“…Christ Jesus, who have himself as a ransom for all men…”

It’s at times like this that I see the value of being a criminologist.  That is, if being a criminologist includes things like researching the successes and failures of categories of crimes.  Naturally with our focus this time, I’m thinking of something or someone stolen and held for a ransom, the exchange price for the thing/person stolen.  Etymologically, ransom is connected to the words “rescue” and “redeem,” and that is revealing in itself.

When criminals steal things or people, they are not inherently interested in the object(s) they have stolen.  They see little or no value in them except for what they can demand, extort or extract from the owner.  In their narrow and distorted perceptions, what thieves want from the owners has much more value than what they have stolen.  A rare painting is essentially worthless to crooks, but the cash from the owner who knows and appreciates the value of that painting is much more handy and useful.  This view, of course, is patently false when the stolen object is a human being made in God’s image.

When writing to Timothy, Paul gave many detailed instructions to his understudy about the church and its responsibilities.  Beginning in chapter two of his first letter, Paul said that fervent prayer should be made for “everyone…and all those in authority” (2:1-2).  He immediately linked that to “God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (vs. 3-4).  He continues to lay the foundation of the Church and her mission in the next two verses: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.”  The context clearly is the platform for all that the Church stands for and the launching pad for all she does.  There is a universal quality to the text.  Notice “everyone” (v. 1), “all those in authority” (v. 2), “who wants all men to be saved” (v. 4), and “who gave himself as a ransom for all men” (v. 6).  This is a global, all-inclusive, every-tribe-and-language-and-people-and-nation kind of thing (Revelation 5:9).

Jesus is the ransom for all people.  Let’s consider that for a moment.  That means not only people from the past and present, but also the future.  There are currently over 6 billion people on the planet.  Estimates are that there have been nearly that many who lived in times past.  So let’s make that 11 billion people for starters.  How many more will come after us?  The present worldwide birth rate suggests a lot more!  So how much sin and acts of rebellion can 11 billion people commit? How much evil, corruption, injustice, rebellion, wickedness and iniquity has there been and is still coming?  More than any supercomputer can calculate!  And the picture painted by the book of Revelation indicates the greatest amount is still ahead of us!  Are you beginning to see what’s involved in becoming the ransom for all people?  This is not just a difficult job; it’s an impossible job for any one normal human being.

Ever notice when a criminal is kidnapping someone, they will always bind or tie the victim up first?  That is to keep them at bay, keep them from fighting back.  Next they’ll gag them to prevent them from calling out.  Finally they’ll blindfold them, to keep them completely insecure and unable to see where they are or what’s going on.  When the ransom is paid and the captives are freed, the rescuers always first take the blindfold off so the victim can see the rescuer and know they are safe.  Next the rescuer will release the gag so the victim can speak.  Finally the binding chords come off, freeing the victim and completing the ransom process.  The power of God does that for us spiritually.  We fall into captivity that first steals our freedom, binding us in the chords of sin.  Next it silences our mouths because our testimony is ruined by sin.  We lose our platform to speak.  Finally we fail to see God or his ways.  We don’t read his love letter to us because sin has clouded our vision.  But salvation begun by the ransom process first directs us to God’s Word, opening our eyes.  Next we begin to speak, asking for help in understanding.  Finally when faith is quickened in our hearts and desires for practical righteousness kick in, we take steps that break the binding chords of sin.  And we join the innumerable ranks of the redeemed that are ransomed, not only in a positional way, in Christ, but also in a practical, realized way in our daily lives.

Does that describe you today?  Is your life a model of God’s ransoming power at work?