Guest Post: Trinitarian Redemption

Note: This is a guest post since presently I am teaching overseas. This is by Jeff Chavez. His blog be found here.

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith: 2.3c

but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on him.

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith: 11:4

God did from all eternity decree to justify all the elect,11 and Christ did in the fullness of time die for their sins, and rise again for their justification; nevertheless, they are not justified personally, until the Holy Spirit in time does actually apply Christ to them.

From the 1689 London Baptist Confession and the Scriptures we know that the Triune God works together to accomplish the redemption of His people. Redemption fulfills the Father’s eternal plan. The redemption of God’s people is based on the Son’s perfect life and glorious work on the cross by shedding His blood. The Spirit powerfully applies Christ’s work of redemption.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:7-12 ESV)

The Trinitarian theology in the New Testament is a Christ–centered Trinitarianism.

Teaching: Christ’s redemptive work is the ground and center of the triune God’s perfect redemption. Christ saves His people chosen by the Father, through the regenerating work of the Spirit.

Let’s see today the Particularity, Power, Perfection, and Purpose of Redemption.

Its Particularity

Christ saves His people from their sins (Eph. 1:7–8; Matt: 1:21)

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21 ESV)

Christ did not die while simply hoping and wishing that his people may notice his heroic act. He died in order to rescue His people from their hopeless and helpless condition.

From our passage above, and Matthew 1:21, it is clear that the intention of Christ’s incarnation is to save His people from their sins. Christ’s grace on the cross is rooted in the Father’s grace in electing love. We should not attempt to divide the Trinity by saying that the Father chose some men to salvation, that the Son died for all men equally, and that the Spirit calls the elect only to salvation.

Christ gave His life for His sheep (John 10:15) and all whom the Father has given to Him will come to Him (John 6:37).

Its Power

Christ saves His people by redeeming them from slavery.

All people outside from Christ are slaves of sin and Satan (Eph 2:1). Redemption means that Christ purchased us by paying the price of God’s wrath. This means that the cross is the core of the Gospel message

The power of redemption is found in the person and blood of the One who died on the cross. Our text says, “In him we have redemption through his blood. There is power in the Blood!

The word “redeem” is derived from the Latin verb redimere [ re = again + emere = to buy]. When someone has been sold into slavery or held hostage, their redemption is the act of purchasing them back. Someone who decides to redeem another is known as a redeemer. The payment is referred as a ransom. The term “redemption” describes the purchased freedom. According to the Bible, Christ is the Redeemer who paid for His people’s redemption by giving His own life as a ransom.

Christ alone is the Redeemer of His people, and His very life was the ransom that He paid. Redemption is based on the Son’s glorious purchase. The Person and work of the Son is the plot and the content of the biblical storyline (Acts 20:28).

Behold and consider the value and worth our redemption because of the unsurpassed worth of the Redeemer.

Its Perfection

Christ saves His people to the uttermost (Eph. 1:9–10; Heb. 7:25).

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25 ESV)

The Greek word for “uttermost” (παντελές) also means complete, forever, and entirely. It is only used twice in the New Testament. In Luke 13:11, it is used negatively to refer to the woman’s inability to straighten herself completely because of a disabling spirit. When Jesus freed her from her complete disability, she glorified God and was saved completely! Christ is able to completely save His people.

In John 19:30, one of Christ’s last word is the magnificent statement, “It is finished!” It means that He was fulfilled all the demands of God’s law.

Because of this, the redemption of God’s people is perfect, complete, and utter. There’ wouldn’t be a time when Christ’s redeeming work will lose its power.

Its Purpose

Christ saves His people for the Father’s glory (Eph. 1:11–12). He does so by giving us an inheritance. We are God’s inheritance and He is ours. More specifically, the nations redeemed by Christ are His heritage (Ps. 2:8).

Redemption in Christ glorifies the Father by bringing us to Him, to the praise of His glory (Eph. 1:12). Our redemption, though we benefit much from it, but it is primarily and ultimately that the Name of God may be glorified!

The Father brings this to pass according to the counsel of His will (Eph. 1:11).

Application:

It is important to believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, because…

There is no salvation without it. Without the Trinity, our redemption won’t be accomplished. Especially, when it comes to the deity of Christ. The value of Christ death won’t be sufficient to save if He is a mere man. In John 8.24, we read ‘if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.’ That is true regarding you; true regarding every person.

This doctrine is ‘anchor’ for souls. An anchor is a material that is used to provide stability and control. If you are a believer, you were not redeemed by your house, friends, family, so don’t value them more than Christ. Only the redemption wrought by the work of the Triune God can provide stability for our souls.

This doctrine is the ‘source of all our comfortable dependence on Him.’ If you believe in the God of the Scriptures, you know you have the Father in heaven who always cares for you, the Son, who gave himself for you & ever lives to intercede and will come again to perfect our redemption, and the Holy Spirit, who is your ‘Comforter’ and ‘Helper.’

C.H. Spurgeon once wrote,

“It needs the Trinity to make a Christian, it needs the Trinity to cheer a Christian, it needs the Trinity to complete a Christian, it needs the Trinity to create in a Christian the hope of glory.”

Think about the triune God’s work in redeeming you from your misery in your worst times. That is your comfort!

“If we lose the usefulness of the doctrine of the Trinity, then we will likely lose the doctrine itself. If we worship the being of God, but we neglect the Persons of the Godhead, then we run the risk of turning the true God into an idol and forsaking the entire foundation of the Christian faith.” (Mcgraw, Trinity. Kindle loc. 193)

To God be the glory!

References:

· The Spurgeon Library | 8 Spurgeon Quotes on the Trinity. (n.d.). The Spurgeon Center. https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/blog-entries/8-spurgeon-quotes-on-the-trinity/

· Mcgraw, R. M. (2017). Knowing the trinity : practical thoughts for daily life. Alliance Of Confessing Evangelicals.