Reworking the Paradigm

Come near me, redeem me.  Because of my enemies, ransom me.  Psalm 69:19 [Hebrew Bible]  Robert Alter Ransom – Let’s examine the implicit paradigm in this verse.  Remember that the true role of the exegete is to interpret the text according to the thought patterns of the original audience and author.  That means making crystal…

Saving Grace

But God will redeem my soul from the [a]power of [b]Sheol, for He will receive me. Selah  Psalm 49:15 NASB Will redeem – “I am redeemed,” said the new convert.  “I am free at last.”  Is that how you felt when you realized your sins were forgiven?  Was there an emotional experience of relief?  Did you feel like a new…

SOL (Sorry, Out of Luck)

No one can by any means redeem another or give God a ransom for him—  Psalm 49:7 NASB By any means – We looked at this verse some time ago.[1] On the surface, it completely overturns the penal theory of atonement, a theory that was articulated by Reformation theology and is typical of evangelical thinking today.  “Jesus paid it all” is a…

Penal Theory

No man can by any means redeem his brother or give to God a ransom for him—  Psalm 49:7  NASB No man – One of the ideas about atonement was formulated at the time of the Reformation.  It’s call the Penal Theory of Atonement.  Basically, it asserts that Yeshua’s death paid the price required by God for our salvation.[1]  Whether or…

Apostolic By-lines (2)

Christ paid the price to free us from the curse that the laws in Moses’ Teachings bring by becoming cursed instead of us. Scripture says, “Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed.”  Galatians 3:13 (God’s Word translation, 1995, God’s Word to the Nations) Paid the price– Once more we examine the miserable translation of…

Apostolic By-lines (1)

Christ paid the price to free us from the curse that the laws in Moses’ Teachings bring by becoming cursed instead of us. Scripture says, “Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed.”  Galatians 3:13 (God’s Word translation, 1995, God’s Word to the Nations) Paid the price– THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO GO OUT ON MAY…

The Reason Why (2)

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.” Isaiah 43:1b NASB Redeemed – gealtika. “I have redeemed you,” says God. The only reason that I am free of the “thou shalt fear” world is that God rescued me. I need this fact to sink deeply into my soul. Whenever my thoughts and behavior begin to…

The Reason Why (1)

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.” Isaiah 43:1b NASB Redeemed – The world has no answer for fear. It has lots of suggestions, but none of them is sufficient. In fact, the world is actually based on fear. The world does not make sense without fear. And most of us buy into the…

Buy Back

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  Galatians 4:4-5  NASB Redeem – “It is not enough to have met a word in…

The Four Spiritual Stages (3)

 Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, “I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage.  I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.  Then I will take you for My people, and I…