The Ransom

The Lord Jesus gave His life as a ransomA ransom is the price of release. The term is often used to refer to the money paid to release slaves. In the Bible, it says that Jesus, “the Son... More. The Bible says this in three places. If we take a closer look at these Bible verses, we notice a remarkable, instructive, and important difference.

Three Bible verses in the New Testament show that Jesus ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More gave His life as a ransomA ransom is the price of release. The term is often used to refer to the money paid to release slaves. In the Bible, it says that Jesus, “the Son... More [1]:

• “... just as the Son of Man"Son of Man" is a designation for our Lord Jesus Christ. In many Scriptures, it means that He really became man through His birth (Gal 4:4). Like every human being,... More did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransomA ransom is the price of release. The term is often used to refer to the money paid to release slaves. In the Bible, it says that Jesus, “the Son... More for many” (Mt 20:28).
• “For even the Son of Man"Son of Man" is a designation for our Lord Jesus Christ. In many Scriptures, it means that He really became man through His birth (Gal 4:4). Like every human being,... More did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransomA ransom is the price of release. The term is often used to refer to the money paid to release slaves. In the Bible, it says that Jesus, “the Son... More for many” (Mk 10:45).
• “For there is one God and one MediatorIn 1 Timothy 2:5, it says: “There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus” (ESV).  There is only one God who... More between God and men, the Man ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More Jesus, who gave Himself a ransomA ransom is the price of release. The term is often used to refer to the money paid to release slaves. In the Bible, it says that Jesus, “the Son... More for all” (1 Tim 2:5-6).

The two Bible verses from the Gospels speak of Jesus ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More giving His life as a ransomA ransom is the price of release. The term is often used to refer to the money paid to release slaves. In the Bible, it says that Jesus, “the Son... More for many, while the passage from the first letter to Timothy makes it clear that He gave His life for all. How is this difference to be understood?

An illustration

Imagine a landowner who leases his land to many small farmers. Due to mismanagement and stubbornness, all the small farmers fall into a deep debt crisis from which they can no longer get out. It is impossible for them to pay the agreed rent. The landowner has the right and the moral duty to have the smallholders thrown into prison. All preparations are already being made to carry out the punishment.
But the landowner's son sets up a fund worth millions for the indebted farmers so that they have a chance of escaping the just punishment. With this “ransomA ransom is the price of release. The term is often used to refer to the money paid to release slaves. In the Bible, it says that Jesus, “the Son... More” from the son, all the debts of all the small farmers can be repaid. The landowner is happy to agree to this action, which shows his kindness, and lets all the farmers know that they can be released from their debts if they recognise their failure and accept the offer.
The money from the fund to pay off the debt will be paid out to those who come forward within the specified period. In effect, therefore, the ransomA ransom is the price of release. The term is often used to refer to the money paid to release slaves. In the Bible, it says that Jesus, “the Son... More only benefits those who want it. The others, who reject the gracious offer, have to answer for their guilt and are sentenced to a final judgment.
It is certainly not difficult to use this parableA parable is a pictorial representation of messages that are not directly stated and require interpretation. God already used parables in the Old Testament to convey messages to his people... More to understand something of what the Lord Jesus did on the cross in a much deeper sense. And yet it will be good to delve a little deeper into the subject of the “ransomA ransom is the price of release. The term is often used to refer to the money paid to release slaves. In the Bible, it says that Jesus, “the Son... More”.

The ransom for all

People have dishonored God through their sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More from the very beginning. For their evil behavior, they are threatened with God's righteous judgment, which they themselves cannot avert. But the Son of GodThe term "Son of God" in the singular always refers to the Lord Jesus. On the one hand, He is the only begotten (unique) and eternal Son of God, who... More became man and died on the cross for sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More. In doing so, He demonstrated God's love and justice and glorified Him. God can now offer His salvationSalvation is part of God's plan of saving people. Those who are in danger and cannot help themselves need salvation. We owe our salvation to our Savior, who went to... More and graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More to all sinners on the basis of Christ's atoning work (cf. Titus 2:11). Jesus gave His life as a ransomA ransom is the price of release. The term is often used to refer to the money paid to release slaves. In the Bible, it says that Jesus, “the Son... More for all; He died for all (1 Tim 2:4; 2 Cor 5:15; Heb 2:9 note). ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More is the propitiation for the sins of the whole worldThe word is used with different meanings. It can mean the whole of humanity (Gen 41:57) or the created world (Rom 1:20), but also a moral system that is opposed... More (1 John 2:2).

The ransom for many

When the Lord Jesus died on the cross, He not “only” honoured God in the face of sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More, but He also took upon Himself the sins of all those who would repent. On the cross, He became the substitute for believers. There He bore our sins (Isa 53:12; 1 Pet 2:24). He was sacrificed once, says Hebrews 9:28, to bear the sins of many. When we confess our sins to God, all our sins are forgiven and we become free from God's punishment.

Two aspects of the work of Christ

We see: ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More died on the one hand with regard to all people and on the other hand as a substitute for the many who believe. In 1 Timothy 2:6, the preposition “for” (GreekUnlike Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews; Acts 6:1; 9:29), Greeks, in the narrow sense of the word, come from Greece and have at least one Greek parent (Acts 16:3 in connection with... More hyper) is used accordingly with the meaning “for the benefit of someone”. However, in the “ransomA ransom is the price of release. The term is often used to refer to the money paid to release slaves. In the Bible, it says that Jesus, “the Son... More for many”, the preposition “for” (GreekUnlike Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews; Acts 6:1; 9:29), Greeks, in the narrow sense of the word, come from Greece and have at least one Greek parent (Acts 16:3 in connection with... More anti) is used with the basic meaning “instead of”.
In Romans 5:18, 19, both aspects of Christ's work are shown one right after the other (emphasis added): “Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnationThe Bible uses the term condemnation to describe God’s final judgment on sinners – eternal separation from God in hell (Rom 5:18). For those who believe in Jesus and claim... More, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justificationAn act that God performs on guilty people who were under his judgment of condemnation. God declares people who believe in the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus to be... More of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.” Through Christ's righteous act on the cross, all people can be justified, but only the many will be placed in the positionThe Christian position cannot be separated from Christian practice, but a distinction must be made. "Position" means how God sees us now. In the eyes of God, we are "in... More of the righteous. These are those who belong to the Lord Jesus.

1 Timothy 2 motivates us to bring the gospel to all people, because God wants everyone to be saved. ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More made atonementAtonement means that God's righteous wrath against sin has been appeased. This does not mean that God was an enemy of man but that we were enemies of God. Atonement... More for sins on the cross and cleared the way to God. Everyone can come (Rev 22:17). Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45 impressively show that Jesus ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More paid the price for us, the believers, on the cross on our behalf and that we will therefore never be judged again. This gives us security and peace.

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Footnote:

[1] Only in these three passages is the GreekUnlike Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews; Acts 6:1; 9:29), Greeks, in the narrow sense of the word, come from Greece and have at least one Greek parent (Acts 16:3 in connection with... More word lytron or antilytron used for “ransomA ransom is the price of release. The term is often used to refer to the money paid to release slaves. In the Bible, it says that Jesus, “the Son... More”, which refers to a payment used to redeem prisoners. In Matthew 16:26 and Mark 8:37, where we also find the word “ransomA ransom is the price of release. The term is often used to refer to the money paid to release slaves. In the Bible, it says that Jesus, “the Son... More” in some translations, a different word is used in the original text.