Chapter 9

Redemption of the All

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 NASB)

The Bible begins by telling us who the owner is of the entire creation. God owns it all because He is creator of it all. As the owner, He exercises certain rights and He sets the rules.

Unfortunately, when Adam sinned, he, along with all his children and their entire estate, earth, were sold into bondage. Paul tells us that creation itself is in bondage or slavery.

(20) For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope (21) that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery [bondage] to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (22) For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. (Romans 8:20-22 NASB [KJV])

All the wealth and resources of the earth could not pay the debt that was owed by Adam for his one sin. Thus, all of mankind became slaves of sin (Romans 6:17). Mankind became debtors, having been sold to sin, which became man's slave-master.

Actually, death came first, for just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death came through to all men, on which all sin. Sin reigns in death, and so, when death entered into mankind, sin began to reign in mortal bodies (Romans 5:12, 21).

But how was man to pay the debt that was owed to release him from this bondage?

In ancient days, anyone could buy one who was indebted and work him to his own advantage, never loving him or truly caring for his welfare or desiring to see him pay off his debt fully so that he could be set free. Knowing the heart of man, God established the kinsman's right of redemption.

(47) 'Now if the means of a stranger or of a sojourner with you becomes sufficient, and a countryman of yours becomes so poor with regard to him as to sell himself to a stranger who is sojourning with you, or to the descendants of a stranger's family, (48) then he shall have redemption right after he has been sold. One of his brothers may redeem him, (49) or his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or one of his blood relatives from his family may redeem him; or if he prospers, he may redeem himself. (Leviticus 25:47-49 NASB)

A relative or kinsman could redeem a debtor if he had the resources to do so. All he had to do was produce the proper payment, and the slave-master had no choice but to sell the debtor

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and his debt to the kinsman-redeemer. However, the slave-master was under no obligation to sell to a non-kinsman, regardless of the offer.

So, when Jesus came into the world to die for the sin of the world, He came as flesh and blood, as a man to redeem man. But how could He do this?

(7) But emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. (8) Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:7-8 NASB)

(14) Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, (15) and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. (Hebrews 2:14-15 NASB)

He could do it because He had the right of redemption as a kinsman-redeemer for all mankind. Hebrews 2:11 states: He is not ashamed to call them brethren. Hebrews goes on to state that He gives help to the descendants of Abraham. But what about the rest of mankind? Let us not forget that the Abrahamic Covenant extends all the way back to Adam as well. In you all the families of the earth will be blessed (Genesis 12:3).

But even more importantly, Jesus came as the Son of Man, which identified Him with the first Adam, a type of Him who was to come (Romans 5:14). In fact, Jesus is the last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45). Consequently, Jesus identifies Himself with all mankind, calling all of us His brethren.

According to God's law, Jesus has the credentials to redeem all as the big brother of all mankind, the Kinsmen-Redeemer. He has all the resources, means, and the legal right to redeem all. There is no greater wealth in the entire universe than His life and His blood. Thus, He alone could and did pay the debt for all sin for all time, and He still has great wealth left over. As a result, all of mankind has a new Master.

Now, there are two more critical points.

First, the law of redemption does not stipulate when a kinsman-redeemer must act. He could delay redeeming one of his brethren if he so desires. Likewise, Jesus is under no law to redeem all at the same time. It is His right to do it in this age or in the ages to come.

Second, however, the much greater law of the Jubilee requires one to be set free: 'Even if he is not redeemed by these means, he shall still go out in the year of jubilee, he and his sons with him' (Leviticus 25:54 NASB). According to His own law, God has limited the time of debt. A day must come when He will call a grand Jubilee for all creation, including all mankind, in order to release all into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. All remaining debt will be canceled in the Jubilee so that God may be all in all. It is His right as the Owner of His creation.

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