(Lk 18"-'') ; of a Judas it is declared, 'Good were it for that man if he had not been born ' (Mt 202-*, Mk 142') ; the parable of the Final Judgment has such a sentence a.s, 'Depart from me, ye cursed,' etc. (Mt 2u-»i -Hi). The Synoptic teachi'ng on this point is identical with that of St. John, who declares that the wrath of God ' abideth ' on him who believes (or obeys) not the Son of God (Jn S^u)^ and habitually speaks of the world as perishing in its sin (:]"i- '^ i)^''> O*' 82-» etc.).
Exposure to the wrath of God, therefore, is one result of sin, from which, undeniably, redemption is needed ; but this, in Christ's view, is not the worst evil, but rather flows from the infinitely heinous and hateful nature of sin itself. Sin, con- sidered in itself, is the real evil from which men need to be delivered. It is a fountain of pollution in the heart, defiling the whole nature (Mt lo'«-2o || ; cf. 2.32") ; evolves itself in corrupt words and deeds (716-20 12''"'-"') ; brings under subjection to Satan (613 12211. 43-1.-,^ . is the loss of the soul's true life (1624-2(i-) . entails misery and ruin (Lk 1511-w Mt 233". 38) J ripens into hateful vices (impurity, covet- ousness, pride, hypocri.sy, mercilessness, etc.), and culminates in blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Mt 12''i- "'2 etc.). Souls in this condition are ' lost ' ; need to be, in their helplessness and misery, sought after and saved (Lk Vo-'^- 19^). The teaching of Jesus in Jn. is here again in accord with that in the Synoptics ; only that in some respects St. John's Gospel goes deeper, in explicitly affirming the need of regeneration (S"-''), in laying more stress on the element of bondage in sin (S'-^--^), and in giving greater prominence to the idea of Satan as 'the prince of this world,' whose power over
men has to be broken (8« Vl^^ 14'» IGU; cf. Lk IQir. 18).
One thing still requires to be said to exhibit in its full extent man's need of redemption. The deepest and most condemiiable aspect of sin is that it is alienation from God Himself. The first requirement of the Law is love to God (Mt 22'^'-38) ; the proper attitude of the soul to God is that of humble dependence and trust (4-<''-io 725ff.^ m^ 1122.24.25 etc.). But siu is the negation of this right religious relation. 'I know you,' said Jesus to the Jews, ' that ye have not the love of God in you ' (Jn •5''2). Other and contrary principles — pride, self-sufficiency, self-will, the love of the honour that comes from men (Jn 5^-* ; cf. Mt Q-^-) — had taken the place of love to God ; hence estrange- ment from God, antagonism to His will and spirit, enmity to Him and to His messengers (Mt 232'Jff-). Redemption means here the effecting of a change of disposition towards God, and the restoration of a spirit of love and trust — of the filial spirit {e.g. Lk 15''f')- It is synonymous with reconciliation (see Reconciliation).
(2) This description of the evil to be redeemed from already determines the positive character of the redemption. The preaching of Jesus is de- scribed as the preaching of a 'gospel' (Lk 4"^- ^9) — 'the gospel of God' (Mk fi^)— and the '.salvation' (LklO'-'"') proclaimed in this gospel included de- liverance from the whole range of evil covered by the word 'sin,' with introduction into the whole sphere of privilege and blessedness embraced in the term 'Kingdom of God.' Jesus in His teach- ing has much to say on the condition of mind necessary for the reception of this ble.ssing. There is naturally the initial demand for repentance (Mt 91:5 112(1.21^ Mk 11.^ 0^2, Lk 13 ■^■•' etc.), which has the full weight of meaning involved in the etymology of the word fierdvoia, ' change of mind.' There is implied in this change of disposition a parting with all pride, .sufficiency, and sen.se of merit (Lk 17''') ; a coining to be humble, simple, trustful as a little child (Mt 18'-t) ; in a pregnant phrase,
478
REDEMPTION
REDEMPTION
■becoming 'poor in spirit' (Mt 5'', Lk 4^^). To tliose in tliis humble, trustful, self-renouncing state of mind every satisfaction and spiritual blessing are promised (e.g. Mt b'^^- ; see Iverach, The Other Side of Greatness, p. 1 ff.) • This blessing is always represented as mediated through Jesus Himself. It is only through the Son that men can receive the knowledge of the Father (11-") ; it is through coming to Him, learning of Him, taking His yoke upon them, that they obtain rest to their souls (vv. ^s-'iO) . men are called to follow Him, to become His disciples, to acknowledge Him as their Lord and Master (721-23 819-22 238 etc. )• He requires from His disciples the most absolute surrender to Himself (lO'^'-^i^ 1624-25). it is by relation to Him that men are judged at last (2b'^- '>•') . As King, He dispenses the awards of service (16'^'^ 19^8 2.5''-'ff). Of the dependence of salvation on His sufferings and death, more is said below. Those who stand in the above relation to Christ are ' the children of the kingdom' (LS^s), sons of God, and heirs of eternal life. Received into the Kingdom, they have the blessedness of knowing that their sins are forgiven them (6^2 92 etc.), though, reciprocally, there is laid on those who are thus forgiven the duty of forgiving others (&^-'^^ 183^ Mk 1125 etc.). They have the privilege of calling God their Father, of trusting Him for all their need (Mt 625ft'), of free access to Him in prayer (7''-'i etc.). They are acknowledged by Christ as His brethren (1249- 50 25*0). From the Father they receive mercy, and the satisfaction of their hunger and thirst for righteousness (S^-") ; they are sustained in perse- cution and sacrifice by the promise of a thousand- fold reward (512 1929, Mk 1029- so) ; it is theirs to share in the resurrection of the just (Lk 14i-*) ; and as sons and heirs of God, they have the sure hope of ' eternal life,' in which is included blessedness and glory (Mt 13*3) and the perfect vision of God (58). These unspeakably lofty privileges and hopes imply corresponding responsibilities. It is con- stantly assumed that there cannot be true repent- ance, or genuine membership in the Kingdom, which does not manifest itself in ' good works ' (516), or in the doing of the will of the Father (61°). Only the doers of the Father's will can be received into the Kingdom of heaven (721 18* 253*ff-). The disciple is to have for his aim to be perfect as his Father in heaven is perfect (5*8).