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In Paul's letter to the Colossians, chapter 2: verse 15 the avenger is clearly seen:
"And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly,
triumphing over them in it (i.e. His cross at Calvary)."
Evidently therefore we must understand that by that very same cross some were
"reconciled", and some were `spoiled'.
"For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell; and, having made
peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by
Him, I say, whether they be things on earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were
sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He
reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable
and unreproveable in His sight" (Col. 1: 19-22).
The O.T. type most definitely reveals to us that the Kinsman-Redeemer could not be
avenged upon those who were redeemed by him, neither could he redeem those who were
the objects of his wrath.
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of
fire" (Rev. 20: 15).
So Christ fulfills both aspects of the Kinsman-Redeemer, just as the name of the dead
was raised up and perpetuated in Israel, so all who look to Him for salvation shall be
raised up in resurrection glory.
Boaz not only redeemed the forfeited inheritance, he married Ruth. Our security for
ever is that we are not only redeemed by His precious blood, but made one with Himself.
The Book of Ruth helps us to understand more fully just what Christ has done, and
sheds light on many references to the glorious things that Christ has done as The
Kinsman-Redeemer.
In Eph. 1: 13, 14, we read ". . . . . in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed
with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the
redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory".
The Greek word used for "the purchased possession" is also used to translate two
Hebrew words in the O.T. whose meanings include "recover", "a peculiar treasure", "a
peculiar people", "beyond the ordinary", "an acquisition". Mr. Charles Welch points out
that in no one instance is Israel promised that they shall inherit a peculiar treasure, an
acquisition; they are told they will be taken by the Lord for His peculiar treasure, His
acquisition, a special people unto Himself. The blessing is to be on the earth.
Regarding the church that is the body of Christ, however,
we read that the sphere of
blessing is "in the heavenlies", that is in the glory where
Christ now sits. Of this
company of believers Paul writes in Eph. 1: 1, "in Whom
also we have obtained an
inheritance", which could be more accurately translated by
"in Whom we have been