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About Jesus - Steve (Stephen) Sweetman A
Second Chance We often say a person
needs a second chance, despite what he or she has done that requires a
second chance. One American
congressman who claims to be Christian recently said that a certain news
commentator needed a second chance in order for his political nomination
to be confirmed. "It's
all about redemption," he said. I
do believe in second chances and redemption, but let's be careful how we
relate redemption to a second chance.
Whether it's redemption
in Biblical terms or in first-century Greco Roman cultural terms, it is
some form of payment made to release, deliver, rescue, extricate or free
someone from some kind of bondage, as in the freeing of slaves from
slavery. Concerning Jesus, His
human death was the price He paid to offer us all aspects of redemption.
It liberates us from this world (Luke 21:28).
It will free us from bondage to decay by being resurrected from the
dead (Romans 8:23). It
discharges our legal designation of sinner (Colossians 1:14).
It saves us for all of eternity (Hebrews 9:12). It
delivers us from the curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13) making us God's
adopted children (Galatians 4:5) who solely belong to Him (Titus 2:14).
If we are ever to
experience redemptive lives, genuine repentance and trust in Jesus is
required of us (Luke 13:3, Acts 2:38) and that's next to impossible for us
to do. For this reason God
helps us in our deficiency by granting us repentance (Acts 11:18) and
distributing faith to us (Romans 12:3). I conclude that attempts
at a second chance, especially as they relate to restoring a broken
relationship, will fail unless genuine repentance and a willingness to
renew trust is exhibited. So,
when the congressman said that the commentator needed a redemptive second
chance, another congressman correctly responded by saying,
"redemption requires repentance."
How true that is.
Scripture
References (NIV) Luke 21:28 "When
these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because
your redemption
is drawing near." Romans 8:23 "Not only so, but
we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we
wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption
of our bodies." Colossians 1:14 "... in whom we
have redemption, the forgiveness of
sins." Hebrews 9:12 "... he entered the
Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption." Galatians 3:13 "Christ redeemed us
from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us ...'" Galatians 4:5 "... to redeem
those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship." Titus 2:14 " ... who gave
himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself
a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." Luke 13:3
"I
tell you, no! But unless you repent,
you too will all perish." Acts 2:38 "Peter replied,
'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for
the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit.'" Acts 11:18 "When they heard
this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, 'So then,
even to Gentiles God has granted repentance
that leads to life.'" Romans 12:3 "... Do not think
of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with
sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each
of you."
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