Redemption – The process of becoming saved by God.
Redeemed is not the same as Justified, nor are either of these the same as Saved.
Believing on Him is the issue, trusting that Christ is able to accomplish what He claims; that He is able to live up to His Word. It is not an issue of believing that there is a God, but instead by simply believing that God is able and faithful to accomplish what He said.
Believing that there is a God is not enough. Even the devils believe that, and there is no salvation available on that basis; salvation requires the faith of Abraham; believe God, not just believe there is one God.
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Notice that the verse says that the devils are in terror. The verse does not say that they are redeemed, or even saved. This fear is more than men are able to claim; most people believe that there is a God and don’t even care. Man’s fear of God today is so lacking that they feel at liberty to rewrite Scripture, ignore God’s dispensations, or continue in sin without regard for God at all.
Redemption is the result of faith in action according to the standards of God for the dispensation that is in effect at the time you are living; believing God Exclusively and Explicitly according to Rightly Divided Scripture.
Romans 3:20-26 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. [21] But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; [22] Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: [23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [25] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; [26] To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Knowing who you are according to God is the first step to Redemption and salvation. Unsaved man is the ungodly referred to in Scripture, which today includes everyone, Jews and gentiles equally. Man’s motives are corrupt, and an abomination to God. You must recognize in which dispensation you live, who you are according to that dispensation, and finally, see yourself the way God does.
Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Psalm 39:5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
God accomplished the justifying of the ungodly through faith in Rightly Divided Scripture, which explains the cross-work of Jesus Christ. Man must then believe (rely on) what God has provided according to Rightly Divided Scripture. It is a matter of man’s faith in God, exclusively and explicitly according to the doctrine provided by God for a particular dispensation. For us, it is the Dispensation of Grace; we are saved by grace, through faith, plus nothing according to the Gospel of Grace (Romans-Philemon).
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
While yet a sinner, undeserving of redemption, without the strength to save ourselves, without the ability to change ourselves once we are saved, God made a provision for our justification and change.
Man, as a sinner, is unacceptable to God, and that is the grandeur of grace: the giving of unmerited mercy, the receiving of a reward or gift that is unwarranted and is given in excess, beyond reason.
The law produced compliance through fear. Grace produces compliance through love, and loyalty through appreciation; restraint and respect are exercised because you realize what Christ has accomplished and provided, not because you fear reprisal or correction.
The point is that we (if you are in the Body of Christ) should have as our motivation a realization of whom we are, our decisions and actions being based on, or because of, who we are. We should act and do according to whom we are; we are the redeemed of Christ, a New Creature, members of His body, with standing, position, authority, honor and dignity, with the purpose of using all that Christ has made us to be for the honor and glory of God in everything without any personal agendas.
II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Redemption today, in the Dispensation of Grace, makes us a peculiar people; a new creature; we are Members of the Body of Christ, not Christians. We are not pagans claiming to be Jews and we are not members of Israel’s Little Flock (Hebrews). The redeemed today are members of the Body of Christ, a new creature, and therefore we need to act like it! Living in the truth of dispensationally sound doctrine, proclaiming the Gospel of Grace, and glorifying God; as is the purpose of all of creation.
Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
The redeemed today in the Dispensation of Grace are not Christians; we are members of the Body of Christ; a new creature. Living in the truth of dispensationally sound doctrine, proclaiming the Gospel of Grace, and glorifying God; as is the purpose of all of creation.
Romans 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
I Corinthians 12:12-27 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. [13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. [14] For the body is not one member, but many. [15] If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? [16] And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? [17] If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? [18] But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. [19] And if they were all one member, where were the body? [20] But now are they many members, yet but one body. [21] And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. [22] Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: [23] And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. [24] For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: [25] That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. [26] And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. [27] Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Ephesians 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
First Corinthians was written to the Body of Christ during the infancy of the Dispensation of Grace. The breath of life to God’s new creature, the Body of Christ, is evidenced here in the gifts and offices that are listed. More importantly, concerning salvation, it is the explanation of what God accomplishes in a person the instant that they get redeemed.
The Holy Spirit is the life-giving force that made us a new creature and places us into, and identifies us together, as a single unit; a body: The Body of Christ with the unity of God’s Holy Spirit.
I Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
We don’t have to search for a way in, God places us, sets us individually and with purpose into the Body of Christ, as He sees fit, as it pleases Him. Notice that we are ‘baptized into’ the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit … no water involved, and no rituals.
I Corinthians 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
This having been accomplished, we are corporately known as the Body of Christ, while maintaining our individuality, being members in particular. Thus, God, knowing our individuality, places us according to the greatest benefit for His body; thereby creating the greatest ability of the Body of Christ to accomplish the glory of God.
I Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Members of the Body of Christ have peace with God, no longer enemies. Notice the ‘ye’ – corporately inclusive plural you.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Accepted in the beloved, which is Christ; our new standing makes us acceptable to God. Not because of our personal achievements or abilities, but because of what Christ accomplished for us: because of whom we are in Christ, members of His Body.
Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
That which God has for us is established in heaven, incorruptible, eternally secure in Christ. The only thing that matters physically in the Dispensation of grace or the Body of Christ is the preaching and teaching of the Gospel of Grace. Everything that God is going to do for you today has already been accomplished, not on earth, but in heavenly places.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
What are ‘all spiritual blessings’ that we have in Christ? We are proclaimed holy and without blame before God: blameless and of good reputation in heaven because of our status in Christ, not because of our personal attributes. Your physical circumstances have nothing to do with your standing with God; there is no divine or satanic intervention in the Dispensation of Grace.
Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
We are immediately given the forgiveness of sin beyond merit (grace), unearned, and undeserving. No works … prayers (begging, asking), obeying the law, etc. … no qualification, just simply believing God Exclusively and Explicitly according to the gospel given to our dispensation; the Gospel of Grace (Romans-Philemon).
Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
We know the secret of God that was not even revealed to the angels, God having made known unto us the mystery of His will and His purpose
Ephesians 1:8-9 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; [9] Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Notice that these benefits are things that give witness to the glory of God, that bring fame to the possessors of them; they are not goodies and gadgets that are flaunted by the holders thereof. Moreover, these benefits are not circumstantial or situational rewards on earth.
Don’t become vain; your individuality is not of benefit to God if you determine to promote yourself or your personal agenda. As a New Creature, you become totally submission to God, as you put-off the old man according to Rightly Divided Scripture, and abandon your private agendas and personal interests. (Romans 6, Ephesians 4:20-32, Colossians 3)
Our purpose is not the redemption of earth, as it is with Israel in their literal, physical, earthly kingdom program. For the Body of Christ, our program is the redemption of heaven; seated together in heavenly places in Christ; the redemption of heaven back to God.
Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
I Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Our redemption and salvation is not evidenced outwardly as with Israel in Acts 2, wherein they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues, with fire passing over them.
Our redemption and salvation is not an emotional experience; it is not felt and is undeclared by physical acts or emotional witness. As we have seen thus far, our salvation is through faith, wherein the Holy Spirit performs a spiritual circumcision in us and places us into the Body of Christ.
The emotions displayed by the modern Christians are actually only a response to the sales pitch of the speaker. The truth concerning the elements of redemption and salvation is that it is not an emotional experience.
The truth of Scripture is that the Rightly Divided Word of God being preached produces faith, faith acted upon by the individual yield’s redemption and salvation by God, and redemption and salvation of the sinner allows the Holy Spirit to do the circumcision and cause us to become a New Creature. The Holy Spirit according to God’s good pleasure then places the spiritually circumcised believer (the New Creature) into the Body of Christ, which God calls “baptized into”.
All of this occurs instantaneously upon believing God according to the ‘Gospel of your salvation’. The new-creature-member of the Body of Christ is physically and emotionally unaware of any of these events. We have the same awareness of redemption and salvation that a baby has in the moment it is born.
Belief causes faith, faith causes action, and action causes emotion. I would to God that your belief is in God’s truth rightly divided, as God has given and instructed for our dispensation … and not in Christianity.
Realization of Redemption is a slow process that manifests nothing to the new member of the Body of Christ in the way of emotions or feelings concerning the event. If you felt different at the point of your believing, it was nothing more than a self-induced euphoria, a self-inflicted reaction to the person who was speaking; and therefore, your salvation is in question; you simply believed the religious sales pitch.
When you truly get redeemed, it is based entirely on your believing God completely, Exclusively and Explicitly, according to the Scripture Rightly Divided without regard to the person speaking, Presumed Public Knowledge, or the reaction by anyone around you; you simply began to believe every single word given by God according to the dispensation that you live in.
The first true emotional response you will have is the confusion between the truth in Rightly Divided Scripture and your assumptions concerning salvation, which you were taught in your childhood or through prior religious affiliations, according to Presumed Public Knowledge.
The second true emotional response you will have is when you act according to Rightly Divided Scripture; your family and friends will begin to reject you and then pressure you to continue in the false teachings of the “Church” and Presumed Public Knowledge.
The only true emotional response you will have directly toward God will come long after you receive your redemption. Through extended faithfulness to God, which will be filled with normal life experiences, both good and bad; you will look back and see how far you have progressed since your redemption. You will then experience the emotion of gratitude and appreciation toward God, which is called maturity.
Because of this appreciation, you will endeavor to continue faithfully in your walk with God (application of sound doctrine) and you will continue to mature. You will finally begin to develop an intimate relationship with God, becoming completely intimate as an adopted child of God.
When a child is born, they have no knowledge of the factors involved or the moment of occurrence. As they grow and become somewhat able to function, they are so proud of how they can walk, jump, roll, talk, etc. These visions of grandeur and self-approval are pure vanity. Any adult, and even most children slightly older than the performing child, see and recognize the folly of their actions and words. In reality, the child is able to balance for short distances but not really walk. They are able to get both feet off the ground at the same time, about half an inch. They are able to wallow around on the ground, but usually bang into something and get hurt. They are able to make enough noise and gestures to accomplish some form of communication, but are completely unable to form sentences or tell complete stories; etc. At the end of their maneuverings, they throw a fit, have a tantrum, and cry themselves to sleep; they usually need a bottle, a hug, or a diaper change.
This is the same obvious lack of maturity exhibited by questionable believers ensnared in Christianity, as they stumble through the Scripture and put mystical meanings to the obvious, changing the Scripture into a book of lies. As they embark on fits and tantrums of self-induced emotional euphoria seeking social acceptance for their ignorance; i.e., baptism, communion, holiday observance, claiming “words of knowledge, spiritual gifts, tongues and prophecy, healing, blessings”, etc. As if, God loves them more. Either they are extremely immature or they are completely unsaved. It is all unbelief and only possible by including pagan rituals, those things having absolutely nothing at all to do with God!
As you have seen, Christianity approves and congratulates each other for their great levels of “spiritual maturity” and wisdom, which is not of God and violates the justice of God.
Christianity does these things while yet being unable, or unwilling, to Rightly Divided the Word of God. They steal from other dispensations; invoking the false teaching of Divine Intervention in order to avoid personal responsibility, and then blame God for everything that does not go their way; lying to each other in order to accomplish their own agendas with claims of “feeling the spirit”, getting a “word from God” (etc.). The only way that anyone today gets a ‘word from God’ is from the Word of God; in context and rightly divided. If God is still speaking to men in any other way, then God lied and His word, Scripture, is not yet complete.
II Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
It is impossible to be perfect and throughly furnished if Scripture isn’t complete … if God is still giving any messages to anyone today, then Scripture isn’t complete. These claims are simply the vanity of men, giving the impression that God loves them more or that they are more holy than everyone else.
Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: [19] And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
God’s instruction and admonishment to the Body of Christ is very clear through His apostle to the gentiles, Paul.
Romans 16:17-18 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. [18] For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
I Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
I Corinthians 3:18-21 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. [19] For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. [20] And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. [21] Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
I Corinthians 13:7-13 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. [8] Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. [9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. [10] But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. [11] When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. [12] For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. [13] And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
I Corinthians 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Spiritual maturity is when you no longer need the sugar-teat of emotions in order to survive normal life. Life is a system of cause and effect; you will reap what you sow. In the Dispensation of Grace, there is no Divine Intervention and no satanic intervention. The teaching of Divine and satanic intervention is the false doctrine of religion … one of the sleights of men and their cunning craftiness to deceive people, which is only possible by perverting the Word of God.
Colossians 1:10-14 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; [11] Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; [12] Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: [13] Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: [14] In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
I Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Romans 8:22-25 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. [23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. [24] For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? [25] But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Romans 5:1-5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: [2] By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [3] And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; [4] And patience, experience; and experience, hope: [5] And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Knowing who you are according to God will cause you to both believe God and receive redemption and salvation, or it will cause you to follow the truth exclusively and without exception because you already believe God in every word. You will therefore reject the false teachings of Christianity and all other pagan religions; mark them and avoid them. If you have to psych yourself out emotionally in order to believe something, what you really need to do is grow up and seek the truth, which is contained completely in the Word of God, Scripture, in context and rightly divided.
Some other pitfalls of Christianity, which are contrary to Scripture, are
- Leading someone to Christ. This Christian false doctrine comes from the instance in Israel’s Koine Greek Old Testament account wherein Andrew took his brother, Simon Peter, and introduced him to Christ (John 1:35-42).
- In the Dispensation of Grace, we do not introduce people to Christ. We are instructed to preach and teach the Gospel of Grace so a person can believe God Exclusively and Explicitly according to Rightly Divided Scripture and be redeemed.
- No one can decide to get saved, redeemed, or justified. Salvation happens when a person gets redemption, and we are justified by Rightly Divided Scripture. Being scared into begging for salvation (the sinner’s prayer) does not result in redemption. If you still do not understand the Redemption Process, go back and reread this article.
- Inviting Jesus into your heart. This Christian false doctrine comes from Israel’s tribulation book of Revelation (Revelation 3:20), wherein the angel of the Church in Sardis is instructed to write a message to Israel during their Tribulation, stating that Israel has not been found worthy, only a few amongst them. The message addresses Israel’s repentance, and states that they (Israel) must repent, be faithful, and overcome their tribulation before they are redeemed. Then the redeemed of Israel (Israel’s Little Flock) will reign with Christ on earth. (Gospel of the Kingdom)
- In the Dispensation of Grace, our redemption is immediate, and we do not ‘overcome’, we mature. Also, members of the Body of Christ will reign with Christ in heaven, not on earth. (Gospel of Grace)
See also Charity, Christian, Convert, Dispensation, Faith, Grace, Saved