God’s goodness is REDEMPTIVE goodness! To truly grasp and appreciate the goodness of God, we need to take an in-depth look at how Christ redeemed us from the power of Satan.

GOD’S SOLUTION

In Parts 4 and 5 of this blog series, we’ve observed the horrendous consequences humans have brought upon themselves due to their sins against God. God’s gracious answer (solution) to this dilemma is the REDEMPTION through His Son Jesus Christ.

WHAT IS REDEMPTION?

REDEMPTION describes an aspect of SALVATION of how God frees humans from the hostile and devastating power of sin and death in which they are held captive (Luk. 1:71; Rev. 12:10). “Redemption” is a term that summarizes the various aspects of the redemptive work that Christ has undertaken for sinners.

REDEMPTION AS RANSOM

To be more specific, REDEMPTION describes how Christ paid a ransom through His sacrificial death and the shedding of His blood (Isa. 53:11; Mark 10:45; 1 Tim. 2:6; Rev. 5:9) to liberate sinners (set them free) from the power, enslavement (bondage/captivity), and consequences of their sins. Thus, this ransom Christ paid made this freedom possible, meaning that what Christ has done for all people must still be appropriated by the individual through repentance of sin and trust (faith) in Christ and His merit for salvation (Joh. 1:12; 3:16-18; Acts 16:31; Rom. 10:9-10; Eph. 2:8-9).

Christ acted as our substitute when He paid our ransom. He didn’t just give something as payment, no, He gave Himself…! The life of the INNOCENT (sinless) was freely given in the place of the GUILTY (sinful) (Joh. 8:46; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 7:26; 1 Pet. 2:22; 1 Joh. 3:5). The INNOCENT suffered and died so that the GUILTY may escape the wrath of God (go free), and live forever. The INNOCENT’s blood was shed (life given/died) so that the GUILTY (sinner) could receive remission of his/her sin (Heb. 9:22). See also Isa. 53:5-6; Rom. 5:8-9; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; 1 Pet. 2:24; 3:18)

THE KEY TO REDEMPTION

In the sixth installment of this blog series, we’ve extensively explored how Christ addressed humanity’s sin predicament through His substitutionary atonement. This stands as the CRUCIAL element in the redemption Christ has provided for all people.

Just as sin led to dire consequences, eradicating sin nullifies these repercussions. When sin (the offenses or transgressions of a person against God) is legitimately removed, the guilt and rightful consequences for those sins are also rendered null and void — erased, forgiven, the debt canceled, and completely obliterated by God (Col. 2:13-14).

REDEMPTION SCRIPTURE VERSES

Here are (again) just a few examples of Scripture passages that solidify the truth about Christ’s substitutionary atonement:

Isaiah 53:5-6
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes, we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, everyone, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2 Corinthians 5:21
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Hebrews 9:28
Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

1 Peter 2:24
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

TO WHOM WAS THE RANSOM PAID?

The ransom Jesus paid was not to appease or satisfy/pacify Satan but was the payment of the debt of sin by Him on behalf of humanity to God the Father. It provided the way for humanity to be forgiven, redeemed, and restored to a right relationship with God:

1. It served as the means of reconciling humanity with God, mediating between God and mankind, and redeeming them from the consequences of sin (Eph. 5:2; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; Heb. 9:14).
2. Jesus’ sacrifice was an act of propitiation by His blood, satisfying the righteous demands of God’s justice which made our forgiveness by God and becoming righteous before God possible (Rom. 3:25; 1 Joh. 4:10).

REDEMPTION FROM DARKNESS

DEFEATING THE POWERS OF DARKNESS

Disarming the devil

Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross had a profound impact not just on humanity, but primarily on the devil and his fallen angels, the powers of darkness. Satan and his forces were Christ’s foremost adversaries, the ones He aimed to conquer and ultimately triumph over (on behalf of the human race) from the very beginning (1 Joh. 3:8).

Colossians 2:15 states:
“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

Christ, by suffering and dying as the INNOCENT HUMAN in the place of the GUILTY HUMANS (substitutionary atonement), disarmed Satan and his forces of darkness from their lethal weapons which they successfully used against the human race (more specifically, believers).

“Disarm” means that Christ’s perfect sacrifice instantly deprived the devil and his demons of their weapons or the capability to cause any further spiritual harm to those who put their faith in Him for salvation.

How did Christ disarm the devil?

The way Christ disarmed the powers of darkness (principalities and powers) is described (amongst many other Bible passages) in the two verses prior to Colossians 2:15, namely verses 13 to 14:

13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

In short, these two verses show how Christ on the cross thoroughly dealt with the “charge sheet” of sins (transgressions) that were against the whole human race by paying their sin debt on their behalf (i.e. suffering the punishment for their sin by being nailed to the Roman cross, shedding His blood, and dying for their sin). Christ thereby absorbed the full wrath of God for all those sins (Matt. 27:45, 46), thus satisfying the righteous demand for God’s justice on the sinner (Isa. 53:5-6; Rom. 3:25-26; 1 Joh. 2:2).

From which weapon has Satan been disarmed?

Christ has taken away Satan’s power (capability) to hold sinners to the debt of their sins and trespasses, i.e. to legitimately accuse them before God. Accusation was (and still is) Satan’s major and favorite (and most lethal) weapon against a human being (Job 1:9-10; Zech. 3:1; Rev. 12:10), but his ability to bring charges/accusations before God about the sins of the saints have been nullified by God as it has already been fully paid for by Christ (Rom. 8:33-34).

The curse destroyed

The Bible teaches us that sin is empowered (strengthened) by God’s law (i.e. the law testifies against humans of what they are guilty of and how they are not able to keep it or measure up to it – 1 Cor. 15:56). Satan knew that as well, and he used this “shortfall” of believers to accuse them before God and used the law to demand their destruction.

However, Christ took the curse of the law (“the penalty of the law” or “the condemnation of the law”) upon Himself (Gal. 3:13) and therefore the curse/penalty of the law doesn’t apply to believers anymore (those who repented and put their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation).

Making a spectacle of Satan

In Colossians 2:15 it states that Christ “made a public spectacle” of the devil and his spiritual forces. Thus, Christ not only triumphed over them on our behalf but also publicly humiliated them…! How exactly did Christ do that?

Through His crucifixion, Christ disarmed the spiritual forces opposed to God’s purposes, thereby demonstrating His superiority over these powers, publicly and openly displaying His victory, and demonstrating His authority over sin and evil.

The cross, which initially seemed like a place of defeat, became the stage for Christ’s triumph over the forces opposed to God. Satan, believing in Jesus’ defeat through His death on the cross, boasted grandly (manifested in the Jewish leaders’ plotting of Christ’s death and their delight in seemingly having initial success and having their desires fulfilled in this regard). However, Christ’s death turned out to be the ultimate triumph. The cross decisively crushed Satan’s power (the serpent’s head – Gen. 3:15). Satan’s boasting turned to folly, and his glory became shame.

Christ’s resurrection from the dead further solidified this victory, showcasing Christ’s power over death and the spiritual realm (Joh. 10:17; Acts 2:24; Rom. 6:9; 2 Tim. 1:10; Rev. 1:18; 3:7).

Christ’s victory shout

Christ’s victory over sin, death, and the powers of darkness was so enormous that at the moments just before Christ’s death on the cross when Jesus Christ knew in His spirit that the entire work of redemption had been brought to completion, shouted: “It is finished!” (Joh. 19:30). What makes this statement of Christ even more significant is that the single Greek word here (translated “it is finished”) has been found written on papyri receipts for taxes, meaning “paid in full” – our sin debt to God has been paid IN FULL by Christ!

This shout was not a mere shout of gladness, but a formal announcement of sin’s debt to all of humanity which had been paid in full. It was an announcement in the spirit realm where this legal transaction had been accomplished. That dear reader, is the ultimate of GOODNESS…! Freedom from sin, death, and the devil has been accomplished for us by God in His Son!

Christ’s victorious death

Even the death of Christ was a victorious act by Him. His death wasn’t comparable to any other; it wasn’t a defeat by external factors that render a person’s body unable to survive. No, it was an act of His will in which He was in full control. No one took His life from Him; rather, He voluntarily and willingly gave it up. The following verses describe Christ’s control over the moment of His death, the manner/state in which He died, and the purpose for which He died:

Joh. 19:30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. (see also Joh. 10:17-18)

Matt. 27:50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

Luk. 23:46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.

Christ’s death, as with every aspect of the salvation plan, was intricately woven into God’s divine design for redemption. Death wasn’t imposed on Him by external forces but stemmed from the Father’s will and purpose in orchestrating humanity’s salvation (Joh. 4:34; 5:19, 30, 36; 9:4; 14:10, 31; 17:4; Eph. 1:4; Heb. 4:3; 1 Pet. 1:20; Rev. 13:8).

Pilate & the Centurion

Even governor Pilate who gave authorization for Jesus Christ’s execution was remarkably surprised at the quick death of Christ. When Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus to bury Him (Mark 15:43), the Bible says that Pilate marveled because victims of crucifixion often stayed alive on their crosses for a number of days. Yet, Jesus was dead after only six hours! Therefore, before granting Jesus’ body to Joseph, Pilate verified with the centurion in charge of the crucifixion whether Jesus was really dead (Mark 15:44-45).

The centurion in charge of the crucifixion had seen many crucified victims die before, but none in the way the LORD Jesus had died. The strength and control Christ possessed at the moment of His death, as evidenced by His loud cry (Mark 15:37), was unheard of for a victim of crucifixion. This is further proof of the wilful and controlled manner in which Christ died!

All this, coupled with the earthquake that coincided with Christ’s death (Matt. 27:51-54), convinced the centurion (and the soldiers with him) that Jesus truly was the Son of God (Mark 15:39). According to tradition, the impact of how Christ died and all that happened at the moment of His death caused this centurion later to become a disciple of Jesus Christ.

OTHER BIBLE PASSAGES THAT ALSO DESCRIBE CHRIST’S VICTORY OVER THE POWERS OF DARKNESS

Matthew 27:51-53
Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

The veil that was torn was done by spiritual forces (probably angels) proving that the sin that prevented humans from access to God was paid for in full and cannot be used by Satan and his forces to withhold people to come to God through His Son Jesus Christ.

The graves of some deceased saints that opened and those saints being raised from the dead were a direct consequence of the power of sin that was broken at Christ’s death, and death couldn’t hold back those who were believers and righteous in God’s eyes.

Ephesians 4:8-10
Therefore He says: “WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, AND GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.” (Now this, “HE ASCENDED”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

Christ, in His triumph over Satan and his evil forces, returned to God those who were previously sinners and prisoners of Satan, namely, the believers.

Revelation 12:7-11
And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

In the presence of God, Satan officially lost his position for accusation. Christ’s atoning blood rendered Satan’s accusations illegal, making his former place before God’s throne obsolete. Consequently, Satan and his minions were violently expelled from heaven, forever barred from reentry. Christ permanently obliterated Satan’s power of accusation, rooted in the curse of the law caused by our sins. This passage offers a profound understanding of Satan’s monumental defeat in God’s presence and the nullification of the saints’ guilt before Him.

John 12:27-31
“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

The judgment that the world was supposed to get from God would be dealt with by Christ, and He would atone for their guilt accordingly. As a result, the devil would be cast out of God’s presence (Rev. 12:10) because all his accusations against them would become illegitimate. Christ’s atoning death would strip Satan of his power to hold sinners accountable for their sins and trespasses before God.

Hebrews 2:14-15
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Christ’s death didn’t bring about the ultimate destruction of Satan, reserved for Judgment Day. However, it did destroy Satan’s grip on people due to their sin against God. Satan tempted people to sin, giving him accusations to wield against them before God. This held them captive in his kingdom of darkness, leading ultimately to everlasting death and punishment in hell or the lake of fire.

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”

God made this original promise in the Garden of Eden: The Seed of the woman (Jesus Christ) would be born and ultimately crush Satan’s primary hold and power over the people of God, specifically their guilt of sin before God.

When we look at the goodness of God displayed in this manner, suddenly the expression “God is good” gets a much deeper meaning…! Maybe we should be careful by casually referring to the goodness of God because we tread on holy ground…