Jesus and the Eye Witnesses - Richard Bauckham

https://youtu.be/0hsAEodyPnQ

Purpose of Redemption

"who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works."

http://www.bible.is/ENGESV/Titus/2/14

In this passage Paul  talks about the purpose of Redemption,  the reason why Jesus gave himself up for us on the cross.

1. Redeem us from all lawlessness
2. Purify for himself a people
     a. for his own possession
     b. zealous for good works

Lawlessness is one of the few Russian words I remember.  In Russian, it is called bez-zakoniye, bez - without and zakon - law. Imagine living in a town without law. You can do anything you want. The strongest and smartest and the meanest will survive. You can rape, murder, steal, lie, cheat and none of this will be considered wrong.

Now imagine a person who does not follow any law. He will do anything he wants to fulfill his desires. He will not have boundaries nor will he respect other's boundaries. In other words he will do whatever he wants, whatever he wishes. Stealing, killing, cheating, adultery, fornication, cursing, pedophilia  will not be considered wrong or sinful.

A lawless person is often a Godless person or followers of false gods which model, justify and promote lawless behaviour.
In India, there are many Hindu  gods which are good examples of lawlessness. A particular caste called 'Kallar' literally meaning "thieves" should at least steal once a year as an act of worship and devotion. Their god is azhagar or more commonly called Krishna, who is often depicted as a small child stealing butter. There are more extreme castes which were outlawed in British rule itself, because they practised murder and child sacrifice to goddess kali.
More recently, fundamentalist Islam with it's numerous outfits still go around killing, raping and looting towns like IS is doing in Iraq and Syria.
We can safely conclude that all false religions were designed by Satan to promote Godless and lawlessness as a law.

But Christ has come to purify for himself a people who are his own, who identify themselves as his followers, who understand themselves to be God's own possession, submitting their wills and motives and ambitions and lives to serve his purposes. A people who are zealous for good works. A people who are known for good works. Now Christians are known for education and health services. They also work among the downtrodden and afflicted, the oppressed and the destitute. They have started organisations like missionaries of charity, red cross, world vision, de-addiction and rehab centers and have changed the course of history for good.

The example of Dr. Ida Scudder, who started the Christian Medical College in Vellore is one such example. The examples are numerous.
What served as a backbone for all this good works is the example and teaching of Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, whose aim and purpose it was to create a community of people who are zealous for good works. His vision is being fulfilled in this world now more than ever. We are previlaged to be part of his people whom he bought and purified with his own blood, the redemption through his death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead.

Let us also invite others to be part of his family zealous for good works and let us continue to be people who are zealous for good works.

How to have a secure future and hope

https://quiettimesamz.wordpress.com/2015/07/28/your-future-will-be-determined-by-your-level-of-wisdom/
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