Redemption: Legal and vital aspects

SCHOLARS and theologians as well as lay preachers teach varying ways to look at the Bible.

From what we have taught, we know that from the start of the Bible, Genesis to the end, Revelation, we see the story of salvation unfold.

We, therefore, see the Bible in light of the redemptive work of God. We often hear preachers declaring that they are anointed to bring to fruition or manifestation what is accomplished by Christ. That is misuse of the Scriptures.

Charismatics, wrongly called Pentecostals quickly bring in the idea of a seed. Charismatics believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but Pentecostal don’t.

We debunk the error by looking at what was done legally and vitally by Jesus Christ in His sacrificial death. One has to become conscious of these two phases of revelation. There will be a haziness in the teaching and a lack of solidity in thinking and living. The legal side of redemption is what God did for us in Christ. It is in the past.

Romans 4:25, illustrates: “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

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We give another example, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “[3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” These two scriptures perfectly illustrate what God did for us in His redemptive work.

The vital can be illustrated by Romans 8:1, “There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Let us look at Colossians 1:14, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” The vital is what we really have now; what the Holy Spirit is doing in us today and now.

If one only had the legal side of the plan of redemption, it would lead him into cold, dead formalism.

It would make doctrines out of human reality and sense knowledge would rule. The vital teachings alone will lead into fanaticism, magnifying experiences above the Word.

When the vital aspect is understood, we know what belongs to us in Christ. We know a Son’s rights. We learn to take our place. We enjoy our privileges and the vital side then becomes a spiritual reality.

All that is legally ours may become vitally ours by the ministry of the Spirit through the Word in us.

A little study of the legal side will help us. We read in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

That is what God wrought in Christ. He laid our sins upon Christ. He was stricken, smitten of God and afflicted.

This is Isaiah 53:5-6, “[5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. [6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

God did not only lay our sins on Jesus, but He made Jesus sin. Romans 3:21-26 is perhaps the great master sentence illustrating this legal side of the plan of Redemption.

We read it, Romans 3:21-26, “[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.”

He tells us in verse 21, “But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, (or unveiled; or as one translator puts it, ‘brought to light’) being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.”

Here is a little touch of the vital in the 24th verse: “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

In the 25th verse we swing back again to the legal: “Whom God set forth to be a propitiation,” or a mercy seat where the blood was sprinkled by the High Priest, “on the ground of faith, in His blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God; for the showing, I say, of his righteousness at this present season.”

Here we catch a glimpse of the vital: “That he might himself be righteous, and the righteousness of him that hath faith in Jesus.”

You see, the Spirit has based our present righteousness upon the work that had been accomplished in His great Substitutionary Work.

We look at another Scripture showing the legal side. Titus 2:14, tells us, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.

Amen. Grace and peace be multiplied to you through knowledge.

• All Bible quotations are from the King James Version unless otherwise stated.
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