A World of Difference

that He might deliver us out of the present evil age Galatians 1:4

Deliver Us Out – “I do not ask You to take them out of the world.” Wait a minute! Paul just says that Yeshua sacrificed Himself for our sins so that He might deliver us out, but Yeshua Himself prayed that we not be taken out. What’s going on here?

Frankly, I would prefer Paul. I’d like to be delivered out of this evil age. No more problems for me. Just tap my heels and think of home and off I go. Oops! That Hollywood, not reality. In fact, if we look closely at Paul’s choice of words, we will find that he says the same thing that Yeshua prayed. We are here to stay. We just moved to a new house.

The Greek expression is exeletai hemas ek. The verb, exaireo, means to take out, to pluck out, to deliver. It is used to describe rescue from danger and removal from affliction. This is the Christian exit strategy, accomplished by the death of the Messiah. Does that mean that I get an instant pass to heaven? Of course not. It means that I am instantly transferred from bondage in the kingdom of the evil one to liberty in the kingdom of my Savior. I stay right here, but I move into a different world. One moment I was held captive by my sin, bound to the patterns and passions of the systems of this evil age. My illusion of self-determination keep me fettered to rebellion against my Creator. I inherited the terrible consequences. Yeshua broke those bonds. As the blameless and perfect sacrifice, His full obedience is reckoned to my miserable moral account. He substitutes Himself for me and takes the punishment I deserve. I am set free from the consequences of my rebellion. In a moment, I move into a new relationship – and a new house – while I stay right here in the same place. But now I have been delivered, rescued, taken out of that old kingdom of terror and entanglement and given life in a kingdom where I can joyously obey and know His blessings. John’s gospel makes it clear in a single preposition, eis. I move into Jesus, into His kingdom and into a relationship with Him that I didn’t have before. I am delivered from the present evil age without leaving. It’s kind of like space travel in Dune – traveling without moving.

So, we see that Paul and Yeshua say the same thing. I’m not going anywhere – spatially, that is. I am right here being a citizen of the Kingdom on location. But now there is a world of difference. I don’t see things the way I used to see them. I don’t act the way I used to act. I have a different allegiance and a new lease on life. Over time, my change in perspective affects everything about me until I don’t even recognize that old person who once strained against the invisible chains. Chances are that others don’t recognize me either. This is what Paul calls the “renewing of your mind.”

Here’s the best part. I don’t have to deliver myself. Actually, I couldn’t do it. The prisoner does not set himself free. Yeshua rescued me. He did it all. I just benefitted from His obedience. My deliverance had nothing to do with my efforts, good or bad. That’s the foundation of the letter to the Galatians, and it is the foundation of our freedom as well.

Topical Index: delivered out, exaireo, rescued, move house, Galatians 1:3