Day 63

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 6.

” …wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ,…”

Scripture Lookup

1 Thessalonians 5:9, 10.

Reflection

“In Adam’s fall we sinned all.” -New England Primer

Christ came to redeem His elect. Why did they need redeeming? Because of sin. Not only do we sin on a regular basis, we are guilty because of the corruption of our nature. That corruption we inherited from Adam.

“God made man upright, but he has sought out many schemes.” -Ecclesiastes 7:29

Adam and Eve were the first people created, and they were good. They had communion with God and lived in a state of happiness. Work was pleasurable. Love was abundant. Shame was non-existent.

That all changed. The serpent questioned God’s command to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and deceived Eve. She saw that the fruit was desirable, and took it and ate. She gave the fruit to her husband, Adam, who also ate. In so doing, they lost the holiness they enjoyed, and plunged into a state of sin and misery. This condition did not affect only them, but the rest of mankind. For Adam, being the first man, represented the whole human race. When he fell into sin, the whole human race therefore fell with him.

The elect, however, have a redeemer. He was promised there in Genesis 3, while Adam and Eve were reeling from the consequences of their actions. As God said to the serpent, “He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel.” This is Christ, who suffered and died for His people. Those who are in Christ no longer have Adam as their representative head, but Christ Himself.

I will sing of my Redeemer
And his wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross he suffered,
From the curse to set me free.

Sing, O sing of my Redeemer!
With his blood he purchased me;
On the cross he sealed my pardon,
Paid the debt and made me free.

I will tell the wondrous story,
How my lost estate to save,
In his boundless love and mercy,
He the ransom freely gave.

I will praise my dear Redeemer,
His triumphant power I’ll tell,
How the victory he giveth
Over sin and death and hell.

I will sing of my Redeemer
And his heav’nly love to me;
He from death to life has brought me,
Son of God, with him to be.

-Philip Bliss

Questions to Consider

• How does Christ being the redeemer of the elect affect your life?