The Magnitude of Redemption
by Ray Prinzing

1 John 2:2 "And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of THE WHOLE WORLD."

1 John 4:14 "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD."

Before we get into the heart of this message we would like to give a few scriptures that will help serve as a setting, placing this line of thought in as clear a channel as possible.  We are including in the following next few verses the fuller Greek meaning of words to help give a clearer picture of their meanings, all such being in parentheses.

Romans 11:36, "For of (out of) Him, and through (by the means of) Him, and to (into) Him, are ALL THINGS: to Whom be glory for ever (for the ages), amen."

1 Corinthians 8:6,7a "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of (out of) whom are ALL THINGS, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom are all things, and we by Him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge..."

2 Corinthians 5:18, "And ALL THINGS are of (out of) God."

No doubt all the universe was created out of the very glory that streamed out of Himself.  And therefore it must have been spiritual in nature in its beginning - for God is Sprit.  everything that comes from the hand of God is pure and spiritual in nature.  But sin and self-hood have caused it to be degenerated into a gross materialism.  Yet originally all things came out of God; they are now going through Christ, Who is our Redeemer, for "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them." (2 Corinthians 5:19); and eventually all will be brought back into God again, that the Godhead might be all in all.  It is through Christ that the whole creation will be lifted up again into the highest favor with God where all shall be restored to its spiritual state.

Sin and self-hood have caused an estrangement, and an alienation from God, and, "ALL we like sheep have gone astray: we have turned EVERY ONE to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of US ALL." so reads, Isaiah 53:6.

But, you might say, that refers to Israel, for it was to them that Isaiah was speaking.  That's true.  But, Paul also speaks concerning this matter:  Romans 11:32 "For God hath concluded them all (that is, all Israel) in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all.  (that is, both Israel and non-Israel)."  And though God has purposed that "All Israel shall be saved" (Romans 11:26) yet for the time being, God has concluded all Israel in unbelief, in the same  category with all the heathen nations on the outside.  Why?  So that according to His plan He might have mercy on the whole creation, a purpose which is beyond the comprehension of so many.  And yet we read it plainly, "Christ is the propitiation for our sin, and not for ours only, but also for the sin of THE WHOLE WORLD."

Non-Israel, we know, have their "understanding darkened, being alienated for the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart." (Ephesians 4:18).  And then we read that "Blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles (nations) be come in."  So the veil is upon their eyes, which veil will be removed by the ministration of the Spirit through the remnant of Israel who are not blinded.

God has not blinded all of the, it states "in part," for God has ordained that a REMNANT shall come forth to be used to reconcile the world to Himself.  Therefore there are a few "Israelites" who are not blinded but they are pressing on into the fulness of God, to become the horn of salvation being raised up in the house of David (see, Luke 1:68,69).  And the Spirit's ministration will flow through them to restore all of Israel and all of creation back to the Godhead again.  A restoration that is overwhelming in its scope, its power, and its glory.  "How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out." (Romans 11:33).

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