ADOPTION

REDEMPTION

Galatians 4:4,5 emphasizes this kinship also:

`When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to

redeem'.

Hebrews 2:14,15 speaks most definitely of this kinship:

`Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same;

that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who

through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage'.

A. -- There is certainly strong Scripture evidence that this kinship so stressed in Ruth is a vital part of redemption.

I notice also that the next verse reads:

`For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels' (Heb. 2:16).

What does this imply?

B. -- There are three different interpretations of the passage, and therefore I would not unduly press this verse into

1.

The Lord did not assume angelic nature, but limited His kinsmanship to mankind.

2.

The angels are not laid hold upon to rule in the kingdom that is coming (see parallel in verse 5).

3.

The fear of death did not lay hold upon angels, but men, therefore Christ did not become an angel, but a man.

A. -- In any case it seems to strike a blow at the doctrine I have fondly entertained, that Christ's redemptive work

embraced not only men, but angels and even Satan himself.

B. -- I feel, with Scripture as my guide, that my attitude with regard to these things must be expressed like this.

Before we can think of discussing the question of the possibility of the redemption of Satan or angels, can you point

me to their KINSMAN? Until you can, the matter is for me ruled out.

There is another element in the scriptural conception of the kinsman-redeemer that we have not considered, but

which finds an expression here in Hebrews 2:14,15 in the two words:

`That He might destroy -- and deliver'.

The kinsman was both redeemer and avenger. You will read in Numbers 35:19 and other places of the `revenger

of blood'. The double office is suggested in the words of Isaiah 63:4:

`The day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come'.

The same is found in 1 John 3:5-8:

`He was manifested to take away our sins -- For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might

destroy the works of the devil'.

Here the works of the devil are to be destroyed; in Hebrews 2:14 the devil himself is said to be destroyed.

A. -- But at the reconciliation of all things Colossians 1 suggests that `principalities and powers' come under the

power of redemption.

B. -- Without arguing over your comment in detail I would remind you that Colossians 1 presents one side of the

picture. Colossians 2 presents the other; and when they are brought together, the kinsman-redeemer and avenger,

the twofold office fulfils the double statement. The avenger is seen in Colossians 2:15:

`And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it'.