Sin defeated: overview
1. Introduction
Sin originated with Lucifer/Satan in Heaven. Satan then beguiled Adam and Eve into sin. Ever since, sin has bedevilled this world, and separated mankind from God (Is 59:2).
The penalty for sin is death, of which Adam and Eve were warned (Ge 2:17). However, God in His great love and mercy stayed the sentence of death to give Adam and Eve (and the whole human race) the opportunity to repent, and be saved.
Although escaping immediate death, Adam and Eve, because they had forfeited eternal life, had to deteriorate and suffer temporal death (the natural consequence of not having access to the tree of life, see Ge 3:22-24). This legacy of sin, together with the fallen sinful nature, passed to the whole human race.
To redeem mankind from sin and death, God formed His Plan of Redemption to ultimately fit mankind for entry into God’s sinless eternal Kingdom.
This study provides an overview of the Plan of Redemption, through to sin’s final defeat.
Note. The main points in this study are addressed in depth in other studies.
2. The Plan of Redemption
Critical to God’s Plan of Redemption is the necessity of Mankind’s penalty for sin being paid by another: a Redeemer. Then, by faith in the Redeemer, mankind may escape the penalty for sin, and be restored to God’s favour.
2.1 A five-phase Plan of Redemption
The seriousness of sin demands a comprehensive and complete plan to deal with it. The Plan of Redemption consists of five phases:
First, the suffering and death of a Redeemer, to pay the penalty of sin and be the Atonement for mankind.
No created being can pay the penalty of sin on behalf of all fallen created beings. Thus not even the highest angel (Gabriel, Lk 1:19) could be mankind’s Redeemer. Only the Creator can pay the penalty for the sin of those He created.
Second, the resurrection of the Redeemer, so that all repentant mankind may be resurrected from temporal death to eternal life in God’s Kingdom.
Third, the finalizing of the Atonement, to eradicate the sin of the Redeemed.
Fourth, the return of the Redeemer to this Earth to rescue His redeemed, both alive and dead, from the clutches of a world full of sin.
Fifth, the final and eternal destruction of both sin and sinners (those who refuse God’s saving Grace) .
2.2 Phase 1: the suffering and death of the Redeemer
Christ our Redeemer paid the penalty for our sin upon the Cross of Calvary (see study: ‘the Cross’). Christ, God and Creator of the world (Col 1:16), is the only being who can redeem the whole of mankind (His creation).
Upon the Cross, Christ suffered our physical death. He also endured our separation from God (Mt 27:46; Mk 15:34) brought about by sin.
Upon the Cross, Christ suffered both for our sinfulness (the underlying problem), and also for our acts of sin which stem from our sinfulness.
2.3 Phase 2: the resurrection of the Redeemer (see study: ’Resurrection’)
If Christ our Redeemer had remained in the tomb, we would still be in our sin (1Co 15:17). However, on the third day after the Cross, on the first day of the week (Sunday), Christ rose from the dead.
Because of Christ’s resurrection, all mankind may, should they choose, be redeemed from sin and be raised to eternal life.
Christ’s resurrection sealed the defeat of sin. As proof of this, many righteous dead were raised with Christ, and went about testifying of Him (Mt 27:52,53).
2.4 Phase 3: Final Atonement, the sin of the redeemed eradicated
(see study: ‘The Cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary’,4.1).
Before the redeemed can enter the Kingdom of Heaven, their sinfulness, together with their every act of sin, must be eradicated. This is accomplished in Christ’s final act of Atonement: the Cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary, which is addressed in depth in study: ‘The Cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary: fitting the redeemed for Heaven’.
Note. As we see in section 2 of that study, the Cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary does not contradict or add to the sacrificial Atonement made on the Cross. On the contrary, it confirms and complements the Cross.
The Cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary was foreshadowed by the annual Day of Atonement in the earthly Sanctuary, which, in figure for the time, eradicated the sin of Israel, and restored the nation to God (see study: ‘The Day of Atonement’).
By the Cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary the redeemed are made as though they had never sinned - they are then fitted to join God’s sinless universe.
Once the Heavenly Sanctuary has been cleansed, the way will be open for Christ to return to this Earth to claim His redeemed.
2.5 Phase 4: The return of the Redeemer to this world to claim His own
(see study: ‘the Second Advent of Christ’)
The coming of the Redeemer to the Earth to claim His own has been the hope of repentant sinners from the beginning. For instance, Job saw his Redeemer (Christ) ‘stand at the latter day upon the Earth’ (Job 19:25).
The second Advent of Christ brings an end to the power of sin. At His coming the redeemed dead are resurrected, the living redeemed are translated, and together they are taken to Heaven and reign with Christ a thousand years (Re 20:4).
At the same time, apart from Satan and his angels, the living wicked perish by the brightness of His coming (2Th 2:8).
2.6 Phase 5: the final destruction of sin and sinners
(see study: ‘The end of sin and sinners’).
At the close of the thousand years, Christ, with His redeemed, returns to the Earth to deal finally with sin and sinners.
At that time, the unrighteous dead are resurrected, and join Satan and his angels to face the penalty of their sin.
Fire comes down from God (which Scripture calls ‘the lake of fire’) and devours the unrighteous, together with Satan, and all his angels - they are all destroyed, and suffer eternal death, which Scripture calls the ‘second death’ (Re 20:14).
Note. On the Cross, Christ paid the penalty for sin in full. His suffering for sinners came to an end in death. Therefore the suffering for sin endured by those who refuse God’s Grace will not be eternal - it will end in the second, eternal, death. The doctrine of an ever-burning hell is therefore false.
3. Sin banished forever (see study: ‘The Earth made new’)
With the eternal destruction of sin and sinners, sin itself is cleansed from the whole of God’s righteous universe. There will be no Satan to tempt and annoy neither the angels in Heaven nor the unfallen worlds.
Furthermore, sin will not be allowed to rise up again (Nah 1:9).
The redeemed will live through endless eternity, safe in Christ’s care, free from the ravages of sin.
4. Summary
At the moment sin entered this world, the Plan of Redemption was already laid (Re 13:8). Despite the best efforts of Satan, the Plan proceeded at the pace and times set by God.
The Plan concludes with the utter destruction of sinners (including Satan and his angels), and of sin itself.
With the destruction of sin, God’s universe will be entirely clean, and the sinless redeemed will live forever in the joy of God’s Kingdom, in which sin will not rise up again.