But when will the law of God release the sinner from the bondage of death?

Never; if he could not obey the law while partially dead, he certainly cannot when completely so. Ever since the “fall” from perfect manhood through sin, man has been in a dying condition, sometimes spoken of as already dead (see Matt 8:22.) And none but a perfect man could keep a perfect law.

But, says one, did not God send his Son into the world to show us how we could work our way up to spiritual life – appearing among us on the lowest round of the ladder, did He not point out to us the way; he being thus “our forerunner?”

This view in many respects is held by a great many, mostly “Unitarians” and “Universalists” and like many other views has a mixture of truth in it; but as a whole is far from being “the truth” on this subject. Jesus did indeed “lay aside the glory which he had with the Father, before the world;” He did appear to “set us an example that we should follow in his footsteps” and to be “our forerunner,” but more, he is also our “Redeemer” from the curse of the Law – the curse of the law upon us as sinners is death.

How did he redeem us from death? 

To redeem us to purchase back. He therefore is said to have “bought us with his own precious blood.” Blood represents life – “The life of the flesh is in the blood” (Lev 17:11) therefore shed blood represents death or sacrificed life. “He gave his life,” “He shed his blood;” “He tasted death;” all have the same meaning.

But how could his life purchase or redeem or buy ours?

He as a man, was a perfect man, kept the perfect law perfectly; therefore, the same law which was the sinner’s enemy condemning us to death, was his friend and guaranteed to him life.

But was he not born into the world under condemnation of death, as much as any other son of Adam?

No, he was not the son of Adam, but a direct creation of God – “made in the likeness of sinful flesh,” but “in him was no sin.” If he had done sin or been born a sinner, his life would have been forfeited as was the first Adam’s and ours. If a sinner he would be obliged to die for himself and consequently would have nothing to give as a ransom for ours. But he was perfect, kept the law perfectly and thus, had a right to perfect natural life forever; “But for the joy set before him,” by the promise of the Father to raise him from the dead a spiritual body, he renounced the natural life (surrendered his natural or human life) and gave it for our ransom.

But when he arose from death, was not that a taking back of the price?

It would, if he had taken back the same life (perfect-natural life) which he laid down; but he did not take back the natural; he was quickened by the Spirit – “made a quickening spirit,” raised a spiritual body.” There is a natural body (a human body), and there is a spiritual body.

Thus “by his precious (valuable) blood” (life), we were “redeemed from the curse of the law” – death.

To what kind of life were we redeemed?

The same which man had before death (the curse) came; the same kind that he gave for us, i.e., perfect natural life or human life.

But we (believers, the Church) are promised spiritual life, and that we shall be made like unto Christ’s glorious body?

Yes; it is a part of God’s offer to us (during the Gospel age, “the acceptable time”), that if we die to earthly and fleshly – natural – life, we may be reckoned as “members of his body,” and partake of the same kind of life as our Head. In this arrangement, we are reckoned as being (with all the rest of mankind) justified to the perfect natural life first, else we could not give our lives; but being justified to life, Jesus says to us, you can either have this natural life, or, if you will renounce (surrender) this natural life, as I did, and become dead to the world, you shall have instead, the spiritual life and body. “If we be dead with Christ, we shall live with him.” Rom 6:4-8.

It is a faithful saying: “For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him; if we suffer, we shall also reign with him.” 2 Tim 2:11.

“You are partakers of Christ’s sufferings.” 1 Pet 4:13. “Joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Rom 8:17.

And it is because God thus waits until the elect number, the bride, the body, the Church, has “filled up the measure of the sufferings of Christ, which are behind,” that the times of “restitution of all things,” purchased for the world by the blood of Christ, are delayed and yet future. The Head suffered and died over 2000 years ago; but all of the suffering and death of the body are not yet completed. Not noticing this, has caused wonder on the part of almost all, that the benefits and results of the ransom have not sooner come.

Continued with next post.