Before Faith came - and Faith is Christ - we were shackled by sin, imprisoned by the law, confined, and awaiting the revelation of the Faith that would set us free.
Set Us Free From What?
Sin:
Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The Power and Enslavement of Sin: Sin is the state of separation from God and the bondage that accompanies it. It not only corrupts human nature but also leads to a life of disobedience and spiritual death.
Redemption through Faith in Christ: Faith in Christ is seen as the means through which individuals are liberated from the power and consequences of sin. Through His sacrificial death and resurrection, Christ offers forgiveness, reconciliation, and the opportunity for a restored relationship with God.
Ephesians 1:7:
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace."
Romans 3:24:
"and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
"The redemption accomplished by Christ is a deliverance from the bondage of sin and death. He has freed believers from the power and consequences of sin through the gift of eternal life in himself. This freedom does not imply sinlessness, but rather a release from the dominion of sin and the ability to live in accordance with God's will."
- John Calvin (Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book II, Chapter XVI)
Our redemption through faith in Christ liberates us from the power and consequences of sin. This freedom does not mean that we will never sin again, but rather we are released from the dominion of sin and can live in accordance with God's will.
Romans 3:20: "For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin."
Romans 10:4: "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."
The Role of the Law:
The law, particularly in the context of the Old Testament, reveals God's holy standards and exposes human inability to fulfill them. The law, in this sense, becomes a source of condemnation and a reminder of human inadequacy.
Fulfillment in Christ:
Faith in Christ is viewed as the fulfillment of the law. Christ's perfect obedience to the law and His sacrificial work render believers free from the condemnation and burden of the law. Through faith, individuals are released from the demands of the law and enter into a new covenant relationship with God.
The law, in this sense, becomes a source of condemnation, reminding us of our human inadequacy. However, through faith in Christ, the law is fulfilled. Christ's obedience to the law and His sacrificial work on the cross render believers free from the condemnation and burden of the law. It is through faith in Christ that we enter into a new covenant relationship with God, no longer bound by the demands of the law.
1 Corinthians 15:22:
"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive."
John 11:25-26:
"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?'"
Sin leads to both physical and spiritual death, but through faith in Christ and His resurrection, believers are given eternal life. Spiritual death is separation from God, the source of life. However, through faith in Christ and His resurrection, Christians believe they are given eternal life, freeing them from the fear of death and offering a hope of resurrection and life after death.
Although physical death is still a part of our earthly experience, we have the assurance that death is not the end. We have been reconciled with God, restored to a relationship with Him, and have the hope of being raised with Him in glory.
Awaiting the Faith that Sets Free:
Prior to the revelation of Christ, humanity lived in a state of anticipation, awaiting the fulfillment of God's promises and the ultimate liberation from sin and its effects.
Fulfillment in Christ:
Faith in Christ is understood as the manifestation of the long-awaited faith that sets humanity free. Through faith, individuals enter into a new reality, experiencing the freedom, peace, and hope that come with the revelation of Christ.
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