The Bride of Christ Lesson 3c (The Bridegroom: Redeemer)

This is our third week studying about the Bridegroom: Redeemer. We learned that we have been delivered by our Redeemer.  Last week we began looking at our Redeemer as our Liberator. Jesus came liberate mankind from the 5 major conditions that effective us all. We learned that he came to preach the gospel to the poor, and to heal the brokenhearted. 

Today we will look at the last three conditions Jesus came to liberate us from. 

Bondage: To proclaim liberty [freedom] to the captives.  

Jesus proclaimed liberty to the captives by explaining that the law was not their way into the kingdom....  Jesus proclaimed the good news about how spiritual captives could have liberty and be free. Those who believed in Him would be no longer be bound by the law (Romans 7:6), and they would be no longer be in bondage to sin (Romans 6:6).i 

Romans 6:6-7, We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. (NLT)  

Our union with Christ in his death, designed to deal with sin once for all, means that we are free from the hold of sin. Its mastery has been broken.ii 

Romans 8:1-2, There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. 

In verse 1 Paul tells us that when we are made free in Christ there is no longer any condemnation for us. We now walk according to the Spirit not the flesh.  Matthew Henry states: He does not say, “There is no accusation against them,” for this there is; but the accusation is thrown out, and the indictment quashed. He does not say, “There is nothing in them that deserves condemnation,” for this there is, and they see it, and own it, and mourn over it, and condemn themselves for it; but it shall not be their ruin. 

Paul continues in verse 2, For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.  Concerning this Matthew Henry writes, The covenant of grace made with us in Christ is a treasury of merit and grace, and thence we receive pardon and a new nature, are freed from the law of sin and death, that is, both from the guilt and power of sin—from the course of the law, and the dominion of the flesh. 

John 8:36, Therefore if the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed. 

For Jews, hearing that they needed freedom caused alarm.  They were children of Abraham and “were not slaves to anyone” (John 8:33).  However, Jesus addressed this by telling them that anyone who sins is a slave to that sin.  

The true freedom that Jesus gives is freedom (1) from the penalty of sin—there is no more condemnation for those in Him (Romans 8:1), and no longer are we children of wrath (Ephesians 2:1–3); (2) from the power of sin—no longer are we in bondage to sin, but now we can do righteousness; without faith it is impossible to please Him, but, with faith, we can please Him (Hebrews 11:6); and one day we will be free (3) from the presence of sin—when our eternal life is fulfilled, we will be like Him and without sin (Romans 8:28–30).iii 

Suffering: And recovery of sight to the blind.  

Recovery of sight to the blind has a two-fold meaning. First, healing from physical blindness (or sickness of any type).  

Isaiah 53:5, But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed. 

1 Peter 2:24, He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness. “By His wounds you were healed.” 

James 5:15, And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. 

Through his death, burial, and resurrection, Christ has already paid for our healing and health. We do not have to just accept sickness or disease.  We can lay hold of the Word and declare our healing through faith in its truth!!!  

Second, healing from spiritual blindness. 

Spiritual blindness is a grievous condition experienced by those who do not believe in God, Jesus Christ, and His Word (Romans 2:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:12). Those who reject Christ are the lost (John 6:68-69). Being spiritually blind, they are perishing (2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Revelation 3:17). They choose not to accept the teachings of Christ and His authority in their lives (Matthew 28:18). They are blind to the manifestations of God as revealed throughout His Word and Jesus Christ (John 1:1; Acts 28:26-27).iv 

2 Corinthians 4:4 and 6, The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” (NIV) 

The enemy has blinded the minds of the lost to keep them from seeing Christ for who he really is. “Satan is the culprit. He is here called the god of this age. He has succeeded in putting a veil over the minds of the unbelieving ones. He would keep them in perpetual darkness, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ … should shine on them that they might be saved.”v 

When we come to Christ for salvation, we should no longer walk in blindness. 

As believers we can overcome the evil one and remain in the Light and never become spiritually blind. For, in truth, Jesus has given us His wonderful promise: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).vi 

Oppression: To set at liberty those who are oppressed [captive]. 

The captives to whom Jesus is referring here are those who are captives to sin and the law.  (We addressed freedom from sin in the section of Bondage.)   

Romans 7:6, But now we are delivered from the law, having died to things in which we were bound, so that we may serve in newness of the Spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter of the law. 

Among the many wonderful things that happen when we are converted is that we are delivered from the law. This is a result of our having died with Christ. Since He died as our Representative, we died with Him. In His death He fulfilled all the claims of the law by paying its awful penalty. Therefore we are free from the law and from its inevitable curse.vii 

Romans 10:4, Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness for every one who believes. 

The penalty of the broken law is death. In His death, Christ paid the penalty of the law which men had broken. When a sinner receives the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, the law has nothing more to say to him. Through the death of his Substitute, he has died to the law. He is through with the law and with the futile attempt to achieve righteousness through it.viii 

In Romans 10:4 the Greek word dikaiosynē is used for righteousness.  It means: the act of doing what is in agreement with God’s standards, the state of being in proper relationship with God:– righteousness; justified. 

Easton's Bible Dictionary states: Justification a forensic term, opposed to condemnation. As regards its nature, it is the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law, i.e., as conformed to all its demands. In addition to the pardon (q.v.) of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. 

When we come to Christ, we are not only freed from sin, but we are freed from the requirements of the law regarding the penalty for sin.   

Our Bridegroom Redeemer has liberated us. He came to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty [freedom] to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and to set at liberty those who are oppressed [captive].  

Works Cited:

i https://www.gotquestions.org/proclaim-liberty-to-the-captives.html 

ii Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament Copyright 2004. 

iii https://www.gotquestions.org/free-indeed.html 

iv https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-blindness.html 

v Believer's Bible Commentary Copyright © 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 2016 by William MacDonald. 

vi https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-blindness.html 

vii Believer's Bible Commentary Copyright © 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 2016 by William MacDonald.

viii Believer's Bible CommentaryCopyright © 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 2016 by William MacDonald.

 

Questions for reflection:     

1. Are there any areas where I am still living in slavery to sin?  Is yes, what areas? 

2. Have I allowed the enemy to blind me to the truth in any way?  

3. Am I walking in faith and agreement with the word regarding my physical health? 

4. Am I living like a “free man” or a “slave”?  

Note: All Scripture references are from the MEV unless otherwise specified.