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God's Plan of Redemption in Salvation History

God's plan of redemption in salvation history refers to the overarching divine purpose to deliver humanity from sin and its consequences, a plan that unfolds throughout biblical narrative. The concept of "redemption" itself implies a purchase back of something lost through the payment of a ransom [4]. This idea is reflected in various biblical names, such as Iphedeiah and Pedaiah, both meaning "redemption of the Lord," and Geuel, meaning "God's redemption" [1, 2, 3]. Similarly, "salvation" is seen in names like Hoshaiah ("the salvation of the Lord") and Elisha ("salvation of God") [6, 7].

This plan was not an afterthought but was foreordained by God from eternity [18]. It is a "mysterious plan" that Christ himself personifies [19]. The New Testament emphasizes that God revealed this plan of salvation in Jesus, the Messiah, marking a significant moment in the unfolding of God's will for humanity [17].

Salvation is presented as a gift of God's grace, not earned by human actions or merit [9, 10]. Ephesians 2:8-9 states that "it is only by God’s grace that you have been saved" [9]. This salvation involves being "made alive together with Christ" and sharing in his resurrection, both now and in the future [9, 14]. It includes a spiritual rebirth and new life through the Holy Spirit, signifying a departure from a life of sin and a transfer into purity [10].

The redemption accomplished through Christ is comprehensive. Hebrews 9:28 states that "Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for salvation" [5]. This act of redemption is the foundation for believers to receive "knowledge of salvation... In remission of their sins" [8]. As a result of this salvation, believers are created anew in Christ Jesus, enabling them to perform good works that God planned for them, which are the result of salvation, not its cause [11]. This transformation involves stripping off the "old sinful nature" and putting on a "new nature" in Christ [13, 15]. Through Christ, Gentiles who believe are fully accepted into God's family, becoming children of God alongside believing Jews [12]. The entire story of redemption underscores the Lord's faithfulness [16].

Sources

  1. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Iphedeiah — redemption of the Lord”
  2. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Geuel — God's redemption”
  3. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Pedaiah — redemption of the Lord”
  4. 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”
  5. Hebrews “so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for salvation. -- Hebrews 9:28”
  6. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Hoshaiah — the salvation of the Lord”
  7. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Elisha — salvation of God”
  8. Luke “Luke 1:77 (YLT) — To give knowledge of salvation to His people In remission of their sins,”
  9. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:5: 2:5 gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead (literally made us alive together with Christ): Joined with Christ, believers share in his resurrection, now and in the future (see 2:6; Rom 6:4-14; Col 3:1-4). • It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved: See Eph 1:2; 2:8-9.”
  10. Titus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Titus 3:5: 3:5 not because . . . but because: The contrast is between human actions that might be thought to merit salvation and God’s grace (see Gal 2:16). Salvation is through faith in God’s mercy alone (Eph 2:8). • He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth: See Ezek 16:9; John 3:1-15; Eph 5:26; Heb 10:22; 2 Pet 1:9. • and new life through the Holy Spirit: This signifies a complete departure from the life of sin and death and a transfer into the realm of life and purity (see also Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 5:17; Col 3:10).”
  11. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:10: 2:10 He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us: Good works are the result, not the cause, of salvation. God’s Spirit, working through a transformed heart, produces a good life (Gal 5:22-23).”
  12. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:19: 2:19 Gentiles who believe are no longer strangers and foreigners (2:11-12, 17). Through Christ, they are fully accepted into God’s family. They become children of God, just like believing Jews (see Rom 8:14-17).”
  13. Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 3:9: 3:9-10 your old sinful nature . . . your new nature: Paul contrasts old and new identities (see also Rom 5:12-21; 6:6; Eph 4:22-24). Believers strip off their old life and put on Christ’s new life, allowing him to be Lord and to guide the way they live.”
  14. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:6: 2:6 united with Christ Jesus: Because of this union, believers share God’s glory and blessings, and experience resurrection both now and in the future (see Rom 6:4-14; Col 2:12-13; 3:1-4).”
  15. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:24: 4:24 A believer has a new nature: God’s Spirit expresses his life within the believer (see Col 3:10; cp. Gen 1:26; Rom 12:1-2; Gal 5:22-23). The transforming work of God’s Spirit is part of the gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-10).”
  16. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 105:42: 105:42-45 The story of redemption is also the story of the Lord’s faithfulness.”
  17. 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).”
  18. 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”
  19. Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 2:2: 2:2 God’s mysterious plan: See 1:26; Christ himself personifies this plan.”
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