The redemption thread begins in the Garden. Human rebellion, called sin by our Creator, reverberates throughout our world; it divides man from God; brother from brother (Gen. 4); brings strife on all humanity (Gen. 6); and divides people into differing language groups. Sin affects us at every level—it brings fear, guilt, and shame into every heart and into every culture. But God promises from the beginning that He will one day bring One who will defeat sin (Gen. 3:15), and He pictures redemption when He kills an animal He called “good” to cover those who sinned against Him (Gen. 3:21). He shows the picture of sin forgiven and humanity redeemed by the blood of the innocent on behalf of the guilty. Throughout the 14 Eras God reveals the truth of substitutionary atonement:
- In the Creation Era, God uses the skins of animals to cover man’s nakedness. The first sacrifice is given by God for sinful men, creating a pattern of the sacrifice of the innocent on behalf of the guilty that Abel and Noah follow(Gen. 4:4; 8:20-21).
- In the Patriarch Era, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Job offer sacrifices to God. As Abraham prepares to offer his beloved son, God gives a substitute ram in his place. Job offers sacrifices on behalf of his family and friends for their sins, following in the footsteps of those declared righteous by faith.
- In the Exodus Era, God establishes the Passover and the Day of Atonement as particular reminders of the need for substitutionary atonement. He also gives laws that reveal God’s character and man’s sinfulness, revealing our need for redemption.
- In the Conquest Era, Joshua leads the people in celebrating the first Passover in the land of Canaan. Rahab’s scarlet thread reminds us of promise based righteousness.
- In the Judges Era, sin runs amok. The people disregard God’s word and experience God’s wrath, but God hears their cries and saves them from their enemies when they repent. During this time, Ruth, a moabite woman, experiences a kinsman redemption that leads to the founding of the house of David.
- In the Kingdom Era, David appeals to the Lord for substitutionary atonement because of his great sins before the Lord. His son Solomon then builds a temple to serve as a place of worship and sacrifice as the Lord covers the sins of his people when they come to Him His way.
- In the Divided Kingdom Era, King Hezekiah revives the passover celebration, reminding the Israelites of God’s gracious work to passover their sins by the shedding of the blood of the innocent. The prophet Isaiah also prophesies of a suffering servant who would come to pay for the sins of his people and bring them salvation.
- In the Captivity Era, while the people mourn the loss of the land and the temple, God makes promises that He will send the Son of Man to save His people and institute a New Covenant that will forgive the people their sins and free them from the power of sin.
- In the Return Era, the Lord brings the people back to the land and leads them to restore rightful worship at the temple. Zechariah prophecies of one who would be pierced for the peoples, a shepherd struck down for their salvation.
- In the Silent Era, The Law and the passover are restored, but legalism creeps in, distorting the picture of redemption and purpose of the law.
- In the Gospel Era, Jesus comes on the scene as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, the servant who ransoms the many, the mediator who dies for His people to forgive them their sins and free them to walk in righteousness. Jesus comes as the righteous, innocent one who dies for the guilty, but rises from the dead, defeating death and saving His people.
- In the Church and Missions Eras, Peter and Paul proclaim the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as the work of God to save His people from their sins. Jesus’ work redeems people from Sin, fulfilling the picture that the Old Testament sacrifices depicted.
- In the End Times Era, the church rejoices in the redemption that God has provided through Christ’s work. On earth and in heaven, all of the redeemed rejoice and worship the One who sits on the throne and the Lamb.
As we celebrate Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, remember that God had been planning this from the beginning. The story of our redemption doesn’t start in the gospels, but spans the entire Bible. Keep your eyes on Christ as your only hope for redemption!