving sins -- Ro 3:25. Exercised toward His people. -- Isa 30:18; Eze 20:17. The wicked. -- Ro 9:22; 1Pe 3:20. Plead in prayer -- Jer 15:15. Limits set to -- Ge 6:3; Jer 44:22. The wicked Abuse. -- Ec 8:11; Mt 24:48,49. Despise. -- Ro 2:4. Punished for despising. -- Ne 9:30; Mt 24:48-51; Ro 2:5. Illustr”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 16:17: 16:17 God revealed to Peter his plan of salvation in Jesus, the Messiah. This moment of revelation was a high point in the unfolding of God’s will for humanity (cp. Gal 1:16; 3:23; Eph 3:5).”
Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 3:21: But now the righteousness of God - God's method of saving sinners is now shown, by the Gospel, to be through his own mere mercy, by Christ Jesus; without the law - without any right or claim which might result from obedience to the law; and is evidently that which was intended by God from the beginning; for it is witnessed by the law and the prophets - the rites and ceremonies of the one, and the preachings and predictions of the others, all bearing testimony to the great design of God, and to the absolute necessity there was for the sacrifice and salvation which Go”
1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 1:20: God's eternal foreordination of Christ's redeeming sacrifice, and completion of it in these last times for us, are an additional obligation on us to our maintaining a holy walk, considering how great things have been thus done for us. Peter's language in the history corresponds with this here: an undesigned coincidence and mark of genuineness. Redemption was no afterthought, or remedy of an unforeseen evil, devised at the time of its arising. God's foreordaining of the Redeemer refutes the slander that, on the Christian theory, there is a period of fo”
Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 3:24: 3:24 God, in his grace: God makes us right in his sight, not because he has to, but because he has freely chosen to give us his favor through Christ Jesus. Because we are helpless slaves of sin (3:9), our righteous status before God can never be earned (see 4:4-5). • through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins (literally through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus): In Paul’s day, redemption referred to the price paid to free a slave. God paid our redemption price with the blood of his own Son to rescue us from our slavery to sin (see 3:”
Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 3:13: Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law,.... The Redeemer is Christ, the Son of God; who was appointed and called to this work by his Father, and which he himself agreed to; he was spoken of in prophecy under this character; he came as such, and has obtained eternal redemption, for which he was abundantly qualified; as man, he was a near kinsman, to whom the right of redemption belonged; and as God, he was able to accomplish it. The persons redeemed are "us", God's elect, both of Jews and Gentiles; a peculiar people, the people of Christ, whom the Father ”
Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 10:43: To him give all the prophets witness,.... As David, Psa 32:1 Dan 9:9 that through his name, whosoever believeth in him, shall receive the remission of sins; the meaning is, that whoever believes in Christ with a right and true faith, with the heart, he shall receive, not as what his faith procures or deserves, but as a gift of God's grace, the free and full forgiveness of his sins, through Christ; through the effusion of his blood, and the virtue of his sacrifice. Christ was set forth in the purposes of God, in the types, figures, and sacrifices of the law, and in the”

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